GeoGuessr group maps go darkish in protest of EWC ties to human rights abuses

A gaggle of GeoGuessr map creators have pulled their contributions from the sport to protest its participation within the Esports World Cup 2025, calling the match “a sportswashing instrument utilized by the federal government of Saudi Arabia to distract from and conceal its horrific human rights file.” The protestors say the blackout will maintain till the sport’s writer, GeoGuessr AB, cancels its deliberate Final Likelihood Wildcard match on the EWC in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 21 to 27.

GeoGuessr is a browser sport the place gamers attempt to pinpoint places utilizing solely Google Road View photographs, and it depends on group mapmakers to remain related. The blackout, which started on Could 21, contains “dozens of creators and their maps, together with a supermajority of the preferred competitively related world maps,” in keeping with a press release the group shared on Reddit. The eliminated maps have been performed tens of thousands and thousands of occasions.

One of many largest GeoGuessr communities, Plonk It, has additionally removed its Map Directory and shared the mapping group’s open letter. That assertion reads in full as follows:

We have hit up GeoGuessr AB for a touch upon the blackout and can replace this story as we hear again.

The EWC is a big, multi-game occasion owned and operated by the Saudi authorities and held within the nation’s capital metropolis. It is an evolution of the Gamers8 match and this yr marks the second EWC-branded competitors; it is attributable to happen in July and August with a complete prize pool of $38 million, break up amongst 24 video games. Franchises collaborating within the 2025 occasion embrace Rocket League, Apex Legends, Name of Obligation, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Overwatch, Dota 2, Valorant, Road Fighter 6, EA Sports activities FC and PUBG.

It is troublesome to compete in esports with out operating into Savvy Video games Group, the video game arm of Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund. Alongside internet hosting the EWC, Savvy has monetary stakes in Nexon (10.2 p.c possession), Digital Arts (9 p.c), Embracer Group (8.3 p.c), Nintendo (7.5 p.c), Capcom (5 p.c) and Take-Two Interactive (6.8 p.c as of 2023). Savvy additionally runs ESL FACEIT Group, which accommodates the Digital Sports activities League, a longstanding and important esports occasion firm. The New York Times reported final yr that the Saudi authorities plans to speculate $38 billion within the online game business by 2030.

Human rights teams together with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have lengthy documented the abuses of the Saudi authorities. HRW describes Saudi Arabia’s human rights file as “abysmal,” and particularly calls out the PIF as a reputational whitewashing instrument. Saudi authorities have been accused of sportswashing in conventional sports activities as nicely, particularly by way of the nation’s possession of LIV Golf and Newcastle United FC.

In February, Riot Video games — the operator of League of Legends, Valorant and Teamfight Techniques, and arguably the most important title in esports — signed a three-year deal with the Esports World Cup Basis for an undisclosed sum. Riot defended the partnership, arguing that the ensuing monetary boon for gamers and the esports business outweighed different considerations.

“We all know a few of you could not really feel nice about our determination to accomplice with the EWC on this means, and we respect that,” Riot’s statement learn.

Although company assist for the EWC stays robust, the GeoGuessr mapping group is not alone in rejecting this yr’s match. Road Fighter 6 participant Christopher Hancock, who performs as ChrisCCH for FlyQuest, just lately declined his spot at EWC 2025. In a social media statement, Hancock mentioned, “I gave this determination loads of thought and in the end determined that, as a result of nature wherein the occasion is funded and managed, I don’t really feel comfy collaborating in it.” He added that the partnership between the Capcom Professional Tour and the EWC successfully pressured him to work with the Saudi-backed group.

“Selecting to not take part in any EWC qualifiers would successfully imply retirement from competing,” Hancock mentioned. “I discover it regrettable that this occasion has grow to be so deeply embedded within the [fighting game community], however I’ve not but decided on whether or not I’ll cease competing in occasions related to it altogether.”

Alongside the GeoGuessr map blackout, the group protest added one new, quick problem to the sport known as How to Run A Dictatorship. It takes gamers by way of 5 places round Riyadh, documenting the alleged government-sanctioned torture, kidnapping, imprisonment and oppression of girls, LGBTQ individuals, non secular minorities and political dissenters occurring in these locations. The problem takes only a few minutes, so be at liberty to experience it yourself.