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The last goodbye: Beyond the Summit ceases all operations

As their final official tournament came to an end, well-known esports production company Beyond The Summit bid fans farewell... Shubh | 28. March 2023

As their final official tournament came to an end, well-known esports production company Beyond The Summit bid fans farewell and thanked them for their unwavering love and support.

Beyond the Summit (BTS), one of the biggest independent esports production companies known for its community-focused Dota 2 and Smash Bros. tournaments, has officially closed its doors after 11 years in business. Before disbanding, the company hosted the highly anticipated Smash Ultimate Summit 6 for the final time — an event that could help the gaming community adjust to the news of the organization’s departure.

The event, which took place from March 23 to 26, served as a finale event hosted by BTS, with Managing Partner David Gorman and many famous Smash Bros. players in attendance for the final tournament. Beyond the Summit posted a clip to its Twitch channel after the tournament’s conclusion in which several members of the team, as well as numerous professional gamers, expressed their disappointment with the company’s closure.

It is disheartening for fans and professional players alike to see the organization, which was the largest independent esports producer in North America with hundreds of tournaments hosted over more than a decade, bow out from the esports scene. Although the organizer succeed in delivering top-notch esports action, they failed to survive the Esports Winter. The company had a difficult year, with mass layoffs across the board before deciding to completely close down.

End of an Era

David “LD” Gorman and fellow Dota 2 caster David “GoDz” Parker co-founded BTS in March 2012. Beyond The Summit made a significant impact on the Dota 2 esports scene by pioneering grassroots tournaments in the game’s early years. BTS events, especially The Summit, are remembered by the community for their creative skits and cutting-edge production quality. 

Furthermore, Beyond The Summit’s BTS Pro Series tournaments aided the growth of the esports scene in Southeast Asia and North America, opening the doors for underdogs and less renowned teams and players. Its decision to host the 6th Smash Summit even though it was on the verge of closing shop demonstrates that dedication and passion.

The company also introduced several broadcast innovations for Dota 2 esports, which changed the viewing experience of Dota 2 and introduced new ideas to esports in general. In the Source 1 version of Dota 2, BTS pioneered the ‘team fight recap’ feature before Valve integrated it into its native client, as well as the use of battle passes in third-party tournaments.

Header: Beyond The Summit