Version1 + Minnesota RØKKR Lays Off Six Employees

The Minneapolis-based esports organization Version1 and Minnesota RØKKR underwent a reduction in force in July 2023, resulting in the termination of six employees. This action followed an earlier round of layoffs occurring on or around June 30, 2023, which affected approximately seven staff members. Management reportedly maintained transparency regarding these workforce reductions, having alerted employees to the impending cuts as early as April 2023 to allow staff time to seek alternative employment.

The organization, which is owned by the Wilf family’s investment fund, WISE Ventures, and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, operates professional teams across the Call of Duty League, Rocket League, and Valorant. Among those impacted by the July layoffs was the Director of Content for Minnesota RØKKR, Ashley “MiDNiTE” Glassel, who had been with the organization for four years. While the company’s exact headcount remains difficult to verify due to the inclusion of contractors and players, the organization maintains a variety of corporate partnerships with entities such as Xfinity, SCUF Gaming, and Tyson Foods.

In response to the layoffs, the company provided severance packages consisting of two weeks of pay, plus an additional two weeks for every year of service. Furthermore, employees who had relocated to Minnesota within the previous 12 months were offered a $2,000 stipend for reverse relocation expenses. These measures reflect the organization's efforts to mitigate the impact of the staff reductions on affected personnel.