North American esports organisation The Guard seemingly laid off all of its employees in an all-hands meeting yesterday, according to a report by esports.gg.
A now former employee has confirmed to Esports Insider that these layoffs include every employee in the content, social, creative, and talent departments.
The Guard, along with its subsidiaries, is owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment group, a massive Denver-based holding company that owns numerous other sports franchises, including the National Football League’s (NFL) Los Angeles Rams, the National Basketball League’s (NBA) Denver Nuggets, and the Premier League’s Arsenal FC.
The recent cuts could potentially put into question the organisation’s other divisions, including its pro teams, though there has been no confirmation on this as of yet. Currently, The Guard competes in Apex Legends and VALORANT. The organisation also owns the LA Guerrillas and the LA Gladiators, who compete in the Call of Duty League (CDL) and the Overwatch League (OWL), respectively.
While it is an open secret that the esports industry is struggling financially, 2023 continues to be an erratic year for even the biggest of organisations. In January, 100 Thieves laid off roughly 30 employees, and in February, FaZe Clan laid off nearly 20% of its workforce. Additionally, North American esports organisation Immortals underwent a wave of layoffs last week that went mostly unnoticed.
At the time of release, neither The Guard nor any of its owners have made a public statement on the matter.
