Looters stole esports trophies and computer equipment from Team Vitality’s Paris headquarters, forcing V.Hive to close while damage is assessed.
Team Vitality’s trophy collection has suffered a loss that has nothing to do with a tournament result. Looters broke into the organization’s V.Hive headquarters in Paris on October 17, smashing its display windows and stealing trophies and computer equipment during unrest surrounding demonstrations in France.
The organization confirmed that no staff members or fans were injured. V.Hive will remain closed while the team assesses the damage, leaving supporters temporarily without one of the French esports club’s main gathering places.
A Championship Trophy Reportedly Taken Weeks After the Win
Among the silverware reportedly stolen was Vitality’s StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2026 trophy. Its Counter-Strike 2 team had earned that title less than a month earlier, defeating Aurora Gaming 3-1 in the Barcelona final on September 20.
Footage circulating on social media appears to show the trophy being carried through the streets. Vitality confirmed that multiple trophies were taken, although its initial statement did not identify every missing piece.
Computer equipment was also stolen, with videos from the scene showing the damaged storefront and items being removed. For Vitality, the aftermath involves both replacing equipment used by visitors and accounting for silverware representing its players’ achievements.
A €3.50 Gaming Session Was Part of the Point
Vitality co-founder Fabien “Neo” Devide responded with a personal account of why he had wanted to build V.Hive. Growing up, he discovered esports in cybercafés when an internet connection at home was too expensive. The venue was his way of giving others access to that same experience.
According to Devide, gaming sessions have cost €3.50 an hour since V.Hive opened. Keeping that price accessible to teenagers and people with limited incomes was intentional, and he said the organization had never raised it despite inflation.
Opened in 2019, V.Hive houses gaming stations, a café, and a merchandise shop, alongside space for community activities. Fans have used it for tournaments, viewing parties, and the simple pleasure of playing in the same room.
Devide defended the right to protest while making his feelings about the attack clear: “Looting and destruction should never have a place in these fights.” His response described the sorrow of seeing a project with such personal significance damaged from thousands of kilometres away.
Vitality has yet to provide a complete inventory of the stolen trophies or a reopening date in its initial announcement. For now, the computers that made those affordable gaming sessions possible are among the losses, and the community they served will have to wait for the doors to open again.