Freaks 4U Founders Return to gamescom With 3,000-Square-Meter Area Under New Agency

The founders of the now-insolvent Berlin-based agency Freaks 4U Gaming have returned to the gamescom 2026 event under a new corporate structure. Operating as marqed agency, the team has secured a 3,000-square-meter footprint in Hall 8 and the adjacent outdoor area to host a competitive gaming space titled The District. This development marks a continuation of the event concepts previously managed by Freaks 4U Gaming, featuring a similar roster of corporate partners and esports organizations, including SK Gaming.

The new agency is part of a broader corporate reorganization involving four companies registered in early 2026 at the same address as the insolvent Freaks 4U Gaming. These entities are held by heartbase group, a holding company owned in near-equal thirds by former Freaks 4U leaders Michael Haenisch, Marija Haenisch, and Matthias Remmert. While the insolvent estate of Freaks 4U Gaming has been deemed insufficient to cover its own administrative costs, the new corporate entities have successfully transitioned key assets, including Riot Games league licenses and sponsorship inventory, into the new business model.

This transition highlights a strategic pivot where league sponsorship and event management operations have been moved into new subsidiaries while the original company remains in insolvency proceedings. The return to gamescom, which is operating at full capacity for the 2026 season, underscores the continuity of the founders' influence in the German esports market despite the financial collapse of their previous firm. The situation leaves creditors of the insolvent entity with little recourse, as the business operations and associated commercial relationships have effectively migrated to the new holding structure.