According to well-known esports journalist Richard Lewis, ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has initiated yet another major layoff wave, this time affecting approximately 80-90 employees. The cuts are part of a “strategic realignment” aimed at streamlining operations and focusing resources on high-growth areas.
The affected staff are reportedly from the EMEA region, especially teams involved with production and event operations for large tournaments.
The company’s internal memo, sent by CEO Niccolò Maisto, states this marks “the end of this phase of change” and that no further reductions of this scale are expected.
At this moment, we unfortunately don’t have any information about who will be taking over or managing any open matters
TM EMEA Team
The shake-up signals that EFG is moving away from its prior “growth-at-all-costs” model toward profitability and operational efficiency.
These layoffs arrive amidst evolving pressures on the esports industry as many organisations shift from rapid expansion to profitability, particularly under the ownership umbrella of Savvy Games Group, backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign fund.
For the global esports ecosystem, the move exemplifies the challenges of scaling operations internationally while controlling costs — especially under big-budget ownership and ambitious league visions.
