GeoGuessr has chosen to withdraw from the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, following backlash from the community regarding its participation. Players and map creators expressed their concerns, arguing that the event serves as a means of 'sportswashing' by the Saudi government to divert attention from its human rights violations. The CEO of GeoGuessr, Daniel Antell, acknowledged the community's clear stance that this participation contradicts the core values of the game, which prioritize engaging and creating meaningful experiences for players.
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 of let everyone Explore the World.
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.
Map creators who removed their community creations from GeoGuessr claimed that the EWC is 'a sportswashing tool used by the government of Saudi Arabia to distract from and conceal its horrific human rights record.'
The team is pulling out of the event after fans protested its decision to participate in the EWC, emphasizing the community-first nature of the game.
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