Esports organization Version1 has entered into a strategic partnership with G2 Esports in which Version1’s ownership will become G2 shareholders and G2 will receive operating rights to the Minnesota Røkkr Call of Duty League team. Version1 has fielded championship teams across the Call of Duty League, Rocket League and VALORANT, and is backed by WISE Ventures, the investment arm of the Wilf family, owners of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and MLS and NWSL teams Orlando City SC and Pride, among other holdings, and entrepreneur and investor Gary Vaynerchuk.
The partnership marks a huge milestone for G2 Esports as the organization continues to expand its footprint in North America, one of the largest esports markets. Recently, G2 Esports announced its entry into VALORANT through the VCT Americas league with the acquisition of players from The Guard, and this new partnership enables G2 Esports to enter into the Call of Duty League™, with the Minnesota Røkkr team.
With the entry into Call of Duty League™,, G2 Esports continues to redefine its position as a truly global esports and entertainment organization – one of very few organizations to have as many properties, and is continually thriving at a sustainable pace. The company will now field rosters in 8 major esports titles including League of Legends, VALORANT, Counter Strike, Rainbow Six, Rocket League, Wild Rift, Sim Racing and Call of Duty, with 5 out 12 teams outside of Europe.
“Today marks yet another huge and impactful milestone for G2 Esports as we continue to expand and push the boundaries of what we want to achieve as an organization,” said Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2 Esports. “We’re thrilled to welcome the Wilf Family and Gary Vaynerchuk to the G2 family. This strategic partnership brings us a step closer to our goal of expanding into the truly global esports organization. We’ve established ourselves as a powerhouse in Europe and it’s no secret that North America, alongside expansion into Asia, is a big priority for us. We can’t wait to bring the G2 way to yet another esports league with Minnesota Røkkr in the Call of Duty League™; it’s one of the most exciting leagues in North America with highly engaged and passionate fans. We’re excited to show them how G2 does things, and look forward to winning more trophies for our North American fans.”
With this move, the Version1 brand will be put on hold with no plans to field competitive teams. Founded in 2019, Version1 teams won a major title in the Call of Duty League™, an international Rocket League event, multiple regional championships in Rocket League and VALORANT Game Changers, and qualified for six international majors across Rocket League and VALORANT. The organization established a strong regional and national fan base while raising the bar for live event experiences, community engagement and content. The ownership group continues to see the value and potential of the esports industry, which is why they are excited to remain in esports through this partnership, and trust that G2 will continue to build toward their shared vision as G2 expands its global footprint.
Jonathan Wilf, President & Ownership Partner of Version1, commented, “I am excited about the next chapter for the Version1 story. We continue to believe in the future of esports and know partnering with a top tier organization such as G2 will best position our group for future success.”
Konrad von Moltke, Principal of WISE Ventures, added, “We have been impressed with what G2 has built: a competitive powerhouse, a strong and growing commercial engine, and a passionate and loyal fan base. In what has been a challenging esports market environment, G2’s focus on sustainable growth has been remarkable.”