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XSET is an American professional gaming and lifestyle media brand based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 2020 by Greg Selkoe, Marco Mereu,[1] Clinton Sparks, and Wil Eddins.[2]
Key Information
History
[edit]XSET was launched on July 16, 2020,[3] by a group of former executives from FaZe Clan.[4] Selkoe, who previously founded Karmaloop,[5] wanted to create a more inclusive and diverse gaming organization that reflected the racial and gender diversity in the gaming world.[6]
XSET has professional teams competing in various esports titles such as Fortnite, Rocket League, Call of Duty: Warzone, Call of Duty: Mobile, PUBG Mobile, Madden NFL, Apex Legends, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Halo Infinite, and iRacing.
In October 2020, Ozuna and Swae Lee joined XSET as investors.[7] In February 2021, hip-hop record label Quality Control invested in XSET during a $10 million funding round.[8]
On October 10, 2023, Cody "Clix" Conrod joined XSET as a co-owner and ambassador in a multi-year partnership deal.[9] Clix released a limited-edition merchandise collection with XSET and in-game activations and content while supporting up-and-coming Fortnite players.[10]
Brand and culture
[edit]In addition to its competitive esports teams, XSET has a roster of content creators and brand ambassadors. Notable names include Swae Lee,[11] Ozuna,[12] Lil Wayne,[13] Tee Grizzley,[14] Brycent,[15] Ezekiel Elliott,[16] Kris London, and CashNasty.[17]
In 2022, XSET unveiled the first-ever gaming cabanas in partnership with Drai's Beachclub in Las Vegas.[18]
Acquisitions and expansions
[edit]In April 2023, XSET acquired Queens Gaming Collective.[19]
In July 2023, XSET signed Kris London and CashNasty to create exclusive collaborations, content, and merchandise drops.[20] That same year, XSET signed the robot Sophia, the first humanoid signed by a gaming organization.[21]
Merchandise and collaborations
[edit]Notable collaborations include:
- Apparel drops with Ganga, featuring his signature "nomad" and Salvador Dalí-inspired designs.[22]
- Merchandise capsules with Kris London and CashNasty.[23]
- A partnership and limited-edition merchandise collection with Cody 'Clix' Conrod.[9]
- SCUF Gaming,[24] HyperX, GHOST Lifestyle[25]
- Fashion and apparel: Roots Canada, Lids
- Quality Control Music, Roland (for the Drop The Bass apparel collection celebrating the TR-808 drum machine[26])
- Boston Red Sox, Drai's Las Vegas
- Fanshark, Wahlburgers
Content and activations
[edit]XSET has a presence in various cultural spaces, including:
- A gaming residency at Drai's Beachclub and Nightclub.[27]
- An activation at Ozuna Fest in Cancun in December 2021.[28]
- Participation in the Breakaway Music Festival 2023.[29]
- A takeover of Boston's Fenway Park for an "XSET Day."[30]
In 2022, XSET also launched the Black Xcellence program.[31]
Offices
[edit]The company has offices in Boston and Los Angeles.[32]
References
[edit]- ^ "XSET Co-Founder Marco Mereu launches new esports organisation M80". 9 December 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Wil Eddins". Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
- ^ "XSET is Born". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Lorenz, Taylor; Browning, Kellen (16 July 2020). "FaZe Clan President Departs: 'It's Time for Gaming to Clean Up Its Act'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "XSET thriving two years after being founded on diversity and inclusion". Nerd Street. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Swae Lee Is the First Artist to Invest in XSET, an Esports Company Rebuilding Gaming Culture". Rolling Stone. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Liao, Shannon (25 February 2021). "Quality Control invests in XSET, more closely linking music and gaming". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ a b "XSET announces Fortnite content creator Clix as ambassador and part-owner". 10 October 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Gaming Lifestyle Powerhouse XSET Signs Esports Phenom and Creator Clix". KRON4. 11 October 2023. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Millman, Ethan (28 October 2020). "Swae Lee Is the First Artist to Invest in XSET, an Esports Company Rebuilding Gaming Culture". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Martinez, Kiko (8 April 2021). "Ozuna Joins Gaming Organization XSET & Becomes First Latino Owner of Esports Team". Remezcla. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "XSET Raises $15M From Lil Wayne's Young Money, Ezekiel Elliott and Others | Built In Boston". Built In. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Detroit's Tee Grizzley Joins Gaming Lifestyle Brand XSET And Helps Former Inmates In The Process". VIBE.com. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Martinez, Jose. "Brycent Joins Lil Wayne & Ozuna-Backed Gaming Lifestyle Organization XSET". Complex. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Goldberg, Rob. "Cowboys' Ezekiel Elliott Joins eSports Team XSET as Creator, Investor". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Richman, Olivia (26 July 2023). "YouTubers Kris London and CashNasty Join XSET with Exclusive Content and Merch". Esports Illustrated. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "XSET renews partnership with hip hop club Drai's". 6 July 2023. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Fragen, Jordan (7 April 2023). "XSET acquires women's gaming org Queens Gaming Collective". VentureBeat. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "XSET launches apparel range with content creator Kris London". 22 March 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "Sophia the robot becomes first humanoid to be signed by a gaming org". Freethink. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Cowen, Trace William. "Ganga Launches Nomad LA Collection in Collaboration With XSET and NTWRK". Complex. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "XSET Welcomes Kris London and CashNasty as New Talent and Partners, Bringing Co-Created Merchandise and Fresh Content to Fans". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "XSET Signs Partnership With SCUF Gaming – ARCHIVE - The Esports Observer". 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "XSET gets a boost with GHOST partnership". 19 August 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (3 September 2021). "Music Industry Moves: Gaming Brand XSET Partners With Roland, Drai's Las Vegas". Variety. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Cirisano, Tatiana (30 August 2021). "Esports Brand XSET Partners With Drai's Nightclub for Concerts, Gaming Cabanas". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Flores, Griselda (9 April 2021). "Ozuna Joins Gaming Company XSET in 'Match Made in Heaven'". Billboard. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ "XSET to partner with Breakaway Music Festival; Bridging the gaming and music industry". esports.gg. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ Narayan, Niji (22 June 2023). "XSET Announces Collaboration with Red Sox". Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "XSET LAUNCHES BLACK XCELLENCE CAMPAIGN". XSET. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Karmaloop founder Greg Selkoe is back in Boston. Meet his new venture". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
External links
[edit]Founded on July 16, 2020, by former FaZe Clan executives Greg Selkoe, Wil Eddins, Clinton Sparks, and Marco Mereu, the organization sought to build an inclusive presence in esports while prioritizing creator partnerships and brand extensions into fashion and music.[3][4]
XSET fields professional teams in titles including Fortnite, VALORANT, and Apex Legends, with players such as Clix and Ritual achieving notable tournament placements, including multiple Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) victories that contributed to over $1 million in Fortnite earnings and a total organizational prize pool exceeding $1.7 million across competitions.[5][6][7]
The brand has expanded through collaborations like apparel lines with Jay-Z's Paper Planes and Roots, alongside content featuring hip-hop artists and NFL players, positioning itself as a multimedia entity beyond pure competition.[8][9]
However, XSET has encountered legal disputes, including a 2023 lawsuit from former VALORANT players alleging non-payment of agreed revenue shares from the Valorant Champions 2022 skin bundle, highlighting tensions over player compensation in esports organizations.[10][11]
Founding and Early Development
Establishment and Founders
XSET was established on July 16, 2020, as a gaming lifestyle brand and esports organization focused on competitive squads in titles such as PUBG Mobile, Rocket League, and later VALORANT.[3][4] The organization was co-founded by Greg Selkoe, Marco Mereu, Clinton Sparks, and Wil Eddins, with Selkoe serving as CEO.[3][12] Greg Selkoe, a veteran in the esports industry, previously held the position of president at FaZe Clan, where he contributed to its expansion into a major content creation and esports entity.[4] Marco Mereu brought experience as the founder of Framerate, a gaming media company, adding expertise in content and production to XSET's operations.[3] Clinton Sparks, a music producer and entrepreneur, provided insights into branding and entertainment crossovers, while Wil Eddins, another former FaZe Clan executive, focused on operational and talent management aspects.[3][12] The founders aimed to build an organization that reflected broader demographics within gaming, drawing from their collective backgrounds in esports, music, and media to differentiate XSET from established competitors.[3]Initial Team Acquisitions and Growth (2020-2021)
XSET entered the esports landscape in July 2020 by signing its inaugural Fortnite roster on July 16, consisting of players Av (Alexander Vanderveen), RogueShark, Knight, and Snood (Christian Hastie).[13] This move established the organization's competitive foundation amid the popularity of Fortnite's battle royale format. Shortly thereafter, on July 27, XSET expanded into Rocket League by forming a team, marking early diversification beyond a single title.[14] In September 2020, XSET acquired a PUBG Mobile roster on September 3, including players Juicy, NiKo, Angry, Joey, and RoiiDz, targeting the mobile esports segment with growing global viewership.[15] By October 26, the organization announced its initial Valorant roster, entering the tactical shooter market as the game gained traction post-launch.[16] On November 20, XSET signed the all-female Team Originem roster for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, comprising juliano, zAAz, Petra, kr4sylya, and mimimimichaela, with MackDaddy as coach, reflecting an intent to promote diverse representation in competitive gaming.[17] These acquisitions were bolstered by strategic investments, including rapper Swae Lee's role as the first official investor announced on October 28.[18] Into 2021, growth accelerated with XSET's entry into Rainbow Six Siege on February 22, via the acquisition of the RentFree roster—Tomas, Filthy, Drip, and Brycer—alongside signings of content creators Butterzz and Creators.[19] In May, XSET debuted in Apex Legends on May 28, initially signing player RamBeau before adding Claraphi in September, though roster stability proved challenging early on.[20] Additional Fortnite adjustments, such as the February 25 signing of Astonish, supported ongoing competitiveness.[13] By mid-2021, XSET had assembled teams across six titles, positioning it as a rapidly expanding entity focused on content integration and multi-game presence rather than singular dominance.[5]Esports Operations
Teams and Competitions
XSET maintains an active roster in Fortnite, its primary esports focus as of October 2025, featuring players such as Cody "Clix" Conrod, Ben "Higgs" Anderson (joined April 19, 2025), Mohammed "Faxuty" Eid (joined April 26, 2025), and Madison "Kanary" (joined October 18, 2025).[13][21] The organization also affiliates with additional Fortnite competitors including Bugha, illyynina, and Veno, who compete in solo, duo, and squad formats across North American events.[22] This team participates in Epic Games' Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS), including divisional qualifiers, majors, and the Global Championship, with recent placements such as second in a Duos Division 1 session on October 25, 2025, yielding 2,700 power ranking points and $8,000 in earnings for Clix.[23][24] Third-party Fortnite tournaments form a key part of XSET's competitive calendar, exemplified by a first-place finish in The Milk Cup 2025 Finals on October 18, 2025, where illyynina and Vader secured $78,000.[13] Earlier in the year, squad members achieved top rankings in FNCS practice events, including a first-place squad result on August 19, 2025, earning $9,000.[25] These efforts contribute to XSET's cumulative Fortnite earnings exceeding several hundred thousand dollars, though specific totals vary by player affiliation in flexible squad compositions.[26] Historically, XSET fielded teams in other titles, including Valorant through 2022, where it competed in VCT North America Challengers, Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen, and Valorant Champions 2022, advancing to playoff stages but without major titles.[27][16] A Rocket League roster participated in RLCS events until disbanding in 2022, generating $57,050 in prize money from regional and world championships.[14][5] Similar short-term ventures occurred in Rainbow Six Siege ($83,000 earned), PUBG Mobile ($87,750), and Call of Duty: Mobile, focusing on international circuits like PMGC and CODM World Championship qualifiers, though these teams have since dissolved without ongoing activity.[5] No active rosters exist in these games as of late 2025.[28]Key Achievements and Earnings
XSET has accumulated approximately $1,770,702 in total prize money from participation in 210 tournaments across multiple esports disciplines, with Fortnite contributing the largest share.[5] The organization's Fortnite division alone exceeded $1 million in earnings by January 2025, propelled by strong performances in high-stakes events.[29] In 2024, this team secured $496,925 from seven tournaments, including a second-place finish at The Milk Cup: Winter on December 16, 2024.[26] A pivotal achievement came in Fortnite with XSET's victory at the 2024 Esports World Cup, where the roster dominated qualifiers and the grand finals, marking one of the organization's most prominent international triumphs and elevating their status among elite competitors like NRG and FaZe Clan.[29] This win not only boosted earnings but also highlighted strategic depth in duo and squad formats, with players advancing through closed qualifiers on July 5, 2024, by defeating teams such as Elite Esports.[30] In VALORANT, XSET's North American squad earned $257,050 before disbanding around December 2023, with notable success including a first-place finish at the NSG: Winter tournament on February 9, 2022.[16] The team advanced to playoffs at the 2022 VALORANT Champions by defeating reigning Masters champion FunPlus Phoenix on September 6, 2022, despite earlier struggles at VCT Masters: Copenhagen.[31] Apex Legends efforts yielded $229,550 since May 2021, reflecting consistent regional contention but fewer headline victories.[32]| Game | Total Earnings | Key Tournament Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| Fortnite | ~$1,000,000+ | 1st: 2024 Esports World Cup[29] |
| VALORANT | $257,050 | Playoffs: 2022 Champions[16] |
| Apex Legends | $229,550 | Various regional events since 2021[32] |
