Envy Gaming
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Esports, gaming |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Tosh "Stainville" Mcgruder, Skyler "Foreplayy" Johnson |
| Headquarters | Dallas , United States |
Key people | Adam Rymer (CEO), Geoff Moore (President and COO), Mike "Hastr0" Rufail (former CEO and founder) |
| Products | Esports teams (Team Envy, Dallas Fuel, OpTic Texas) |
Envy Gaming, Inc originated as a collective esports and gaming organization founded in 2007 by Tosh "Stainville" Mcgruder and Skyler "Foreplayy" Johnson, initially forming a Call of Duty squad named Team EnVyUs. The entity Envy Gaming, LLC was created in October 2012 and later incorporated as Envy Gaming, Inc in May 2016. The company managed several esports teams, including Team Envy, the Dallas Fuel competing in the Overwatch League, and OpTic Texas within the Call of Duty League, working alongside OpTic Gaming. In June 2022, Envy Gaming phased out the Envy brand to fully embrace the OpTic Gaming identity.
2007–2016
Team EnVyUs was established in 2007 as a professional squad for Call of Duty 4. Mike "Hastr0" Rufail joined the roster in 2009 and eventually took on ownership responsibilities. The company Envy Gaming, LLC was officially registered in North Carolina on October 31, 2012, before becoming incorporated as Envy Gaming, Inc on May 25, 2016.
2017–2022
In September 2017, Hersh Interactive Group invested $35 million into Envy Gaming, prompting the company to move its headquarters from Charlotte, North Carolina to Dallas, Texas. This capital injection facilitated the acquisition of the Dallas-based Overwatch League franchise slot for approximately $20 million, positioning Envy as one of twelve founding teams for the league’s inaugural season in 2018. The organization transitioned all players and staff from Team EnVyUs’ Overwatch division, effectively dissolving that team. On October 5, 2017, the Dallas franchise was officially named Dallas Fuel.
On June 28, 2018, Geoff Moore—formerly COO of Circuit of the Americas and EVP of sales and marketing for the Dallas Stars—was appointed as Envy Gaming’s first President and COO.
By May 2019, Envy secured a franchise spot in Activision’s Call of Duty League for an estimated $25 million. The team was branded Dallas Empire and publicly introduced on October 19, reflecting the organization’s regional heritage.
In October 2019, Envy unveiled a dedicated headquarters and training complex spanning 20,872 square feet at Victory Park in Dallas. This facility supports player development, content production, wellness programs, and team training activities.
Adam Rymer succeeded founder Mike Rufail as CEO on July 9, 2020.
November 2021 marked the merger between Envy Gaming and OpTic Gaming. Hector "HECZ" Rodriguez joined the ownership group and assumed the role of President for OpTic Gaming. This consolidation integrated OpTic Texas’ Call of Duty League roster under Envy’s umbrella.
In January 2022, Envy acquired operational control over Esports Stadium Arlington located in Texas.
By June 2022, Envy Gaming retired its original brand to fully adopt the OpTic Gaming name. Concurrently, the Envy Foundation was rebranded as the OpTic Foundation. Content creators and the Rocket League team were transitioned under OpTic Gaming’s banner while Dallas Fuel maintained its existing identity.
Investors
Starting in 2017, Envy Gaming attracted several significant investors. John Brock invested a seven-figure amount before becoming chief business officer. That same year, owner Mike Rufail announced a $35 million funding round led by Hersh Interactive Group who became strategic partners while Rufail retained primary ownership and operational control. Later in 2017, Fedor Holz—known for his World Series of Poker success—joined as a minority stakeholder.
In July 2018, YouTube influencer Preston Arsement (PrestonPlayz) became both an investor and content creator affiliated with the organization. By January 2019, Envy raised $20 million from a combination of prominent local and national investors whose identities were not publicly disclosed.
August 2020 saw musician Post Malone acquire a minority ownership stake in Envy Gaming, joining as co-owner and enhancing the company’s portfolio with a high-profile backer.