The ownership group of North American esports organisation Version1 has announced a strategic partnership with European esports organisation G2 Esports.
The group, which consists of WISE Ventures and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, will become shareholders in G2 Esports.
In addition to Version1’s ownership becoming shareholders in G2 Esports, the European esports organisation will receive the operating rights for the Minnesota Røkkr Call of Duty League franchise. According to a release, the move coincides with the organisation’s expansion into the North American market throughout 2023.
The partnership between Version1 and G2 Esports comes after the former’s COO Brett Diamond revealed it was seeking a merger in April 2023. Last month, The Esports Advocate reported that a deal between Version 1 and G2 Esports was near completion.
Alongside its Call of Duty League franchise, Version1 has fielded teams across several titles including Rocket League and VALORANT. In November, the North American esports organisation’s VALORANT Game Changers roster was acquired by Shopify Rebellion, with the team going on to the 2023 Game Changers Championship.
For G2 Esports, the merger marks another step in its North American expansion. In September 2023, the organisation secured a place in the VCT Americas league for the 2024 competitive VALORANT season after The Guard failed to sign Riot Games’ Team Partnership Agreement.
Securing the operating rights of the Minnesota Røkkr isn’t the first time G2 Esports has entered Call of Duty esports. The organisation fielded a roster at the start of the 2018/19 season before disbanding after failing to qualify for the CWL Pro League.
Jonathan Wilf, President and Ownership Partner of Version1, spoke on the announcement: “I am excited about the next chapter for the Version1 story. We continue to believe in the future of esports and know partnering with a top tier organisation such as G2 Esports will best position our group for future success.”
