GeoGuessr to Leave Esports World Cup

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22 May 2025 14:17

GeoGuessr has officially withdrawn from the Esports World Cup just days after announcing its participation, following widespread criticism from its community over the event’s location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The decision, announced on May 21, comes after intense pushback from fans and creators, many of whom voiced concerns on social media and within the game’s official Discord community. The controversy escalated when the creators of the game’s most popular world maps made their content unplayable in protest, effectively disabling core features that would have been used in the competition.

GeoGuessr initially revealed its inclusion in the Esports World Cup line-up on May 15, marking what was supposed to be the title’s most significant competitive showing to date. However, the backlash prompted a rapid reassessment by the studio.

In a public statement posted on GeoGuessr’s social media platforms, co-founder and CEO Daniel Antell addressed the growing concerns: “I’ve seen your reactions over the past few days regarding our decision to participate in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. When we made that decision, it was made with positive intentions,” he wrote. “When you tell us we’ve got it wrong, we take it seriously.”

Antell confirmed that the planned Last Chance Wildcard tournament, which was to serve as a final qualification event for GeoGuessr’s World Championship, will no longer be held in Saudi Arabia. While the event has been canceled in its original format, he assured the community that alternative plans are in the works, with further details to be announced soon.

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Tags: GeoGuessr

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