In a significant move following widespread criticism from players regarding its participation in the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, GeoGuessr has decided to withdraw from the event.

The game’s announcement of its involvement in the Esports World Cup was met with immediate backlash due to concerns over Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record. Many users expressed outrage about the decision, suggesting that hosting an event in such a location contradicts the game’s values of diversity and inclusion. One user remarked, “Marketing your world championship as diverse and inclusive but then deciding to make a wildcard [tournament] in Riyadh out of all places is such an unbelievably stupid decision.”

In solidarity with those oppressed in Saudi Arabia, creators of various popular GeoGuessr maps rendered their contributions unplayable. They issued a statement advocating for the cancelation of GeoGuessr’s participation, emphasizing the severe human rights violations present in the kingdom, which affect numerous marginalized groups.

GeoGuessr’s CEO Daniel Antell acknowledged the community’s strong reaction appraising the oppression faced in Saudi Arabia, stating that although the decision was initially made with good intentions, it did not align with the values of the community. Following the outcry, GeoGuessr has officially canceled its plans to participate in the Esports World Cup.

The Esports World Cup is often scrutinized as a ‘sportswashing’ initiative used by the Saudi government to enhance its international image. Despite the financial incentives associated with the event, community sentiments prevailed, leading to this major reversal by the game developers. GeoGuessr has indicated it will share more details on future developments concerning the game and its community engagements.