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Super Smash Bros star Mang0 says has no plans of ever playing Melee again after losing his C9 sponsorship and being banned for drunken behavior at a Ludwig event.
In June 2025, Joseph ‘Mang0’ Marquez was removed from C9 for his behavior at Ludwig’s Beerio Kart event in which he harassed multiple streamers, including ExtraEmily.
Ludwig was also accused of “enabling” Mang0 by making light of the Smash player’s drunkenness with a breathalyzer. However, Marquez took full responsibility and vowed to get sober while he was banned from Melee tournaments for a year.
Fast forward several months later, and Mang0 says that once his ban is up, it’s doubtful that he’ll ever return to playing Melee professionally and will stick to streaming.
Mang0 says he plans to drink again and won’t play Melee unless he needs money
During a Twitch broadcast, Mang0 revealed that if fans see him compete in Melee again, it’s only because he needs money.
“I have no intentions of ever playing Melee again. I’m not gonna play Melee if I don’t have a sponsor. I’m not paying money out of pocket to go to tournaments to make $80…My life after Melee has been pretty f**king great. I just make less money.”
According to Mang0, his mental health has improved a lot since the ban and while he misses traveling somewhat, it’s all he did for a decade.
However, when it comes to his sobriety, Mang0 noted that it’s been getting to him and he’s becoming “bored.”
“I plan on drinking again one day in my life,” he said, responding to fans asking about him staying sober. “I just think some things are better with alcohol. Like a birthday? I don’t want to celebrate a birthday sober for the rest of my life. My Christmas party with my family? I was like, ‘I’d rather be drinking.’”
Marquez added that he’s still going to go a full year without alcoholo, and so far his journey has been eye-opening. The Melee God explained that he’s learned that while not every activity needs a drink, some could “use a boost.”
“I feel like I would only stay sober if I came back to Melee, but I’m not coming back to Melee. I’m just at home.”
The response to the Smash community losing yet another of the legendary “Five Gods” went viral with many fans voicing their frustration.
Now, with Armada, PPMD, Mew2King, and Mang0 done with the game, that leaves Team Liquid’s Hungrybox as the only remaining member of the Era of the Five Gods.
Following clips from Mang0’s stream gaining traction on social media, Marquez addressed his comments and the reaction in a brief post on X.
“Seeing everyone discuss me and my future plans is so funny to me now. Being someone who was in public eye for his whole life to being some irrelevant dude who streams,” he said. “This is probably why I wouldn’t come back to melee. Dealing with internet weirdos is WEIRD.”
We’ll have to see what the future holds for Mang0. While he may be done with Melee for now, there’s always the chance that a new Smash game reignites his interest in the franchise and we see him in action at some point again down the line.
