ESL FACEIT Group has acquired esports infrastructure company Vindex
by Danny Craig
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ESL FACEIT Group
The world’s biggest esports conglomerate, ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), has announced its acquisition of Vindex, a company focused on data and infrastructure solutions for esports events.
The details:
- The event organizer announced in a press release on March 1 that it had officially acquired Vindex for an undisclosed sum. CEO Mike Sepso and CSO Sundance DiGiovanni will remain in their current positions while also joining EFG in leadership roles.
- Esports Engine, a subsidiary of Vindex, will continue to operate normally under EFG. Esports Engine is well-known for its work on Call of Duty League (CDL), Overwatch League (OWL), Halo Championship Series (HCS), and other notable scenes. Belong Gaming Arenas will now operate independently of Vindex, sticking to the franchising business model that was introduced last September. Craig Levine, Co-CEO of EFG, stated that the move was made due to the brand's "fit and focus" which does not align with the group's future plans.
- EFG was formed in January 2022 as a result of the Saudi Savvy Games Group's $1.5 billion USD acquisition of ESL and its subsidiaries. The deal drew harsh criticism from the esports and gaming communities, who claimed it was "esportswashing" because of Savvy's backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as the country's controversial human rights record.
Other recent esports news:
- The Guard, an esports organization, has laid off the majority of its employees in its content, social, and creative departments. According to reports, the Kroenke-owned organization is looking to sell its OWL and CDL franchise slots by the end of their respective seasons, implying a complete exit from the esports scene.
- The Olympics have announced that they will host an esports competition called the "Olympic Esports Series." It has drawn criticism from the community due to the selection of games being played, including Just Dance, Gran Turismo, and Tennis Clash, instead of "actual" esports such as Counter-Strike, League of Legends, or Dota 2.
