North American esports organisation Oxygen Esports (OXG) is reportedly closing its operations and laying off all staff.
The news was first reported by media outlet Dexerto, claiming that unnamed sources informed the news platform of OXG’s shutdown.
According to Dexerto’s report, players of the organisation’s Call of Duty League franchise, Bosten Breach, were informed that they would lose access to the OXG’s Helix facility and their apartments by August 8th. This is despite the franchise competing at the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia a few days later.
Moreover, some sources reportedly shared that OXG’s board and shareholders were involved in resolving formalities around severance pay related to the upcoming layoffs, which are expected to be made official by August 9th.
Esports Insider has reached out to Oxygen Esports for comment.
Oxygen Esports was founded in 2020 as an esports organisation based in New England. One year later, the company absorbed the Kraft Sports and Entertainment esports operation, enabling OXG to integrate franchise teams from the now-absolved Overwatch League (Boston Uprising) and the Call of Duty League. As of today, OXG also competes in VALORANT, Rocket League, Rainbow Six: Siege and sim racing.
The organisation is partnered with technology-based wearables brand GamerTech and energy drink company Monster Energy. Previous partnerships include toy company Gel Blaster, drinkware brand Ice Shaker and energy drink brand G.O.A.T. Fuel.
Most recently, OXG launched Quick Fix Media (QFM), an esports content and media incubator. The new venture partnered with Rocket League news and data site ShiftRLE to announce the Shift Summer League tournament.
However, the event’s Rocket League Playoffs were suspended indefinitely on August 6th. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), a member of the tournament’s production crew alleged that staff were urged to continue working for free after discovering that they would no longer receive their pre-arranged payment.
