The Guard, one of the major organizations in the esports industry, has undergone significant layoffs in its creative and production divisions, raising concerns about the future of the organization and its teams. The company has yet to confirm the layoffs, but producer Hunter Grooms, who was also affected, announced the news on Twitter.
Reports suggest that the layoffs have affected most of the behind-the-scenes employees, including the creative, social, talent, and production teams. However, RamBeau, a member of The Guard's Apex Legends team, stated on live-stream that the competitive teams have not been let go, but rather, they are allowed to explore other opportunities.
Rambeau said, "Basically, everyone was relieved of their jobs, unfortunately, except for the competitive teams. As of right now, I am still on The Guard signed as a pro player with them. As of right now, they want to keep us, they want us to keep playing for them. They said they would love that. But also, we are allowed to look around."
The Guard's Valorant team is currently competing in NA Challengers, while the Apex Legends roster is set to participate in the NA division of ALGS Split 2 Pro League next month. The future of these teams is uncertain, and the organization has yet to provide any updates on their status.
The Guard is owned by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, one of the largest sports companies globally. They are known for their teams in Valorant and Apex Legends and operate teams in the Overwatch League and the Call of Duty League.
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is reportedly looking to exit the Overwatch League and the Call of Duty League and may sell off its teams or at least cease operations. The Esports Advocate and the Sports Business Journal reported that the ownership group is considering selling its teams in both leagues, and LA Guerrillas and LA Gladiators will remain operational until the end of the season or until a buyer is found for the teams or franchise slots.
Kroenke Sports & Entertainment spent $20 million in August 2017 to enter the Overwatch League with the LA Gladiators, and they also spent $25 million in 2019 to participate in the Call of Duty League with LA Guerrillas. The company rebranded its esports operations in November 2021, putting both franchise teams and a Valorant roster under The Guard's umbrella. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment briefly fielded a Halo roster in late 2021 and expanded into Apex Legends in October 2022.
LA Guerrillas’ head coach Mark (MarkyB) Bryceland confirmed the reports on Twitter by stating, "I cannot put into words how devastated I am. I moved to LAG because of the organization, the people behind the scenes. That's all gone now."
The future of The Guard's teams, the Overwatch League, and Call of Duty League franchises remain uncertain. Meanwhile, the esports community waits for further updates from The Guard and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. With the potential withdrawal from both leagues, it is unclear what the future holds for the organization and its teams. Fans and players alike are left to wonder what the next steps will be for The Guard and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment.
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