by Invictus Gaming have become the fifth team since the end of 2022 to leave the Apex Legends competitive esports scene, with the organisation citing a lack of sustainability and support from the game’s developer, EA.
The Chinese-owned organisation signed the roster of Endeavour – an EMEA team that competed in the 2021 EMEA Split One Championship, where they finished in sixth place.
After disappointing results at the Apex Legends Global Series 2022 Split 2 Playoffs, 2022 Championship and 2023 Split 1 Playoffs, IG have made the decision to pull out of the Apex Legends professional scene.
IG have since released their roster of Cameron “noiises” Walker, Jake “Jmw” Walters, Martin “Graceful” Wongphrom and substitute Brrynn “brynn” Corbet.
We have carefully considered our position and sustainability in the Apex Legends space and have come to the difficult conclusion to step away from the title. pic.twitter.com/DultEfJSyS
— Invictus Gaming (@invgaming) February 20, 2023
With North American organisations such as Team Liquid, G2 Esports, Cloud9 and Spacestation Gaming also choosing to leave the Apex Legends competitive scene, there seems to be a worrying trend appearing.
Team Liquid were the first of the North American-owned esports organisation to pull the pin, with CEO Steve Arhancet taking aim at the ALGS and its organisers stating that Liquid “strives to only participate in games where the developers support the teams, so the teams can support their players in turn”.
The latest NA outfit to leave the competitive scene is Spacestation Gaming, with CEO Shawn “Unit” Pellerin saying that “without a fair rev share partnership to help with sustainability, it’s hard to justify continuing to invest”.
We are going to miss Apex Legends and watching our team compete, it really is one of the most entertaining esports.
Unfortunately, how the esports market is currently, without a fair rev share partnership to help with sustainability.. it’s hard to justify continuing to invest.
— Unit (@Unit_Shawn) February 13, 2023
Going into the EMEA Split 2, some 10 of the 30 teams that will participate are unsigned rosters.
