ESL FACEIT Group is the latest to layoff employees in the esports industry.
The wave of layoffs in the esports industry has continued, as ESL FACEIT Group announced layoffs of roughly 80-90 employees earlier today. This is the second major wave of layoffs in as many years for the esports community platform, following the other wave in early 2024.
ESL FACEIT Group goes through another round of layoffs
In an article published by insider Richard Lewis, ESL FACEIT explains the layoffs through a company-wide email that was sent out on Oct. 16, 2025. According to the email, which presumably came from upper management, this round of layoffs came about due to a "strategic realignment to reduce complexity, streamline operations, and focus resources on areas with the biggest growth potential."
Richard Lewis confirms that around 80-90 employees were let go as a result of this strategic realignment at ESL FACEIT Group. Many of those now-terminated employees were recognizable figures at the company, and it appears a majority of the layoffs have affected the EMEA division. This division was responsible, in part, for the production of the Esports World Cup in both 2024 and 2025.
However, the layoffs weren't exclusive to this division, as producers who worked on events such as ESL One Birmingham in the United Kingdom were also let go. Still, with ESL FACEIT seemingly targeting one division with these layoffs, it brings into question whether the Esports World Cup will be taking production in a different direction in 2026.
What happens now at ESL FACEIT Group?
While this situation has raised plenty of questions surrounding ESL FACEIT and its operations, no further layoffs are expected for the rest of the year or in the foreseeable future. According to the last part of the company email that confirmed the layoffs, the company is done with its realignment for now:
"Critically, this marks the end of this phase of change. With these foundations in place, we don’t anticipate any further changes of this scale. We’ve now established a truly sustainably foundation while not only preserving our core capabilities, but enabling us to better serve our partners and customers moving forward."
Of course, the quote does say "further changes of this scale," which does seemingly leave the door open for a smaller wave of layoffs if the need arises. ESL FACEIT has become no stranger to sudden and frequent layoffs since the two companies merged back in 2022, but for now, the company is trying to move forward and "build the future of esports."
