Rakattack and Momma Rak: Overwatch 2 support heroes in-game and IRL

Whether it's through the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) or the Calling All Heroes circuit, Overwatch 2 esports has made a real impact on the community. One standout example is Kyle "Rakattack" Rakauskas and his mother Kim Rakauskas. We sat down with them for an exclusive interview!

A few years ago, Rakattack was an Overwatch superfan who cheered from the stands during the 2019 Grand Finals. He also streamed and competed in Contenders before making it to the Overwatch League (OWL).

Fast forward to 2024, he joined Students of the Game as a player for OWCS NA Stage 1. In the same year, this led him to the OWCS Dallas Major. There, Students of the Game players all graduated and became NRG Shock!

"It was definitely really fun because we only knew about the graduating thing probably a day and a half earlier," Rakattack told esports.gg "We didn't even get to rehearse it or anything. We got signed for maybe four or five days before DreamHack. No one knew we were supposed to be NRG, and then I looked into the crowd and I saw they were cheering a ton. So it was really cool being able to see that and represent an org that people still loved."

The energy at the in-person event was electric as the crowd cheered for NRG Shock. Around 500 extra seats had to be added to the tournament area due to the overall interest in the competition as well.

Rakattack's mother, who is also an Overwatch 2 esports superfan, shared her thoughts about seeing her son on the big stage, too.

"It's amazing. To put it in traditional sports terms, it would be as if he was playing football as a little kid and then he becomes a pro football player and says, 'Hi, mom!' And it is 100% that — except that it's for esports," she said. "I'm beaming with pride, and watching him put in the work is glorious."

At NRG Shock, Rakattack is a support player. In his interview with esports.gg, Rakattack credited his family's support in helping him with his Overwatch 2 career. His mother's encouragement, especially, allowed him to fully commit to the game.

"When I was playing in Contenders before Overwatch League, I had half of my foot in college — because I was very much like a normal college guy — and half in Overwatch," Rakattack said. "But now, I can step a lot harder into just being able to do Overwatch, knowing that they support it and that I'll be able to pivot later."

Rakattack continued, recalling how during his first year of college, only his closest friends knew he was ranked among the top Overwatch players. This realization helped him grow from being more introverted in high school to becoming more outgoing in college and at in-person events.

"Him being my youngest, we've always had a good bond," Rakattack's mother said, adding that she's active on Discord and social media to support her son while her husband dedicates himself to his business. Both of these roles contribute to the family's support system. "My husband was always like, 'sports, sports, sports,' and I might have been a little bit more lenient about it like, "Maybe he doesn't need to do football practice.' I warmed up to the whole esports world earlier."

She continued, revealing that she enjoys getting meals ready for Rakattack. "I try to feed his body and his soul. I'm nurturing him so that he can do what he really loves to do."

In addition to his mother's support, Rakattack also has the backing of his coaches and managers. This helps him become the best he can be and progress more easily.

"It means a lot because there's a lot that goes into this or any traditional sport — like my mom cooking food for me, my managers booking the scrims for me, and my coaches [doing] reviews and stuff. It lets you focus on just the game, and you don't have to worry about any other factors."

Rakattack's mother believes that balancing responsibilities such as homework and chores with a passion for video games can lead to amazing opportunities. She noted how Kyle is receiving funding for his education and making a living through esports at the same time as well. In her experience, this is something that many parents still find difficult to understand. She then compared esports to participating in crew, which can also open doors for students.

"It's amazing to me now that Kyle's getting his school paid for, his apartment. He's getting paid, he can win, keep his winnings, and it's just amazing," she said. "And a lot of parents can't conceive of it. They think that esports is a waste of time. But I try to tell them, 'No, this is a real thing now.'" She added that esports may be the wave of the future with more opportunities opening up than ever before.

As for parting words, Rakattack's mother praised her son's inner strength to keep going in pursuit of his passion. Meanwhile, Rakattack himself said that success in Overwatch 2 esports is not a linear path. Having a strong support system and putting in extra effort is what can help players push through even the toughest challenges.

"I kept with it and I just kept going and put in the work on my own," he said. "And now I'm winning again and have been to most of the LANs so far. I'm pretty content with where I've made it."

That's all for now. Stick around on esports.gg for more Overwatch 2 interviews, news, and updates!