Evil Geniuses hit with another round of layoffs
North American esports organisation Evil Geniuses has undergone its third round of layoffs within a year, signalling ongoing turbulence within the company.
The latest cuts have impacted at least 20 individuals, spanning from management to operational staff.
Sweeping layoffs strike Evil Geniuses
The reduction in staff at Evil Geniuses first came to light when Esports reporter Kevin Hitt hinted at the distressing news via a tweet, stating, "North American esports organization Evil Geniuses has laid off at least 20 people, with some in management positions."
This development was confirmed by former EG League of Legends Data Scientist Beora, who tweeted in solidarity with colleagues: "Unfortunately today is my last day at Evil Geniuses, to the other ~20 ppl that were laid off today."
Adding to the wave of confirmations, Jesse Roberts, previously at the helm of Socials & Digital Marketing for Evil Geniuses, shared his departure: "Today was my last day at Evil Geniuses. Thank you to all my colleagues for your trust and support. Shout out to all of the players who made my job easier and a lot more exciting."
Industry downturn and legal troubles ahead for EG
The layoff announcement has triggered speculation about the future of Evil Geniuses, with discussions rearing about a potential sale or change in ownership.
On top of the economic realities of the esports industry at the present time, EG’s troubles may be exacerbated by the organization's legal entanglements.
Initially reported by Richard Lewis, a court case looms over EG, centring on allegations of exploitation involving well-known Dota player Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan, which is scheduled for early November.
After its victory at the VALORANT Champions tour, EG’s VALORANT roster is reportedly left in limbo, with its players being "given the opportunity" to explore options or otherwise face pay cuts.
Moreover, Evil Geniuses made headlines with Dexerto reporting earlier this year that the team had shown “a repeated lack of care” for its League of Legends player Kyle “Danny” Sakamaki.
Last week, EG let go of its creator Elyse "Herculyse" Herrera allegedly under the pretence that sponsors for her tournament circuit had dropped from the project, only to announce a continuation of those tournaments without Herculyse later.
In August, former CEO Nicole LaPointe Jameson stepped down from her position with the organisation, with the company’s former Chief Innovation Officer Chris DeAppolonio stepping into the position in the interim.
