Evil Geniuses, the legendary North American esports organization, has confirmed that it will officially shut down all operations on November 2nd, 2026. This decision was announced by CEO Chris DeAppolonio in a statement published (and mourned) on social media, bringing an end to a quarter-century of competitive gaming history.
It was previously cited that the organization was experiencing monetary issues amid the ongoing instability of the esports industry, and that it was facing unsustainable operating costs and a lack of traction in tournaments. The organization’s last notable win was at VALORANT Champions in 2023.
EG Shutting Down For Good
The last monumental moment in Evil Geniuses’ storied history came in August 2023, when the organization stormed to success at the VALORANT Champions tournament in Los Angeles. They put on a masterclass in the grand final, securing the $1,000,000 grand prize and making history as the first NA team to win a global VALORANT world championship title, but alas, it wasn’t enough.
Historically, Evil Geniuses has floated rosters in stacks of competitive titles, making a name for itself as many others came and went. In one form or another, EG has been around since 1999.
In 2015, the organization won The International in Dota 2, the Call of Duty World Championship in 2018, and lifted many trophies across League of Legends, Counter-Strike, StarCraft, and within the FGC.
Here’s the full statement from Chris DeAppolonio, posted on social media recently:
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 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.
In the comments under the post, former employees and pro players lamented the loss of the iconic organization. It really was a company that pioneered the growth of esports, but now, it’s time to bid farewell to EG.
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Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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