Riot Games bans partner organizations from mergers

According to the Dexerto portal, publisher Riot Games has vetoed the merger of the Indian esports organization Global Esports with the Bleed Esports club. The parties discussed the possibility of joining forces to participate in VCT 2023 and competed under the "GE BLEED" tag. The deal, according to sources, was valued at $6 million.

Earlier, Riot Games introduced a set of rules for partner rosters in three leagues in Europe, America and Asia. According to the requirements, those teams that are represented in a particular region must field a squad of at least four players from the corresponding region.

However, negotiations came to an end after Riot Games informed partner organizations about the restrictions in place in the league. The publisher will impose strict rules on strategic partnerships with external competing organizations to avoid potential conflicts of interest and will have the final say on whether such deals can take place.

Sources also say that Global Esports is now in talks with other potential strategic partners and is meeting with venture capitalists about funding opportunities. As for Bleed Esports, after a resounding start at the beginning of this year, the organization is evaluating its options in the discipline. If the club wishes to stay, it will definitely not spare money to form a powerful squad.

Notably, earlier this year, a similar deal was struck by OG Esports and British esports organization LDN UTD. As a result of the partnership, the LDN UTD team was renamed OG LDN UTD. At the same time, both clubs were not included in the final list of partners for the European League.

List of partner organizations for the European League:

• Team Vitality, Karmine Corp, FUT Esports, BBL Esports, Natus Vincere, Fnatic, Team Liquid, KOI, Team Heretics and Giants Gaming

List of partner organizations for the American League:

• Sentinels, 100 Thieves, Cloud9, NRG Esports, Evil Geniuses, FURIA, LOUD, MIBR, Leviatán Esports and KRÜ Esports

List of partner organizations for the Asian League:

• ZETA DIVISION, T1, Gen.G Esports, DRX, DetonatioN Gaming, Team Secret, Rex Regum Qeon, Paper Rex, Talon Esports and Global Esports