Rogue

Rogue, a professional esports organization, was established in May 2016 by Franklin Villarreal, Derek Nelson, and Carson Knuth. Initially based in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company focused on emerging games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch to build its brand. Nelson, a lawyer by trade, handled business and fundraising, while Villareal focused on team building and Knuth acted as a liaison between the business and gaming operations. Recognizing the potential of a new game to build a new fanbase, the founders launched the brand alongside Overwatch's release.

The organization fields professional teams competing in various video game titles across Europe and the United States, including League of Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, and Rocket League. Its business model revolves around participating in major esports leagues, securing prize money, and leveraging its brand through sponsorships and partnerships. A significant part of Rogue's strategy includes influencer marketing, having collaborated with prominent streamers like DrLupo and Vikkstar, who later became a co-owner. The company generates revenue through league participation, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

In December 2017, Rogue was acquired by ReKTGlobal, an esports infrastructure company founded by Dave Bialek and Amish Shah, which provided significant resources for expansion. This acquisition facilitated Rogue's entry into the franchised League of Legends European Championship (LEC) in November 2018. The move also attracted a diverse group of celebrity investors, including DJ Steve Aoki and the band Imagine Dragons. In July 2022, ReKTGlobal itself was acquired by metaverse company Infinite Reality for approximately $470 million, integrating Rogue into a larger entertainment and digital technology ecosystem.

A major milestone for the organization was winning its first LEC title in the Summer of 2022, defeating G2 Esports. This victory secured them the top European seed for the 2022 League of Legends World Championship. Following this success, in October 2022, Rogue announced a strategic alliance with KOI, an esports organization owned by streamer Ibai Llanos and footballer Gerard Piqué. This resulted in Rogue's teams rebranding to KOI for a period, though the management structure remained under Rogue's control. The partnership with KOI eventually ended in November 2023, and the team was re-established as Rogue.

Keywords: Rogue esports, League of Legends European Championship, LEC, ReKTGlobal, Infinite Reality, Franklin Villarreal, Derek Nelson, Carson Knuth, esports organization, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, Steve Aoki, KOI, esports team management, professional gaming, esports sponsorships, Vikkstar, DrLupo, LEC champions, esports acquisitions, esports partnerships