FaZe Clan (acquired by GameSquare)

FaZe Clan is an esports and entertainment organization that originated as a group of Call of Duty players on YouTube in May 2010. Founded by Eric "CLipZ" Rivera, Jeff "House Cat" Emann, and Ben "Resistance" Christensen, the group initially focused on showcasing innovative trickshots in games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Their content and personality-driven approach quickly gained a massive following, making FaZe Clan one of the earliest popular YouTube gaming channels.

Over the years, FaZe Clan expanded into competitive esports, fielding teams in various titles such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Halo, and Fortnite. Their CS:GO team has achieved notable success, winning second place at the ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018 and securing victories at events like the ELeague CS:GO Premier 2017, netting USD 500,000 in prize money. Recently, in July 2024, their Counter-Strike team clinched the top global ranking according to the CS2 Valve World Ranking.

FaZe Clan's business model revolves around content creation, sponsorships, merchandising, and esports competitions. The organization has collaborated with prominent brands like Nike, McDonald's, Porsche, and GHOST for product lines and marketing campaigns. In 2022, FaZe Clan went public through a merger with B. Riley Principal 150 Merger Corp., listing on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "FAZE" and valued at USD 725 million.

In October 2023, FaZe Clan merged with gaming and entertainment company GameSquare, leading to a restructuring under the leadership of CEO Richard "Banks" Bengston. This move aimed to revitalize the company by shifting its focus from content creation to esports and gaming. However, this transition resulted in the departure of several long-standing FaZe members in April 2024.