Danish esports organization Astralis has announced its departure from the Rainbow Six: Siege competitive space, making it the last major esports team to do so. The decision comes as changes to the league agreement have “deteriorated considerably,” according to a blog post from Astralis. The organization believes that the league agreement no longer promotes a healthy team organization at Rainbow 6.
CEO Anders Hørsholt expressed his thoughts on the matter, stating, “We entered Rainbow 6 and the North American League with great ambition and the best intentions, and our American organization has done everything humanly possible to achieve those ambitions. However, despite the dedicated and extremely loyal efforts of all the people involved, the development and the lack of league prospects unfortunately prevent us from continuing.”
Hørsholt also mentioned the passionate fan base and everyone involved with the game, saying, “It’s been truly amazing to feel the passion for the game among the fans and everyone involved, and we’ve turned every stone to find a way to continue operations. This includes an open and constructive dialogue with Ubisoft, during which all parties looked for possible ways forward. We appreciate all the efforts made, but unfortunately, we have not found a solution that allows operations to continue while respecting our obligations and standards regarding the working conditions of our staff and players.”
This decision comes after Astralis’ impressive performance at the 2023 Six Invitational, where the team finished fourth overall. As one of the last esports teams to leave the Rainbow Six: Siege competitive scene, the departure of Astralis marks the end of an era for the game. Despite their efforts to continue operations, the organization ultimately had to prioritize the well-being of their staff and players.