Evil Geniuses to Close After More Than 25 Years in Esports

Evil Geniuses will shut down its esports operations on Nov. 2, 2026, ending more than 25 years of competition. The organization cited difficulty securing sponsorships and the rising cost of competing across major esports titles.

The closure will end Evil Geniuses’ involvement in its current games and its daily business activities. In recent years, the organization worked to improve its operations and reputation, produce more content, increase viewership, and expand its roster of creators and players. Those efforts did not generate enough sponsorship opportunities to support continued competition.

Evil Geniuses was recently denied a partnership in the VALORANT Champions Tour Americas league for the 2027 season. The organization won VALORANT Champions in 2023, but its absence from the 2027 partnership lineup was not identified as the sole reason for the shutdown. Evil Geniuses attributed the decision to limited sponsorship income combined with the cost of maintaining competitive teams.

The organization’s players will become free agents after the 2026 season ends on Nov. 2. Evil Geniuses plans to help its players and staff find new opportunities, including through referrals to potential employers.

Founded in 1999, Evil Geniuses competed in Dota 2, Call of Duty, VALORANT and other esports. Its major titles include The International 2015 in Dota 2, the Call of Duty Championship in 2018 and VALORANT Champions in 2023.

Follow the latest game updates, tournaments, and competitive developments, and learn more about Dota 2 MMR boost options.