It is an end of an era for one of the most iconic organisations in esports history.
Evil Geniuses (EG), a household name in esports and the gaming industry, is shutting down after more than 25 years in the scene. The organisation will cease operations on 2 November 2026, spending the next two weeks winding down its activities and working closely with affected employees.
The decision comes amid significant challenges facing the esports industry, including limited sponsorship opportunities and the rising cost of competing at the highest level, CEO Chris DeAppolonio stated through the announcement.
He also confirmed that all of the organisation’s competitive players are free to approach other teams, with its VALORANT players and coaches permitted to sign with new organisations from 2 November, when the 2026 season ends.
Meanwhile, the organisation’s next goal is to “help as many of our people find a new role over the next few months”.
DeAppolonio’s full statement reads as follows:
Evil Geniuses will cease competitive and day-to-day operations effective November 2, 2026.
Over the last few years, we rebuilt how this organization operates and worked hard to bring it back. We stabilized operations, restored public sentiment, and grew our engagement and output, all while expanding into new titles and building out our creator roster. Unfortunately, esports continues to face significant headwinds, including limited sponsorship and the rising cost of competing at the top level. Despite sustained investment and the dedication of the EG team, it's been concluded that the business cannot be operated responsibly in the current environment.
EG will wind down operations in an orderly way and work closely with every affected player, coach, and staff member.
On the competitive side, every player on every roster is free to speak with other organizations starting today. All of our VALORANT players and coaches will be free to sign with new teams when the 2026 season ends on November 2.
One big request to anyone still reading: if you're hiring, please talk to our people. I will personally vouch for every player, creator, and staff member who worked here. Reach out to me directly, [email protected], if you have an opening or need a recommendation. My goal is to help as many of our people find a new role over the next few months.
To the players, the staff, and everyone who put their heart and soul into EG over the last few years: you were all amazing. We gave this organization everything we had. I could not have asked for a better team.
To everyone who has ever worn the EG logo, to the fans who kept showing up, and to the partners who supported this org over the last 25+ years: thank you for everything.
Evil Geniuses leave a lasting legacy in esports
Anyone who has followed the world of esports will likely have heard of Evil Geniuses.
The organisation began as a Quake clan in Canada back in 1999, when esports was barely a tangible concept. It grew from the small clan to the ginormous esports organisation we know today, having housed more than 30 esports teams and roster across a vast range of games.
Evil Geniuses has stepped into all sorts of esports–including MOBAs such as Dota 2 and League of Legends to shooters such as Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, VALORANT and Fortnite, as well as fighting games such as Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros. Melee.
One of its defining achievements came in 2015, when its Dota 2 division won The International 2015 and claimed approximately US$6.6 million in prize money. At the time, this was the largest prize ever awarded in esports. To this day, EG remains the first and only North American organisation to have won Dota 2's premier world championship.
In 2018, EG won the Call of Duty World Championship, followed by a victory at Counter-Strike's ESL One New York in 2019. Its League of Legends division also made its mark, winning the LCS Spring Championship in 2022.
Evil Geniuses' most recent landmark achievement came with its VALORANT roster, which won VALORANT Champions 2023, making EG the first North American organisation to claim the game's biggest international title.
It is clear that EG was a major force in North American esports, with decades of involvement across multiple competitive scenes and an impressive track record. The organisation has visibly sized down, however, only fielding competitive rosters for VALORANT, Pokemon UNITE, and 2XKO as of this year.
Unfortunately, the financial challenges cited by EG highlight the growing difficulties even the biggest esports organisations face to remain afloat Its heartbreaking closure marks the end of an era, leaving a significant void in the esports industry.
