GeoGuessr Mapmakers Disable Popular Maps In Protest Of Esports World Cup Tournament - Hotspawn
A major controversy has erupted in the GeoGuessr competitive scene following the announcement that the game will be featured in the 2025 Esports World Cup
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GeoGuessr Mapmakers Stage Blackout Over EWC in Riyadh
A coalition of GeoGuessr’s top community creators has disabled their most-played maps in protest of the game’s inclusion in the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) Last Chance Wildcard Tournament set for July in Riyadh. They accuse the Saudi-hosted event of “sportswashing” human rights abuses and say the blackout—knocking out a supermajority of competitively crucial maps—will remain until publisher GeoGuessr AB scraps the Saudi stop.
Community vs. Cash‐Rich Esports
With a $20K prize pool and World Championship spots on the line, the Riyadh event highlights the esports industry’s growing reliance on Saudi investment. The mapmakers’ ultimatum: no more events in Saudi Arabia unless the kingdom’s repressive regime is addressed. So far, GeoGuessr AB has stayed silent.
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