Farewell to the Legacy: Team LDLC Bids Adieu to Esports Industry in July

By Carlton Murphy Last updated May 17, 2023

Legacy According to a statement from its ownership group, LDLC Group, the French esports organization Team LDLC is quitting the industry in July. It will sever ties with the OL Group, owners of Ligue 1 team Olympique Lyonnais. Since 2010, Team LDLC has been a French esports organization with renowned rosters, and Counter-Strike championship runs. The organization fielded League of Legends, FIFA, and NBA 2K teams.

Through its parent business LDLC Group, the group declared on May 16 that it would stop participating in esports in July. The business is an internet retailer with a tech focus situated in France. “While the teams enjoy widespread recognition and goodwill from ardent gamers, they haven’t been able to establish a strong enough presence among the broader public, despite their best efforts. As a result, the LDLC Group and OL Groupe have predetermined that their LDLC OL cooperation will end by the end of July 2023. With this collaboration ending, LDLC Event will also stop participating in and conducting business in the esports industry, the company added.

LDLC and OL Groupe have decided to end their partnership "LDLC OL" as of the end of July 2023.

The end of this partnership will also mark LDLC Event's withdrawal from the esport scene.

So, the only french org with a french team is leaving CS. French scene is dead for real now.
— neL (@neLendirekt) May 16, 2023

Through its ownership group OL Group, the organization collaborated with the French football team Olympique Lyonnais in 2020, changing its name to LDLC OL. It also collaborates with Tony Parker, a former NBA player from France, whose academy program manages esports academy teams.

As the esports industry winter persists, Team LDLC quits

Team LDLC reached the pinnacle of its esports career in 2014, winning the DreamHack Winter Counter-Strike Major and finishing in the top eight at ESL One: Cologne and ESL Major Series One Katowice. Many French Counter-Strike superstars, including Richard Shox’ Papillon, Kenny ‘kennyS’ Schrub, and Dan ‘apEX’ Madesclaire, credit the organization with helping establish their professional careers.

The company frequently participated in the League of Legends European Master competition after earning a spot in the French regional league. Also, in recent months, several esports organizations have folded or stopped operating, including the French organization. As businesses cut back on team investments, fire workers, or aim to merge with other companies, the sector as a whole is also seeing a decrease in spending.