TL;DR
- Astralis Group becomes first esports team organization to go public with $18-22M IPO
- Corporate split from RFRSH Entertainment resolved conflict of interest concerns
- Previous gaming IPO by Super League Gaming saw shares plummet 78% post-launch
- Denmark’s strong esports culture provides unique advantage for Astralis
- Successful IPO could revolutionize how esports organizations access capital

The Astralis Group has made a landmark decision to pursue an initial public offering, positioning itself as the trailblazer in esports financial markets.
This multi-franchise organization controls several premier competitive gaming teams including League of Legends competitor Origen, FIFA esports squad Future FC, and the globally dominant Counter-Strike: Global Offensive lineup Astralis. The IPO announcement comes shortly after their separation from RFRSH Entertainment, marking an unprecedented move where an entity deeply embedded in professional team management and ownership enters public trading markets.
Astralis currently holds the world’s top ranking in Counter-Strike competition and secured their third consecutive CSGO major championship title this year. Meanwhile, Origen maintains permanent franchise status within the prestigious LEC league, providing stable revenue streams.
According to the detailed financial documentation in Astralis Group’sIPO prospectus, the company aims to secure between $18 million and $22 million through this public offering. With established partnerships with major brands including Audi and Logitech already in place, the IPO is positioned to attract substantial investor attention. The scheduled listing on Nasdaq’s First North Growth Market exchange platform is targeted for completion by December 9th at the latest.
The Astralis Group separated from RFRSH Entertainment back in September following growing concerns about potential conflicts of interest regarding Astralis’ participation in BLAST Pro Series tournaments organized by RFRSH. The eventual corporate division resulted in Astralis Group assuming control over all team management operations while RFRSH Entertainment continued its specialization as a tournament organizer.
Prior to this groundbreaking announcement, esports organizations typically depended on external venture capital funding to build and scale their brands. While Astralis Group initially followed this conventional funding path, they are now venturing into completely uncharted financial territory for team-based esports entities.
Only one comparable case exists in recent gaming financial history. Super League Gaming, an event planning company focused on gaming activities, conducted a $25 million IPO last February. Despite considerable market excitement surrounding their public debut, the reality proved disastrous for early investors.
Following an initial opening price of $11 per share, the stock value collapsed almost immediately after market release. As of November 29, 2019, share prices had declined to just $2.47 each, representing a devastating 78% loss from the original offering price.
Astralis Group occupies a fundamentally different market position compared to SLG, however. The company benefits from leadership by seasoned industry professionals and its core products are competitive teams rather than service offerings. This fundamental distinction provides Astralis with significantly more stable operational foundations.
AG’s Danish headquarters provides another strategic advantage for the IPO, as Denmark has demonstrated exceptional acceptance and support for competitive gaming. Following their victory at BLAST Pro Series Copenhagen, for instance, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen made a personal visit to the Astralis training facilities to congratulate the championship team. The professional players themselves have achieved celebrity status within their home nation and regularly feature in national newspaper coverage and Danish television appearances after significant tournament successes.
Currently, the broader esports industry maintains close observation of Astralis Group’s financial maneuver. Should this IPO achieve market success, it could potentially catalyze numerous other organizations to undertake similar public market entries, fundamentally altering how competitive gaming entities access growth capital.
Action Checklist
- Research the company’s complete team portfolio and competitive performance history
- Analyze existing corporate partnerships and sponsorship revenue streams
- Compare with previous gaming industry IPOs and their post-listing performance
- Evaluate management team experience and industry track record
- Monitor early trading performance and market reception following IPO launch
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