GeoGuessr was slated to take part in the upcoming Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, but a recent message from the game’s CEO has revealed a major pivot. It has been confirmed that GeoGuessr will no longer appear in Riyadh as a result of backlash from the game’s community following the original announcement that it would be.
The team explained that ‘this decision does not align (with) what GeoGuessr stands for.’
‘It Was With Positive Intentions’
GeoGuessr isn’t your average esports game, but it’s a great competitive title nonetheless. This map-based title has a phenomenal community and has soared in popularity in recent years, but a recent announcement revealing the game’s imminent appearance at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh was met with a sour response.
That’s why the game will no longer appear at the event in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, GeoGuessr’s CEO wrote:
I’ve seen your reactions over the past few days regarding our decision to participate in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. When we made that decision, it was with positive intentions. To engage with our community in the Middle East and to spread GeoGuessr’s core mission of let everyone Explore the World.
Since Erland, Anton, and I founded GeoGuessr in 2013, we’ve always strived to be a community-first game. Everyone here at the Stockholm office is a passionate GeoGuessr fan, doing our best to build something meaningful, with you and for you. That said, you – our community – have made it clear that this decision does not align what GeoGuessr stands for.
So, when you tell us we’ve got it wrong we take it seriously. That’s why we’ve made the decision to withdraw from participating in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.
We will come back with information on how the wildcards will be distributed as soon as possible.
Of course, this decision has caused a similar level of dissent in the GeoGuessr community, particularly those from the Middle East.
One user wrote: “I was really looking forward to this. You let down the Middle Eastern community by listening to angry people who don’t know anything about ME and our culture.”
The location of the Esports World Cup and how it’s financially supported have long been a sticking point for esports fans – and gamers in general – since the inaugural event took place last year.
Do you think it’s a strange move for GeoGuessr to pull out of such a lucrative event? Let me know on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming esports, check out everything you need to know about the ALGS Year 5 Midseason Playoffs
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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