Matthew ‘FormaL’ Piper is one of the most iconic esports competitors the world has ever seen. In a career spanning more than 13 years, FormaL has switched back and forth between Halo and Call of Duty, becoming one of just two esports players in history to land a world championship title in two games.
In 2021, FormaL announced his retirement from Call of Duty, moving over to Halo once again. It would prove to be a fruitful move, as shortly after, he won the HCS World Championship while flying the OpTic banner. During a recent stream, the superstar competitor revealed plans to move back to Call of Duty with Black Ops 6.
Return of the King
FormaL’s Call of Duty career took him from Ghosts to Black Ops Cold War, and during his spree, he secured a world championship title and several chips, netting around $800,000 in prize money. he became a synonymous face of OpTic in the Call of Duty space, sticking with the brand longer than any other active player to date.
Since moving over to Halo esports, FormaL has won three Majors and a Champs title, securing another $347,000 in prizes. He’s often referred to as the greatest controller-based esports player of all time and has been nominated for awards in that respect.
In a recent stream, FormaL confirmed he intends to play Black Ops 6 – which is being released this October – at a professional level, signalling his return to Call of Duty:
To what extent he’ll be ‘granted access’ back into the Call of Duty scene remains to be seen. Fans of OpTic Texas have requested that he doesn’t get immediate entry into the roster based on his status. He may break into the Challengers scene to prove he’s still capable enough to enter the Call of Duty League. Presently, it’s a throwaway comment that might not come to light, but it’s the closest confirmation we’ve had in years that FormaL wants to return to Call of Duty.
It’s no big secret the Halo Championship Series is struggling, even with a Major on the horizon. FormaL would have the capacity to make it to HCS Champs this year and then cut over into Black Ops 6 for the new season.
For more Insider Gaming Esports, check out our breakdown of the highest-earning esports players
