GeoGuessr Withdraws from Esports World Cup After Community-Led Protest Over Saudi Arabia Ties

After swift and intense backlash from its community, GeoGuessr has officially withdrawn from the Esports World Cup.

The decision marks a major reversal for the geography-based game, which had initially planned to host a “Last Chance Wildcard Tournament” at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this July.. 

The wildcard tourney was set to bring the top 16 ranked players to compete for $20,000 and the final two spots in the 2025 GeoGuessr World Championship, scheduled for August 29–30 in Copenhagen.

But the community wasn’t having it.

Creators Stage Blackout in Protest

Things came to a head on May 22, when leading community creator Zemmip announced a map blackout on behalf of dozens of creators, including those behind some of GeoGuessr’s most played and competitively relevant maps.

“By participating in the EWC, GeoGuessr is contributing to that sportswashing agenda,” Zemmip wrote on Reddit, referencing Saudi Arabia’s well-documented human rights violations. The post cited systemic oppression against women, LGBTQ people, religious minorities, and other vulnerable groups under the current regime.

The blackout rendered many of the most essential maps unplayable, effectively stalling high-level competitive play within the game. The creators stated the blackout would remain in place until GeoGuessr canceled its Saudi Arabia plans and committed to not partnering with the country as long as such oppression continues.

GeoGuessr Responds: “You Told Us We Got It Wrong”

In response to widespread outcry, including confused players wondering why maps were suddenly disabled, GeoGuessr CEO and co-founder Daniel Antell released a formal statement the same day, confirming the company had reconsidered its involvement.

“When we made that decision, it was with positive intentions—to engage with our community in the Middle East and to spread GeoGuessr’s core mission: let everyone Explore the World,” Antell wrote. “That said, you—our community—have made it clear that this decision does not align with what GeoGuessr stands for.”

“So, when you tell us we’ve got it wrong, we take it seriously. That’s why we’ve made the decision to withdraw from participating in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh.”

GeoGuessr says it will soon provide details on how wildcard slots will now be distributed for the World Championship.

Controversy Around EWC Continues

GeoGuessr’s withdrawal has renewed scrutiny over the Esports World Cup’s ties to the Saudi Arabian government, particularly the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which funds the event.

Critics, including watchdog organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have long pointed to the country’s esports and entertainment investments as an example of sportswashing.

Despite the controversy, many top esports titles remain committed to the 2025 EWC, including Valorant, Dota 2, League of Legends, Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Rainbow Six Siege.

Interestingly, GeoGuessr still plans to participate in DreamHack Dallas later this month, which is organized by ESL FACEIT Group, itself owned by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group. That event, however, has not drawn nearly the same level of public criticism—possibly because the direct association with the Saudi state is less visible than with the EWC.

Steam Launch Woes Add to Turbulence

The controversy around EWC comes just as GeoGuessr launched on Steam, where it initially debuted as one of the platform’s worst-rated games due to feature restrictions and subscription issues. Players criticized the game’s lack of solo play and the fact that premium features from the browser version don’t carry over to Steam.

Despite the rocky launch, GeoGuessr remains one of the most beloved and widely played geography games in the world, with over 100 million registered users. Its competitive scene has become a unique niche in the esports world—one where community input clearly still carries weight.