ESL to investigate FaZe deal
GameSquare's future acquisition of FaZe is being reviewed by ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) for any potential implications that it could have any tournaments run by the organizer. GameSquare's current property, Complexity, competes in many esports titles, as does FaZe. The biggest focus is on Counter-Strike, which was especially on display during IEM Sydney as the two squads competed in the Grand Final, with the European outfit coming out on top.
The acquisition has not yet closed as it needs shareholder approval, which is expected to occur before the end of the year. This leaves little time for each property to remain independent from one another and can cause potential conflict of interest issues. Both organizations are members of ESL's Louvre Agreement, offering partners permanent slots at ESL Pro League and revenue sharing.
In a statement to Dust2.us, ESL said the following concerning the expected acquisition:
We are aware of the acquisition of FaZe Clan by GameSquare and are examining the potential implications this may have on (their participation in) our tournaments and our business relations. If the outcomes of this review lead to any updates, then we will announce those in due course.
While ESL has commented on the matter, the most important event starts in just a few months. Valve's 2024 PGL Copenhagen Major will see both teams entering the qualifiers in their respective regions. In a comment to HLTV, Valve said that the rule preventing multiple organization ownership will be in place at all ranked events starting in 2025, when the new rules regarding franchising go into affect.
