Esports giant The Guard has just slashed various positions in their creative division with an uncertain future for their teams as the organization takes a massive hit.
2023 was predicted to be a rough year for the gaming and esports industries. And so far, it has shown itself to be incredibly rocky, with 10,000 employees left without a job across Microsoft-owned studios to esports giants 100 Thieves and OpTic laying off dozens of staff members.
The Guard has followed suit as multiple ex-employees of the esports org have announced they were laid off.
Many of the employees let go were part of their creative and production teams, generally in charge of the behind-the-scenes work that we don’t see. It is unsure if the layoffs will affect their teams.
The Guard lays off multiple staff members in shocking blow
Currently, The Guard is represented by a Valorant team in NA Challengers and by an Apex Legends roster, which finished 17th at the recent ALGS Split 1 Playoffs. The organization also owns the Los Angeles Gladiators in the Overwatch League and the Los Angeles Guerrillas in the Call of Duty League.
BREAKING: Layoffs have now hit The Guard as they lay off all of their content, social, talent, and creative teams Sources: myself lmao pic.twitter.com/8YZS3kF3Ia
— Hunter (@HUN2R) February 22, 2023
The Guard producer Hunter was part of the round of layoffs. He announced on his Twitter that the org had just laid off their entire content, social, talent and creative teams, even posting a selfie with the entire team right before they were given the news.
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Apparel designer Carlie Kay was one of the first people to announce that The Guard were laying off multiple staff members. “As of today, everyone’s position at The Guard has been eliminated,” she wrote on Twitter.
The org could be seen hiring people until recently, with Mavriq announcing joining The Guard as a short-form producer on February 12, only to be laid off in the recent wave.
Similarly, Ariel Ben-Abraham, who had moved to Los Angeles just to work for the org, was also laid off.
as of today everyone’s position at the guard has been eliminated. it was a great few months but i’m heartbroken. i am available for work across merch or apparel. unemployed in LA isn’t something i was expecting the day before my birthday Lol
— carlie (@CARLIEB0T) February 22, 2023
The layoffs have taken everyone in the esports industry by surprise as the org is backed by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, one of the largest sports companies in the world.
The Guard is yet to address the layoffs publicly, but we’ll be sure to keep you updated here with any changes in the coming hours.