Pixel P&L: Guild Esports Unraveled

Good morning. It’s Monday, 21st October. Guild Esports made headlines with its 2020 IPO and David Beckham’s backing, but by 2024, the organization was grappling with financial woes. Today’s feature delves into Guild’s rise, missteps, and eventual sale, examining the challenges faced by one of esports’ brightest prospects.

Also in focus: ESL FACEIT Group’s $22 million investment in the Counter-Strike ecosystem for 2025 and 2026, and MPL Philippines’ record-breaking viewership numbers. Plus, we bring you updates on the Indian Gaming Expo 2025 and other major developments in the industry.

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Guild Esports made waves in the esports industry with its high-profile 2020 initial public offering (IPO) on the London Stock Exchange, fueled by the involvement of global sports icon David Beckham. At its peak, the organization raised £20 million ($26 million), positioning itself as a leader in European esports. However, the company’s rapid rise was followed by an equally swift decline.

By March 2024, Guild Esports found itself on the brink of collapse, with cash reserves dwindling to just £17,000 ($22,800). The organization, once valued at £41.2 million ($53.6 million), was forced into a sale to U.S. investment firm DCB Sports, reflecting its financial desperation.

Our feature explores Guild’s journey from the excitement of its IPO to the struggles that led to its downfall. From Beckham’s lucrative deal to questions over the sustainability of its business model, we dive into the decisions that shaped its fate. What went wrong, and how did one of esports' most promising organizations end up in financial distress?

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has announced a $22 million investment to support its Counter-Strike ecosystem over 2025 and 2026. The funds will be directed towards teams competing in the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) circuit, which has been revamped to align with Valve’s updated tournament guidelines for 2025.

The financial commitment, which amounts to $11 million annually, will cover teams' participation costs, including travel and accommodation, as well as prize pools. A portion of the funds will go towards the Intel Grand Slam, a $1 million incentive awarded to teams that win three ESL Pro Tour Masters events and one Championship event.

The 2025 ESL Pro Tour will feature two key Championship events, IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, while Masters tournaments will include ESL Pro League, IEM Dallas, IEM Chengdu, and IEM Spring.

The restructured circuit comes as EFG seeks to create a more sustainable competition framework for teams worldwide. This move follows EFG's recent expansion into Saudi Arabia with the ESL Saudi Challenge and its renewed partnership with logistics company DHL.

Twitch Faces Allegations of Blocking Israeli Users Amid Controversy

Israeli users have reported difficulties registering on the popular streaming platform Twitch, according to a report by Israel news website Ynet. According to the report, over the past few days, Israelis attempting to sign up encountered error messages when using email, and no response when trying to register with phone numbers that included an Israeli country code. Ynet claims that its tests showed that registration through Israeli IP addresses and phone numbers were unsuccessful, while users in other countries were able to register without issue.

MPL Philippines Season 14 Viewership Hits Record High

MPL Philippines Season 14 set a new viewership record, peaking at 1.6 million viewers—up by approximately 775,000 from the previous season—according to Esports Charts. The event, which spanned nearly 161 hours of broadcast, averaged 130,188 viewers, an increase of 8,500 compared to Season 13, which concluded in May. The season concluded with a thrilling best-of-seven Grand Final, where Fnatic ONIC PH secured the title by defeating Aurora Gaming in a closely contested series.

Hungama, Eva Live to Host Indian Gaming Expo 2025 in Mumbai

Hungama and Eva Live have announced the return of the Indian Gaming Expo (IGX), India’s largest esports and gaming festival, set for January 24-25, 2025, at Nesco Ground, Mumbai. The sixth edition will feature esports tournaments, cosplay competitions, workshops, and meet-and-greet sessions. Hungama’s involvement signals a push toward mainstream gaming in India, while Eva Live, known for large-scale events, aims to deliver an immersive experience. IGX 2025 is expected to draw over 30,000 attendees and showcase top gaming titles across mobile, PC, and console platforms.

Unity 6 Launches with Enhanced Features for Multiple Platforms

Unity has released its latest game engine, Unity 6, across mobile, PC, console, and extended reality platforms. The new version introduces end-to-end multiplayer workflows, mobile web development tools, and enhanced graphics capabilities to shift workloads from CPU to GPU. In a blog post, Unity President and CEO Matthew Bromberg emphasized a shift in the company's development approach, focusing on expanded testing and continuous feedback. Bromberg also pledged extended support for Unity 6, committing engineering resources for several years and guaranteeing at least two years of support after the next major release.

Did you know that Bethesda Softworks, the studio behind The Elder Scrolls and Fallout series, was once offered the opportunity to create an official open-world Game of Thrones game? Back in 2011, Bethesda was approached to adapt George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire into a video game. However, the studio declined the offer in favor of focusing on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

In a 2011 interview, Bethesda's Todd Howard revealed that while the team found Game of Thrones intriguing and considered the idea, they ultimately decided to build their own world. The team was already deeply invested in the creation of Skyrim, which was set to release later that year. According to Howard, the decision to stick with their original vision allowed Bethesda to pour all their creative energy into expanding the beloved Elder Scrolls universe.

While Bethesda passed on the Game of Thrones project, the universe did eventually make its way to video games through titles like A Game of Thrones: Genesis and the RPG simply titled Game of Thrones. Still, fans can only wonder what could have been if Bethesda had taken the reins of Westeros.