Beyond the Summit, The Guard shut down as esports layoffs spread

Beyond the Summit (BTS), a premier esports production company and facility, announced it was laying off all its staff. This comes shortly after traditional sports-backed esports organization, The Guard, announced it would do the same. These layoffs signal that even prominent esports companies are feeling the chill of the esports winter.

Losing key community figures

Beyond the Summit was founded around 2012 as a passion project driven by love for the esports community. Over 11 years, BTS professionalized and become a premier tournament organizer and production company, particularly in the Dota 2 and Smash Bros. communities. More recently the company branched out into supporting creator-driven events.