The new organization will be known as ESL Gaming. Current ESL co-CEOs Ralf Reichert and Craig Levine will head up the new entity, with DreamHack CEO Marcus Lindmark remaining part of the new executive.
It's a logical move, given both events companies share a parent. They were acquired by Modern Times Group back in 2015, albeit separately at the time.
It's a bold move to merge the two biggest names in esports events, and the two firms have already shown a little solidarity on social media.
With esports events hit badly in 2020 due to the coronavirus situation, both ESL and DreamHack are likely to have been hit hardest. MTG had already suggested its esports revenues could be reduced by almost half this year before rallying to a lower-than-expected loss.
By pooling resources, this gives both entities a fighting chance to keep on producing top-tier esports events.
Five DreamHack events have become the latest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the festival announcing the Rotterdam, Hyderabad, Atlanta, Winter and Madrid editions will now take place next year.
Header image: DreamHack/ESL
