Jason Lake, the former owner and CEO of Complexity, announced the organization’s permanent closure. According to him, the decision to wind down operations was made back in late 2025. HLTV also reports on this.
Lake explained that the team had analyzed Complexity’s financial situation and the possibilities for raising funds to repay the debt owed to the seller. As a result, management decided to wind down the organization in an orderly manner rather than leave it to fend for itself.
“For the first time in 23 years, my core team and I are no longer part of Complexity. It’s strange to realize, but that’s exactly where we are right now,” Lake said in a video posted on X.
Complexity was one of the most famous organizations in Counter-Strike. The club fielded its first roster in 2004, and the team competed under its banner for nearly all of the following 22 years. During this period, Complexity won ESWC 2005, CPL Summer 2006, and ESL Challenger Jönköping 2024, and participated in ten Majors. Their best results were 3rd–4th place at DreamHack Winter 2013 and 5th–8th place at EMS One Katowice 2014 and FACEIT Major 2018.
Complexity has regained the rights to the GameSquare brand
In 2017, Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys, and real estate investor John Goff took control of Complexity. Four years later, GameSquare acquired the organization, but in 2024, Jason Lake, who led a group of investors, regained control of the brand. The very next year, due to the difficult economic situation in esports, Complexity was unable to continue its full-scale operations in the discipline and left the scene in August 2025.
Lake thanked everyone who had been part of Complexity over the years and explained that the brand’s intellectual property rights had once again been transferred to GameSquare. According to him, this was due to a vendor’s note that remained in effect after the organization’s buyback.
Lake himself has no plans to end his career. He said he spent 2026 on a creative sabbatical, relaxing and spending more time with his family after many years of high-pressure work. Now, the entrepreneur is looking for a new project where he can apply his leadership experience.
“I’m definitely not planning to retire. I love building things and I love being a leader,” Lake said, adding that he would like to work in esports again, although he doesn’t yet know if the right opportunity will come along for him.
Leake’s departure effectively marked the end of his 23-year run with Complexity.