ESL FaceIt Group sacks close to 100 employees in restructure

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has laid off 80 to 90 employees in its latest restructuring wave, with en email to all staff confirming the layoffs.

The cuts come as part of a “strategic realignment” intended to streamline operations and enable sustainable long-term growth, with ESL FaceIt Group one of the most prominent event organizers in the industry.

In an internal memo, CEO Niccolo Maisto acknowledged that the process had “involved incredibly tough choices”, and said those impacted have been notified. He described the changes as marking “the end of this phase of change”, adding that no further layoffs of this magnitude are expected.

Maisto’s internal letter explained that since its formation, EFG’s business had “nearly tripled”, but warned that rapid expansion had introduced “complexity and inefficiency” over time. He stressed that the restructuring was “not solely about cost cutting, but a strategic realignment to reduce complexity, streamline operations, and focus resources on areas with the biggest growth potential”.

This marks the third major round of layoffs at EFG since the ESL and FACEIT merger in 2022. In March 2024, the company reduced its global workforce by approximately 15%, cutting between 250 and 300 roles.

The layoffs follow earlier industry reports of a deeper restructuring that could affect between 200 and 300 people. Moreover, this round appears more targeted, and the company insists broader reductions are unlikely for the rest of the year.

The cuts coincide with other internal shifts: in May, co-CEO Craig Levine transitioned to an advisory role, consolidating leadership under Maisto, and earlier in October, EFG indefinitely suspended its women’s Counter-Strike 2 ecosystem, ESL Impact.

The recently completed ESL Pro League Season 22 of Counter-Strike, which was won by Team Vitality, had record average viewership, highlighting an area the company will undoubtedly focus on.