How Millions of Dollars Evaporated From Esports Overnight - The Four Horsemen S4E7

In this episode of The Four Horsemen, Thorin, Richard Lewis, and MonteCristo dive deep into several major esports controversies. They begin with Team Liquid's fallout with Honda following a controversial tweet from one of their Brazilian Rainbow Six players and discuss the broader implications and responses within the community. The conversation then shifts to the surprising stand taken by the GeoGuesser community against the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, illustrating how community-driven efforts can influence major decisions in the gaming world. Lastly, the hosts tackle the decline of Astralis, once a titan in competitive Counter-Strike, now struggling with multiple consecutive major misses and its current state for sale. With in-depth analysis, industry insights, and personal anecdotes, this episode sheds light on the business and ethical dimensions of the esports landscape. Shop the Into the AM Memorial Day Sale with up to 70% OFF until June 1. Save an additional 10% by using our link: https://intotheam.com/LFN. Protect your online privacy TODAY by visiting https://ExpressVPN.com/horsemen and you can get an extra four months FREE. Get the ultimate immersive gaming experience with Turtle Beach today! For a limited time only, head to https://TurtleBeach.com and use Code HORSEMAN for 10% off your entire order. The Four Horsemen is the premier esports industry show that reacts to important news and critical conversations across all major titles. Esports veterans Duncan "Thorin" Shields, Richard Lewis, and Christopher "MonteCristo" Mykles use their decades of experience to shed light and debate on key esports topics as they emerge. Each episode they are joined by an expert guest to help further provide insider information on the topic at hand. This episode was filmed on May 24th, 2025. Watch The Four Horsemen on Spotify with video: https://open.spotify.com/show/2NBATCQ... Listen to The Four Horsemen on these audio platforms! Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/ucw0inmo Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-f... iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/104246987/ Come join the Insight on Esports Discord for in-depth discussion across esports:   / discord   00:00 Introduction and Catching Up 07:24 Horse Meat Adventures 16:24 Team Liquid and Honda Sponsorship Drama 37:03 Japanese Resentment and Historical Atrocities 39:31 The Brazilian Connection and Cultural Sensitivity 43:31 Team Liquid's Apology and Community Reaction 47:00 The Importance of Media Training 58:46 GeoGuessr and the Esports World Cup Controversy 01:18:17 Debating Inclusivity in Gaming 01:20:20 Critique of Saudi Involvement in esports 01:23:49 Activism and Hypocrisy in the Gaming Community 01:28:49 The Role of Players and Organizations 01:40:53 GeoGuessr Community's Stand 01:47:40 The Future of esports and Saudi Influence 01:54:22 Astralis's Decline and Financial Troubles 01:58:02 Corporate Espionage and Consequences 02:01:35 Nicolai Nyholm's Role and Departure 02:02:36 Astralis's Mismanagement and Financial Struggles 02:06:32 The Future of Astralis and Player Uncertainty 02:18:55 Potential Buyers and Ownership Concerns 02:28:03 The Legacy and Impact of Astralis 02:36:17 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up #podcast #esports #leagueoflegends