Paper Rex Prepares Roster Overhaul with Core f0rsakeN and something Retained

Paper Rex is entering a pivotal phase of its VALORANT roster restructuring, with core pillars f0rsakeN and something confirmed to stay, while the futures of veterans d4v41 and Jinggg remain undetermined. This is considered the most notable transfer move in the Asia-Pacific VALORANT scene during the 2026 season, ahead of VCT Pacific 2027. According to sources from Sheep Esports, Paper Rex is expected to retain Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto and Ilia "something" Petrov as cornerstones for the new season's roster. This is a strategic decision, as f0rsakeN has long been regarded as the soul of the Singaporean team, having been with the organization since 2026 and serving as an irreplaceable factor in both competitive roles and brand value. Meanwhile, something joined in 2026 and has established himself as a prominent professional player, regularly appearing at major international tournaments. Notably, information about the specific roles and agent pools of both players has not been clearly disclosed. f0rsakeN is known as a versatile flex player capable of adapting to multiple roles, while something remains an unknown quantity in terms of specialized playstyle. This is the key point in assessing whether Paper Rex's 2027 roster can ensure full coverage of the four basic role families in VALORANT: duelist, initiator, controller, and sentinel. Additionally, Adrian "invy" Reyes has also been confirmed to remain with Paper Rex through the end of 2027. However, this player's role remains unclear - whether he will be a starting player or merely a sixth rotational option. If invy is considered a rotational piece, Paper Rex effectively has three starting slots to fill in the 2027 roster, significantly increasing restructuring risk. Meanwhile, the futures of two veterans Khalish "d4v41" Rusyaidee and Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie are the center of attention. d4v41, who has been with Paper Rex since 2026, finds himself in a particularly precarious situation as his contract expires in the coming days. More notably, the Malaysian player has publicly stated he is seeking a new project - a clear sign that he will likely leave the team. Publicly seeking a new destination before contract expiry is often a negotiation tactic or pressure move from the player's side, but regardless of intent, it has weakened Paper Rex's bargaining position. Jinggg, whose contract expires at the end of 2026, represents the highest-leverage decision in the entire restructuring plan. The Chinese-Singaporean player is in negotiations with Paper Rex while simultaneously considering other options. If Jinggg leaves, Paper Rex will have to replace 40% of its starting lineup in a single transfer window, with a significantly compressed integration window due to the dense VCT schedule. A notable piece of information is that both d4v41 and Jinggg are reportedly waiting for clearer information about the organization's personnel plans before making final decisions. This reflects a concerning reality: the players appear to lack visibility into a plan that is already being reported externally. This signals a lack of synchronization in internal communications, as the organization is sequencing its priorities: retaining pillars first, then addressing veterans. In terms of roster structure, retaining a flex player like f0rsakeN before resolving specialist roles is a sensible move in the context of an undefined meta. Flex players offer higher option value than specialists, as they can adapt to multiple agent pool and tactical changes. However, the patch resilience of the 2027 roster will depend on the two open slots, not the three secured ones. Another important factor not yet addressed is the import slot issue. If any retained player occupies a Pacific region import slot, Paper Rex's 2027 roster will face hard constraints in how the two remaining slots can be filled. Information about player residency and import status has not been confirmed in any source. Looking back at the 2026 season, Paper Rex experienced a turbulent year with notable results. The team secured third place at VCT Pacific Kickoff, qualifying for Masters Santiago. There, they lost in the upper bracket but brilliantly reverse-swept NRG in the lower bracket final before falling to Nongshim RedForce in the grand final. A similar script repeated at Masters London, where Paper Rex qualified as the first seed after a regional title, defeating Leviatán, Team Vitality, and EDward Gaming on their run to the final, only to lose to Leviatán in the rematch. This was the team's second consecutive international grand final defeat. At Champions Shanghai, Paper Rex closed the season at 7th-8th, after defeating Liquid and G2 but losing to LOUD and T1. This performance reflects a concerning pattern: the team can beat anyone in a BO3 series but gets "solved" in BO5 matches or in repeat matchups. This is a problem of tactical depth and preparation capacity - factors that a roster overhaul can reset. Notably, Paper Rex has been confirmed as a Riot Games partner through 2028, completely eliminating relegation risk and allowing the organization to pursue a long-term restructuring strategy rather than short-term patchwork. This is the most important structural factor in the entire story, as it explains why Paper Rex can patiently retain pillars rather than aggressively spending on recruitment. However, timing risk is real. With four international trips and two regional stages in a single season, Paper Rex's new roster will have very little integration time before its first international event of 2027. If the remaining slots are filled late, scrim time will be significantly compressed. Financially, Paper Rex is in a stable position as a guaranteed partner through 2028. However, detailed information about sponsorship revenue and publisher distributions has not been disclosed. Notably, there is an asymmetry in contract lengths: invy is locked through the end of 2027 while the two veterans are at expiry. This suggests the organization is shifting from a long-term veteran-tenure model to a controlled-contract model - a quiet governance change that the article does not name. More broadly, Paper Rex's story reflects the broader VCT Pacific landscape. The region had a 2026 with many positive signs as two teams reached international finals, but still could not convert to championships. Paper Rex's own Masters Toronto 2026 victory remains the clearest evidence of the region's potential. The Pacific problem is not a lack of strength, but a lack of ability to convert opportunities into titles. Paper Rex is the region's flagship team, and its success is being equated with the success of all of Pacific. A down cycle for Paper Rex in 2027 would be misread as a decline for the entire region. Meanwhile, the multi-team depth of the Americas with four different teams blocking Paper Rex's path in 2026 reveals a structural gap between the two regions. Cross-regional matchups in 2026 showed that Pacific can genuinely compete. Paper Rex defeated Leviatán, Vitality, and EDG at Masters London, as well as Liquid and G2 at Champions. This is a region that can beat anyone once but gets adjusted to in repeat matchups. This pattern - beating Leviatán then losing to the same opponent in the final - is a signature of repeat-opponent adjustment issues, a regional scouting and preparation problem rather than just a Paper Rex problem. In summary, Paper Rex is executing a controlled restructuring: retaining pillars, resolving veterans, and filling two open slots. This is not major surgery but a selective refresh. The success of this plan depends on three factors: Jinggg's decision, the quality of the two new signings, and the ability to integrate the roster within a compressed VCT calendar. As a guaranteed partner through 2028, Paper Rex has sufficient time and resources to execute this plan, but performance pressure from fans and pundits will not wait.