From Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) triumphs to high-profile acquisitions, regional expansions, and even agency creations, Team Vitality is navigating esports’ competitive and corporate arenas with equal precision. CEO Nicolas “Nico” Maurer and Corporate Director of Global Operations Danny Engels spoke to The Esports Radar not just about the organisation’s recent milestones, but also about the broader French context—where a rising wave of talent, infrastructure, and government engagement is consolidating the country as a global esports force.
“Success breeds momentum,” Maurer said when asked whether expansion was a consequence of winning or the other way around. “Every competitive win builds our credibility, increases our visibility, and draws in new partners, allowing us to invest further in top-tier talent and world-class support systems.”
But Team Vitality’s growth isn’t reactionary, it’s calculated. “We’ve always prioritised sustainable growth,” Maurer continued. “Expansion isn’t the endgame, it’s a natural outcome of building high-performance environments where our athletes can thrive.”
Twelve years of groundwork have created what Team Vitality is today: a leading contender across multiple titles, backed by a robust business model. And part of that success is linked to the country it calls home, as official recognition of esports as a legitimate sector has opened doors to institutional partnerships and infrastructure support.
“The French government has played a more meaningful role in shaping a stable and visible esports ecosystem. That said, the roots of our success run deeper,” stated Maurer. “We’ve been building a professional model that combines French excellence with international ambition.”
But while support has increased, Maurer was clear: France’s esports ecosystem is still “under-structured.” To address that, Team Vitality recently helped launch the Union Française des Clubs d’Esport Professionnels (UFCEP), a coalition of French esports clubs aiming to give teams a stronger voice in institutional and commercial dialogues.
Alongside institutional support, Maurer pointed to something harder to measure but essential: culture. “There’s something truly special happening in France right now: a powerful mix of cultural pride, passionate local communities, and ambitious leadership,” he said. This potent mix has turned French esports into a global talking point, not only for its teams like Vitality and Karmine Corp, but for its ability to draw global events, viewership, and publisher interest.
It’s not just happening in Europe. Team Vitality’s recent acquisition of Indonesia-based Bigetron Esports marked a key move into Southeast Asia’s rapidly growing mobile esports scene. According to Engels, the decision was both competitive and commercial: “Our success in sim racing and the outstanding performance of our Indonesia-based MLBB [Mobile Legends: Bang Bang] women’s team were instrumental in securing 4th place in last year’s Esports World Cup Club Championship.”
He added that the business case was equally strong: “Bigetron’s business is delivering 7-figure revenues year-on-year, and sponsorship makes up less than 40% of that.” With a foundation in mobile-first esports, Bigetron by Vitality is set to become the organisation’s mobile gaming division globally, not just regionally.
“Indonesia is now the fourth-largest video game market in the world,” Engels noted. “It’s exactly where mobile esports is thriving.”
By establishing their mobile hub in Jakarta, Team Vitality is betting on where the momentum is strongest today, recognising that “mobile gaming likely won’t overtake Tier 1 esports titles in Europe anytime soon” and therefore “that’s exactly why we’re building our mobile gaming division in the region where it already is the dominant format.”
Given moves of expansion, Maurer was asked about signs that the ‘esports spring’ is here after a hard winter. However, the executive remains grounded about the state of the industry as a whole: “I believe we’ve emerged from the depths of the ‘esports winter’, but it would be premature to say that we are completely in the clear.” He sees a shift back to fundamentals—sustainability, fan engagement, long-term value creation—particularly benefitting organisations with infrastructure, vision, and patience.
As for what’s next? Engels hinted at high-potential markets like MENA and South America, but made it clear that any expansion would be “strategic and sustainable.” For now, the focus is on letting the seeds they’ve already planted – like Bigetron by Vitality – grow into global pillars.
See the full transcript of our interview below:
The Esports Radar: Even with business expanding, Team Vitality is able to maintain high-performing teams in many esports competitions. Is the expansion the cause or the result of competitive success?
Nicolas “Nico” Maurer, CEO at Team Vitality: Success breeds momentum. Every competitive win builds our credibility, increases our visibility, and draws in new partners, allowing us to invest further in top-tier talent and world-class support systems. At Team Vitality, we’ve always prioritized sustainable growth. For us, expansion isn’t the endgame, it’s a natural outcome of building high-performance environments where our athletes can thrive. What you see on stage today reflects over 12 years of strategic planning and behind-the-scenes investment. With this expansion, we’re moving closer to our ultimate ambition: becoming the best esports organization in the world.
The Esports Radar: About two years ago Esports Insider posted this article highlighting the French government’s approach to esports. Is the current Team Vitality success a reflection of what started happening then?
Nico: The French government has played a more meaningful role in shaping a stable and visible esports ecosystem. By officially recognizing esports as a legitimate industry, with its own stakeholders, infrastructure, and needs, they’ve helped organizations like Team Vitality gain credibility and attract key institutional partners. That said, the roots of our success run deeper. For nearly a decade, Team Vitality has been building a professional model that combines French excellence with international ambition. It’s encouraging to see esports gaining visibility at the highest levels (President Macron’s public congratulations on X following our Counter-Strike Grand Slam victory). These moments show that the government is beginning to recognize esports as a fast-growing industry that truly connects with the younger generations.
But there’s still work to be done. While we welcome any initiative that supports us, we must acknowledge that the ecosystem remains under-structured. That’s why, in April, we launched the Union Française des Clubs d’Esport Professionnels (UFCEP), a coalition of the leading French esports clubs. Its mission is to advocate for our teams and communities in conversations with public institutions, tournament organizers, and publishers. Ultimately, UFCEP is about building a strong, sustainable future for French esports.
The Esports Radar: What else can help explain French organisations’ successes – for example, Karmine Corp is also showing consistent results?
Nico: There’s something truly special happening in France right now – a powerful mix of cultural pride, passionate local communities, and ambitious leadership from top-tier organisations. France has always produced world-class talent, but this new generation of players is particularly impressive. Alongside them, a new wave of fans has emerged, deeply engaged, emotionally invested, and incredibly loyal. It’s this synergy that has created a dynamic ecosystem where performance and storytelling go hand in hand.
The world is paying attention. Publishers and tournament organisers are increasingly choosing France to host major events, because they know they’ll be supported by world-class infrastructure and an incredibly loyal and electric audience. At the same time, influencers and content creators are redefining fan culture in a unique and exciting way. We welcome that energy. It speaks to the depth and vibrancy of the French scene and motivates all of us to keep pushing the boundaries.
The Esports Insider: How do you view the current esports business landscape? Some professionals say the “esports winter” is over. Do you agree with that? How do you view the short/mid-term future for the sector?
Nico: I believe we’ve emerged from the depths of the “esports winter”, but it would be premature to say that we are completely in the clear. The industry still faces significant economic challenges. What we’re witnessing now is a return to the fundamentals. Organisations are focused on building sustainable business models and forging deeper connections with their fan bases. It’s a shift that primarily benefits larger, more established organisations, while making the path forward more difficult for smaller teams to grow.
So no, I wouldn’t say the winter is entirely behind us, but we’re starting to see signs of spring. The next two to three years will be critical in consolidating the industry around long-term value creation rather than short-term hype.
The Esports Radar: How are the expansions impacting Team Vitality financially? What’s the revenue from those new regions, and what is the long-term strategy? Why expanding?
Danny Engels, Corporate Director of Global Operations at Team Vitality: Most of our recent expansions, whether through new players or teams, are already delivering short-term benefits, particularly in the context of the Esports World Cup. Our success in sim racing and the outstanding performance of our Indonesia-based Mobile Legends: Bang Bang women’s team were instrumental in securing 4th place in last year’s EWC Club Championship.
Beyond competitive success, we’ve seen a broad impact across the business, from social media growth and increased partner interest to rising merchandise sales. With the acquisition of Bigetron, we’ve tripled down on our approach and welcomed a strong foundation in Southeast Asia. Bigetron’s business is delivering 7-figure revenues year-on-year, and sponsorship makes up less than 40% of that, which showcases how strong the foundation is actually built. The revenue streams do mirror those that we know from the Western world, but league revenues, publisher partnerships, in-game monetization, as well as prize money participation, are more meaningful alongside an influencer agency that was part of the acquisition, too.
Looking ahead, our goal is to scale this model globally, maintaining our position as one of the world’s top esports organizations while unlocking synergies that improve operational efficiency, generate new revenue streams, and strengthen our long-term sustainability.
The Esports Radar: After NA and Southeast Asia, is there any other market you would like to expand to? If so, in which timespan and what is the preferred strategy (acquisitions like in SE Asia or blending in the culture like in NA)?
Danny: We’re definitely committed to making Team Vitality a globally recognized brand, but our approach is rooted in strategic, sustainable growth. For now, our priority is to give our current initiatives the time and resources they need to develop into strong, lasting pillars of the organization.
That said, the nature of our industry makes long-term forecasting difficult. Our recent expansion through Bigetron by Vitality, one of the most powerful mobile gaming brands globally, may open doors to new regions, particularly China, where mobile gaming is hugely dominant.
Looking forward, we remain open to exploring further expansion in high-potential regions, including MENA and South America, both of which have incredibly passionate esports communities. As always, we’ll carefully assess each opportunity to ensure it aligns with our long-term vision.
The Esports Radar: Speaking about the acquisition specifically, was Bigetron Esports operating in green already when acquired? How do Team Vitality aim to boost that?
Danny: Lately, Bigetron has been operating cash flow neutral while continuing to reinvest in its growth, a trend we aim to sustain over the coming years. Growth opportunities are diverse and must be approached with focused, tailored strategies. With the launch of our RushBee agency, we’re looking to significantly enhance Bigetron’s marketing and commercial capabilities.
On the competitive side, both leadership teams share a common vision to develop holistic academy programs for young, passionate gamers in Jakarta and beyond, with a clear focus on long-term success, not just short-term wins tied to the Esports World Cup.
The Esports Radar: Given SE Asia has a really diverse cultural landscape, are you also aiming at other countries to expand in the region? If so, what are they, and how do you aim to move into those markets?
Danny: Bigetron by Vitality is already fielding players from other countries in South East Asia and has gained a strong presence across the entire region through its fantastic performances across all four games (MLBB, PUBG-Mobile, Free Fire and HoK), especially in cross-regional and international events. If opportunities arise, we are open to considering activities outside of Southeast Asia as well. Until recently, Bigetron fielded a Brazilian MLBB team, but we decided to take a step back on that side of the world and focus on the establishment of Bigetron by Vitality through its Indonesian footprint first.
The Esports Radar: How does developing the Indonesia front play a part in Vitality’s long-term objectives?
Danny: For us, this isn’t just about having a ‘Vitality in Indonesia’, it’s about building Team Vitality’s dedicated mobile gaming division. That’s precisely what Bigetron by Vitality represents. While headquartered in Jakarta, it’s not limited by geography. It will serve as the home for all of our mobile gaming activities globally.
Our choice to root this division in Southeast Asia, and particularly Indonesia, is very intentional. With 270 million inhabitants, nearly a third of whom are under 30, Indonesia is now the fourth-largest video game market in the world. Southeast Asia overall, and Indonesia in particular, is one of the fastest-growing mobile gaming markets globally, with annual revenue growth close to 20%. It’s exactly where mobile esports is thriving. Long-term, we strongly believe mobile gaming will grow significantly in Western markets too, driven by demographic shifts and younger players discovering games via mobile first. Team Vitality is one of the few Western organizations already investing significantly in this space, and we’re committed to staying at the forefront of its evolution.
To be clear, we don’t believe PC and console esports will disappear, and mobile gaming likely won’t overtake Tier 1 esports titles in Europe anytime soon. But that’s exactly why we’re building our mobile gaming division in the region where it already is the dominant format. We’re excited about this next step and confident that Bigetron by Vitality will be a major driver of Team Vitality’s future success.
