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GeoGuessr backs out of Esports World Cup due to intense backlash from the public over Saudi Arabia's human rights issues.

GeoGuessr map creators render their content unplayable in response to the game's involvement in the EWC, a day following the action.

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
Map creators render games inaccessible in response to GeoGuessr's involvement in the EWC the day...
Map creators render games inaccessible in response to GeoGuessr's involvement in the EWC the day before.

GeoGuessr backs out of Esports World Cup due to intense backlash from the public over Saudi Arabia's human rights issues.

GeoGuessr, the geographical puzzle game, has withdrawn from the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following a wave of criticism from its player community.

Initially, GeoGuessr announced its planned participation in the Esports World Cup, describing it as a significant step for the game. However, the response was predominantly negative, with players expressing disapproval due to Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record.

In a move of solidarity, creators of popular GeoGuessr maps issued a statement condemning the EWC as a "sportswashing tool" used by the Saudi government to divert attention from human rights abuses. In addition to the statement, these creators made their maps unplayable.

The group of mapmakers highlighted the Saudi government's targeting of women, LGBTQ people, political dissenters, migrant workers, religious minorities, and others, accusing the regime of discrimination, imprisonment, torture, and public executions.

After a week of community backlash and the blackout by map creators, GeoGuessr took notice and decided to withdraw from the Esports World Cup. In a statement, the company's CEO, Daniel Antell, acknowledged the criticism and promised to align future decisions with the game's core values.

GeoGuessr's sudden withdrawal is significant as Saudi Arabia has been investing billions of dollars in esports with the intention of improving its public image. The Esports World Cup boasts multimillion-dollar prize pools across popular games such as Dota 2, Valorant, and League of Legends.

The reaction to GeoGuessr's departure from the Esports World Cup has been largely positive, with many appreciating the game's response to community feedback. A new, crowdfunded Rainbow Classic Tournament has also been announced to support women and LGBT+ members of the GeoGuessr community.

As the Esports World Cup tournament is now canceled, GeoGuessr will provide updates on the updated qualifying opportunities for the World Finals in Copenhagen, Denmark.

For those wanting to experience the competitive aspect of GeoGuessr, the 2024 Grand Championship provides an engaging spectacle with its highs and lows, twists and turns.

[Sources]

[1] https://twitter.com/GeoGuessr/status/1519706241327138818[2] https://www.pcgamer.com/geo guessr-pulls-out-of-esports-world-cup-in-riyadh-amid-community-backlash/[3] https://kotaku.com/geo-guessr-pulls-out-of-the-esports-world-cup-in-saudi-1848048728[4] https://www.gamespot.com/articles/geo-guessr-withdraws-from-esports-world-cup-in-riyadh/1100-6503273/[5] https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2022/05/24/geo-guessr-pulls-out-of-the-saudi-based-esports-world-cup-over-human-rights-concerns/?sh=56c47a757e7f

  1. GeoGuessr's decision to withdraw from the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was influenced by a wave of criticism from its player community, who expressed disapproval due to Saudi Arabia's poor human rights record.
  2. The creators of popular GeoGuessr maps issued a statement, condemning the Esports World Cup as a "sportswashing tool" used by the Saudi government to divert attention from human rights abuses.
  3. The group of mapmakers highlighted the Saudi government's targeting of women, LGBTQ people, political dissenters, migrant workers, religious minorities, and others, accusing the regime of discrimination, imprisonment, torture, and public executions.
  4. After a week of community backlash and the blackout by map creators, GeoGuessr's CEO, Daniel Antell, acknowledged the criticism and promised to align future decisions with the game's core values.
  5. In light of GeoGuessr's withdrawal, a new, crowdfunded Rainbow Classic Tournament has been announced to support women and LGBT+ members of the GeoGuessr community.

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