Luminosity Gaming is back under the control of its original founder, Steve Maida. The esports organization, known for its history in titles like Counter-Strike and Super Smash Bros., has completed a full-circle journey after a brief and turbulent stint with previous owners. Maida shared his excitement in a heartfelt LinkedIn post, writing: “I’M BAAAAAACK! I’ve reacquired Luminosity Gaming! WOW! Where to begin! What a full circle moment,” Maida declared on LinkedIn. “When I started Luminosity in my dad’s basement as a kid, I never ever could have imagined the scale it would get to, or that I would be selling it to an NHL team.”
He reflected on the humble beginnings, recalling how he left a steady corporate job to chase his passion for building a competitive team with a standout logo. “Back in the day, Maida was just an ‘addicted gamer’ who wanted to create a ‘cool team’ with a ‘cool logo.’ His dream had been to have a Counter-Strike team compete in a tournament,” the post continued. One memory that still stands out for him came early on: “I still remember in the first few months we were live, I was at the food court in my local mall and a young boy and his father walked past me – the kid had on the Luminosity blue zip hoodie. My jaw dropped. That’s when I knew I was onto something,” Maida recalled. “It’s been an absolutely wild ride, and I couldn’t be happier to be back in control of my baby. It means the world to me. If you’ve supported me over the years, to the real ones – THANK YOU. Excited for the future!”
The announcement came via official channels on X , confirming Maida's return. As part of the deal, current players and content creators affiliated with Luminosity Gaming received full payment from the sale proceeds. Any lingering historical debts or unpaid obligations from before this transition remain with the prior owner, Vertiqal Studios. Luminosity Gaming's path has been anything but straightforward in recent years. Originally founded by Maida in 2015, the org rose to prominence with major wins, including the 2016 MLG Columbus Major in CS:GO with its Brazilian roster. It later became part of Enthusiast Gaming in 2019.In August 2025, Enthusiast sold Luminosity Gaming to Vertiqal Studios, a gaming and lifestyle company focused on growing content creation across platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and social media.
The agreement saw Vertiqal take on roughly $2.6 million in liabilities tied to the organization. However, challenges quickly surfaced. Several creators and players, including top Super Smash Bros. Ultimate competitors like Leonardo "MkLeo" Perez and Carlos "Sonix" Perez, publicly shared concerns about delayed or missing payments post-acquisition.
When reached by media, a Vertiqal representative explained they had acquired a "distressed company" with some known issues but underestimated the full scope until speaking directly with those affected. They promised resolutions for everyone involved.
Enthusiast's former Chief Marketing Officer, Alex Gonzalez, pushed back on claims of prior mismanagement, stating the brand had a solid foundation and was set up for success.
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