Evil Geniuses to Cease Operations After 25 Years in Esports
Written with artificial intelligence.
Evil Geniuses, a prominent name in esports, is shutting down after more than 25 years, with operations concluding on November 2, 2026. The organization cites sponsorship challenges and rising costs as key factors in its decision.
Closure Announcement
Evil Geniuses (EG), a celebrated organization in the esports community, will end its operations on November 2, 2026. The announcement comes from CEO Chris DeAppolonio, who highlighted the challenges of securing sponsorships and the increasing costs of high-level competition as major reasons for this difficult decision.
Transition for Players and Staff
As part of the wind-down process, EG is prioritizing the welfare of its players and staff. All EG players are now free to seek opportunities with other teams, and specifically, the VALORANT roster will be available for signing with new organizations starting from the end of the 2026 season.
DeAppolonio expressed a commitment to assist affected individuals in finding new roles over the next few months and encouraged potential employers to reach out for recommendations.
Legacy in Esports
Founded in 1999 as a Quake clan, Evil Geniuses evolved into a major esports organization with successes in various titles, including Dota 2, Call of Duty, and VALORANT. Notably, the organization won The International 2015, claiming a record $6.6 million prize, and recently achieved a milestone victory with its VALORANT roster at VALORANT Champions 2023.
Despite its historical impact, EG has faced significant downsizing and now fields competitive teams in only a few titles. The closure underscores the financial difficulties even established esports organizations face today, marking a poignant end to an era in the industry.