About CGN

From Cologne to the stages of the world

Born in Cologne with competition at its core, CGN has grown from a grassroots gaming community into a gaming and lifestyle brand — becoming one of the most successful organisations in the DACH region, with multiple championship titles, leading pros and creators, fashion, content and live experiences, powered by a fanbase that turns every stage into home ground.

Cologne is our home. Gaming is what connects us. We compete to win, create beyond the server and build a brand that brings gaming into everyday culture.

Built to win · Winning is in our DNA ·

DACH is where we built our legacy. Now we compete on the world stage. From record championships in VALORANT DACH to national titles and international top finishes.

View teams →

We live gaming · Creators move culture ·

CGN brings together pros, creators and personalities who live gaming every day. Together, we create content, entertainment and new formats that turn gaming into stories, moments and communities far beyond competition.

Meet the creators →

Designed in Cologne. · Worn by our pros ·

CGN approaches apparel as fashion, not merchandise. Starting with the jersey, we're building a lifestyle line rooted in gaming culture and designed in Cologne — pieces made to be worn far beyond the game.

Enter the shop →

The people behind the movement · Our sixth player · We show up together ·

Wherever CGN goes, our fanbase shows up — loud, proud and impossible to ignore. From fan marches to packed stands, they turn every stage into a home game. They don't just support the movement — they are the movement.

Join the Discord →

Our history

2026

The movement grows

CGN keeps growing with a clear goal — success on the world stage. Expanding lifestyle formats, uniting the gaming community and establishing CGN as one of Cologne’s leading sports and entertainment brands.

09/2026

Third FNCS Global Championship

CGN returns to the FNCS Global Championship for the third time, with JannisZ and Rax from Gentlemates finishing 13th against the world’s best Fortnite duos.

09/2026

CGN enters the Delta Force RISE Series EMEA

CGN joins the Delta Force RISE Series EMEA as an official team partner, marking our entry into another Tier 1 esports ecosystem.

09/2026

Seven-time VCL DACH champions

Seven VCL DACH titles — including two separate three-peats — make CGN the most successful VALORANT organisation in DACH history.

09/2026

Prime League promotion

From unbeaten Division 2 champions to promotion — CGN fights through the Techniker Prime League relegation and seals the deal against Eintracht Frankfurt in our home arena in Cologne.

09/2026

The Pokal DACH champion

CGN lifts the VALORANT DACH Pokal, adding another trophy to our collection after taking on the region’s top challengers.

08/2026

CGN enters Brawl Stars

CGN enters Tier 1 Brawl Stars with European veteran LeNain and rising talents Nes and Dompe, joined by creator CrazyMonti. Starting from a Top 7 position in Europe, the goal is clear: qualify for the World Finals 2027 and compete among the best teams in the world.

08/2026

A new home stadium in Cologne

CGN opens its new home at XPERION Cologne Tech Village, creating a permanent space for competition, content, community and unforgettable fan experiences.

08/2026

FOMO comes to gamescom

Together with KPMG and Arvato Systems, CGN launches FOMO as a new event format during gamescom — bringing gaming, business and culture together in Cologne.

05/2026

Back-to-back VCL DACH champions

CGN claims both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the 2026 VALORANT Challengers DACH season, securing back-to-back championships and continuing our dominance in the region.

05/2026

Split 2 champion

Second title of the season in HanseMerkur Challengers DACH — title defended without dropping a map in the final.

04/2026

SteelSeries joins forces with CGN Esports

SteelSeries becomes an official CGN partner, joining forces with us to equip our players and creators at the highest level of competition.

02/2026

More than a jersey — built with HoodieHoo & HanseMerkur

Together with HoodieHoo and our new VALORANT main partner HanseMerkur, CGN introduces a jersey designed beyond esports — blending competition, streetwear and Cologne lifestyle in one look.

02/2026

Split 1 champion

Season opens with the title and HanseMerkur as new main partner of the VALORANT division.

01/2026

ZOWIE becomes Official Monitor Partner

ZOWIE joins CGN as our Official Monitor Partner, supporting our competitive teams with hardware built for the highest level of esports.

12/2025

CGN Scouting Grounds powered by MediaMarktSaturn

From several hundred applicants through five scouting stages to the main roster — Samed earned a full-time contract, became a three-time VCL DACH champion and remains part of our main lineup to this day.

11/2025

Monsters Reloaded runner-up

CGN finishes second at Monsters Reloaded, including a win over Gentle Mates and strong performances against the VCT competition.

09/2025

New CGN zones at XPERION & MediaMarktSaturn joins as Official Partner

Together with MediaMarktSaturn and XPERION, CGN creates dedicated experience zones that bring our teams, creators and community closer together.

06/2025

Prime League champions

In our first season after entering League of Legends, CGN wins the Prime League and establishes itself as a new force in German League of Legends.

05/2025

VCL DACH Stage 2 champions

Another stage, another title. CGN wins VCL DACH Stage 2 and continues building one of the most successful runs in regional VALORANT.

04/2025

CGN enters League of Legends with a creator-led team

Together with Agurin, CGN enters one of esports’ biggest titles, combining competitive ambition with a creator-driven approach and opening a new chapter in the Prime League.

03/2025

Esports Team of the Year at the EarlyGame Awards 2025

Presented by DVAG, CGN is named Esports Team of the Year at the EarlyGame Awards 2025 — recognising our competitive success, continued growth and journey from Cologne to the top of German esports.

01/2025

CGN joins forces with Team Heretics

Through a Riot-affiliated team partnership, CGN joins forces with Team Heretics — connecting our regional strength in the DACH ecosystem with one of Europe’s leading esports organisations and opening a new competitive chapter.

09/2024

Second FNCS Global Championship

CGN returns to the FNCS Global Championship for the second time, with JannisZ and Pixie from Ninjas in Pyjamas finishing 15th against the world’s best Fortnite duos.

09/2024

CGN finishes third at VCT Ascension EMEA

CGN finishes third at VCT Ascension EMEA in Berlin — our strongest international VALORANT result to date, placing us among Europe’s best teams while our fans turned the Riot Games Arena into a real home ground.

07/2024

From DACH to VCT Ascension

CGN represents the DACH region at VCT Ascension EMEA, competing for a place at the highest level of European VALORANT.

05/2024

The three-peat — VCL DACH champions

Three consecutive VCL DACH championships turn a strong run into an era of dominance and establish CGN as the team to beat in the region.

04/2024

Stage 1 champions

Start of a double season: CGN wins Stage 1 of Challengers DACH.

12/2023

CGN joins Team Razer

Razer becomes a CGN partner, supporting our players as we continue raising our competitive ambitions across esports.

10/2023

CGN’s first FNCS Global Championship

Together with Rezon ay, CGN makes its first appearance at the FNCS Global Championship, finishing 28th on the world stage and marking our first major international milestone in Fortnite.

06/2023

Back-to-back VCL DACH champions

CGN wins consecutive VCL DACH titles, proving that our first championship was only the beginning of something bigger.

06/2023

Stage 2 champions

Second stage title of the year in HanseMerkur Challengers DACH — the double completed.

04/2023

JannisZ joins CGN — our Fortnite entry

Fortnite FNCS Champion JannisZ joins CGN, bringing world-class experience and another major competitive title into our organisation.

04/2023

BeNice wins $50K S-Tier Hearthstone event with CGN

BeNice wins the S-Tier Battlegrounds Lobby Legends: Raid Leaders under the CGN banner, taking 1st place in the $50,000 event.

04/2023

Stage 1 champions

CGN wins Stage 1 of HanseMerkur Challengers DACH — the first of the stage titles.

02/2023

End of CGN Youngstars

Due to Riot regulations, the CGN Youngstars academy project had to come to an end. As part of this transition, Vince was promoted to the main roster — having started his career with CGN Youngstars and later becoming the team’s IGL.

09/2022

CGN Sakura launches

CGN enters VALORANT Game Changers with CGN Sakura, marking our first step into women’s esports and expanding our competitive vision with a new platform for emerging talent.

01/2022

CGN Youngstars

CGN launches its Youngstars programme to identify and develop the next generation of esports talent. Following a multi-week selection process with more than 500 applicants, the final academy roster is formed and given a platform to compete.

10/2021

Red Bull Campus Clutch champions

CGN wins the German Red Bull Campus Clutch championship — our first major VALORANT trophy and another step beyond Cologne.

06/2021

Beyond competition — CGN expands into lifestyle

CGN welcomes its first lifestyle creators, expanding the brand beyond competitive esports and into gaming, culture and entertainment.

12/2020

Back-to-back A1 Esports League Smash Bros. champions

CGN wins the A1 Esports League in Smash for the second consecutive time, securing back-to-back titles and adding another championship to our early competitive success.

08/2020

Founded in Cologne

What started as a local gaming community becomes CGN — built in Cologne with the ambition to compete far beyond the city.

12/2019

A1 Esports League Smash Bros. champions

CGN wins its first A1 Esports League title in Smash, turning an ambitious community project into a title-winning DACH organisation.

07/2019

Our first creator. Our first S-Tier title.

CGN takes its first major steps beyond grassroots competition, combining creator culture and esports.

07/2019

First step into esports

CGN enters competitive Smash Bros., signing some of Germany’s leading talent across Melee and Ultimate, including Red Bull athlete Ice, Nicki, SchlimmShady, Tarik and Tru4. This marks the beginning of CGN’s competitive journey — with Tru4 still representing the organisation today.

2019

Cologne Gaming Network

It all started with a love for Smash Bros., community and competitive gaming.

Our key figures

As of 2026

CGN Esports team at a live event in Cologne

Titles

since 2020 · DACH & Europe

Followers

12M+

across all platforms

Players & creators

representing CGN

Discord

65k+

8 servers, active daily

Rosters

VALORANT · League of Legends · Fortnite · FGC · Brawl Stars · Delta Force

Offline touchpoints

CGN HQ, our home venue in Cologne, and XPERION Hamburg and Berlin

Founded

2020

Cologne-Ehrenfeld

Offline touchpoints

Home games, watch parties, meet-ups and expo appearances: at our venues in Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin we meet people across DACH every year — offline, not in the feed.

people offline per year · DACH