OpTic Gaming’s Karma Reveals His Plans for The Future Following OpTic Gaming Split
OpTic Gaming’s Damon “Karma” Barlow turned his stream on shortly after the Vision live stream which announced his replacement on the competitive roster, and explained his position.
Despite expectations, Karma did not feature in the Vision. Fans were therefore left in limbo about his future.
It was already unlikely that Karma would be moving to another team, and he has clarified that he will be stepping away from competing, for the time being.
OpTic Gaming videographer Davis “Hitch” Edwards did later confirmed that Karma is still a member of OpTic, and is currently getting his contract as a content creator sorted out.
You can read a transcript of Karma’s stream below.
These past few days, that was me looking forward, I hope you can see how much I enjoy video games. I had a blast the last few days.
The end of that vision is why you are not going to see me [stream was a black screen]. For the first time in 10 years, I am not going to play the rest of the season.
Scary part is not many people come back.
I had offers, I had a team I thought I could have won with. But there was a lot of variables to choose otherwise.
The game was one, the multiple metas all the time. I would have liked to play at champs.
I am not mad right now, I’m just pretty fucking sad.
Been through a lot of shit with this team, a lot of good things. But it killed me. A fresh set of faces probably would have been good for me.
The bad times with this team, mixed with this game, I just didn’t want to deal with this bullshit anymore.
Rise will probably start t32 in losers bracket, epsilon probably be in losers finals.
Between that game, all the bullshit – pretty much what they said in vision.
Playing with two people who hate each other, and one who lags. Why would I want to play.
I want to play, but I decided for the better of me right now, I shouldn’t finish out this year. It’s going to blow – get me to champs and who knows what could happen.
Maybe nothing will happen again. Maybe you wont see me on the sticks. I would like to. I hope the next CoD isn’t a flop.
But it depends, can I be successful doing what I’m doing the past two weeks? Or can I be more successful in CoD? Realistically I can probably do both. But who knows.
You will hear a story, about how this all unfolded.
To be honest it was pretty shitty for me. In the end it potentially fucked me. but maybe I landed down a better path.
You will hear a story, but I will go about it in a good way.
Swing by my stream. I will probably be live every single day.
Shitty how it all happened, I am really disappointed in a lot of people. That’s the only thing I can say.
But it will be better. It already is better. I haven’t had a laugh like I had in the past couple days the past 3 years.
Only thing I can do is pray no one else gets three rings. You players out there better stop whoever has two from getting three.
Because I don’t get to defend my throne this time. Whoever has two rings, just know they are getting the interim title. If that happens I will have to come back.
I don’t know what else to tell you guys right now. That’s what’s up. I’m not playing, not right now.
I will try to be around somewhere. But I’m just trying to stream man, I love streaming. I got to build.
A lot of you probably expecting me to come on and say some crazy shit, but I don’t got any crazy shit to say right now.
Will I be a big youtube icon? Probably not. Do I want to be? I dunno, look at Logan Paul and all them, I don’t wanna be that.
I wanna be a big streamer, I love streaming. Come by and watch.
Glad to see you all with me at the end, even though you roast me for 0.9s. Have you ever seen a more consistent 0.9 for three years? Thought not. Not even SpaceLy could do that. Sorry Mike.
I Probably got as many 1.0+ as I do rings.
Listen, if I don’t play CoD again, you motherfuckers better learn how to play the game right. Use your brain. Don’t be that guy, don’t be that fan.
Stop hating on JKap’s. Don’t do that. Or TJHaLy, you know he gets turned on three times a map, but it’s ok.
I think that’s it.
If Vonderhaar doesn’t name a gun after me, I’m pissed.
Two excerpts from Karma’s stream, discussing the OpTic split, and his plans for the future.
For now, it sounds as though Karma plans to go all in as content creator playing a variety of games, at least until the release of Black Ops 4.
If this is the last time we see Karma as a professional Call of Duty player, he will no doubt go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest player of all time. He of course won 3 world championship rings, as well as 23 LAN tournament wins – the third highest of any player.