With the World Community Grid, IBM is stepping up to help COVID-19 researchers. IBM is no stranger to using the power of the internet to benefit its research. IBM has had its own computing power crowdsourcing program – the World Community Grid – for a while now, but just recently has IBM turned this project […]
Major game publishers, including Activision Blizzard and Twitch, team up with the World Health Organization to promote social distancing with a campaign called “Play Apart Together.” To encourage people to stay inside during the quarantine, the World Health Organization and some of the largest video game publishers launch a campaign to promote gaming. This operation, […]
There are few things less predictable than huge businesses coming together for their own betterment. In this case, one of these companies gets a fresher start. We’re the Rally Cry team, and we’re excited to announce that we've raised 1.2M in seed funding. We’re still tinkering away on our upcoming products, but you can read […]
Amuka Esports acquires Incendium Gaming, a leading tournament organizer for fighting games. Amuka Esports is a Canadian esports company creating localized esports hubs for casual gamers in cities across North America. Each hub consists of a game venue, tournament organizer, content team, merchandise brands and incubator. Founded in 2019, Amuka Esports is a quickly growing […]
MKM Law LLP launches first-of-its-kind online dispute resolution platform for the esports industry: MKMediation. Esport is one of the fastest-growing industries — with millions of dollars of cash prizes and bigger sponsors coming in at each tournament. As the public wants more content, new organizations pop up all around the world, and players are treated […]
Blizzard is taking steps for their employees’ health safety. With the growing threat and the USA announced a national state of emergency, Blizzard Entertainment has decided to send all staff home as it implements a work-from-home policy. Outside of the USA Blizzard staff will follow local guidelines. Just including Europe, Blizzard has offices, distribution centers, […]
The next major installment in esports entertainment facilities is coming to Berlin, and it’s called LVL. VERITAS Entertainment has announced today that they will be building a new state of the art esports and gaming entertainment venue that is designed with gamers in mind and competition at the heart. This new venue includes its own […]
With the coronavirus outbreak death toll reaching epic heights around the world, DragonX general manager Choi Sang-In, as well as mid-laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon, have decided to step up the plate. Both of them donated over 10 million won (roughly $8,386) to the Community Chest of Korea. This is a nonprofit organization that helps the […]
In a first for ESTNN, we’ve aggregated all of the esports business news from the past week so you can stay up to date on the other side of the industry. This week’s news ranges from Faker being a part owner in T1 to ESL establishing a new league format and partnerships. NACE partners with […]
Nicecactus has closed the deal on its acquisition of Glory4Gamers. Video game team management platform, Nicecactus, has announced its latest esports acquisition: online tournament platform Glory4Gamers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oZMA1FcAsU The deal is to engage Nicecactus’ ability to reach users on a further international level. It takes elements of both their workforces and compiling them into an “efficient” […]
More details about the deal between Activision/Blizzard and YouTube have surfaced. The new Activision/Blizzard Esports media-rights deal with Youtube is valued at over $160M. This figure is projected over three years. That is a lot of moolah, and according to official correspondents briefed on the terms of this brand-spanking-new deal. This carefully-calculated partnership with Google […]
Esports host, commentator and all-round esports man Paul “Redeye” Chaloner has revealed his latest project is an esports book title “This is Esports (And How to Spell It)”. The book, subtitled “An Insider’s Guide to the World of Pro Gaming”, will be published by Bloomsbury UK via its Bloomsbury Sports publishing house. No date is […]
Overtime Gaming has arrived, and they are looking to deepen their impact on esports in a significant way. Overtime Sports is expanding its efforts in esports, beginning with a high-profile acquisition of popular Fortnite organization, Evade. In addition to acquiring Evade, Overtime Sports is also establishing Overtime Gaming, which will represent their presence in esports […]
In a world of brand sponsorship, by-the-numbers investments, and lonely gamers looking for love, it was only a matter of time before Tinder swiped right on their esports crush. paiN Gaming, a notable Brazilian esports organization, announced this week that it has begun a developing “sponsorship agreement” with go-to late night dating app, Tinder. What […]
Mountain Dew? Sure. Dorito-dusted fingers? Of course… but when you think of modern-day gaming fuel, do you conjure up images of KFC immediately? The longest-running fast-food fried chicken chain is looking for a change and is hoping to find it in the world of esports. KFC Gaming has just announced its new campaign for the […]
With 2020 set to be the greatest year in esports history, Riot Games might want to readjust to a few things before moving forward in future endeavors. Their brand new Monday Night League has not had the amount of viewership that many had speculated that it would. Plus, since it is only two weeks into […]
FaZe Clan just received a massive cash injection from Canaccord Genuity — $22.7 million in the bank. Fast-growing Canadian investment bank, Canaccord Genuity, announced a partnership last week with FaZe Clan. One of the most popular esports organizations in the world. The partnership takes the form of a brand new convertible loan facility, complete with […]
While professional soccer player, Gareth Bale, is known for his football skills — he has undoubtedly started something great in the world of esports. Just this week, Welsh professional footballer Gareth Bale launched Ellevens Esports. Launched in partnership with the 38 Entertainment Group. Of which both entrepreneur Jonathan Kark and former professional footballer Larry Cohen […]
CORSAIR has acquired yet another major gaming & esports brand as it acquires SCUF Gaming, the popular controller brand used by professional console gamers across esports. CORSAIR was founded in 1994 and in recent years has added Elgato and Origin PC to its collection of products that it offers alongside the companies own selection. Andy […]
Beijing News has reported that Bilibili is set to pay $113 Million (800 million yuan) over three years to Riot Games for the exclusive Chinese broadcasting rights for League of Legends Worlds. Bilibili outbid Chinese streaming sites Huya and Douyu in the process. For context, Bilibili is one of many major streaming platforms in China […]
Misfits Gaming Group, owner of the Call of Duty League team Florida Mutineers, has officially launched “the newest company under the MGG umbrella,” MSF.IO. MSF.IO is an esports incubator and seed fund, aimed at supporting esports companies “looking to take their business or idea to the next level,” according to the organization’s official press release. […]
Hot-to-trot esports startup, Juked, has just launched their first open-world beta testing for streaming live video game content. The Californian esports company just began last February and rumor is their team are fervent on delivering continued updates for future fans and subscribers in 2020. On their official page, Juked is attempting “to create a better […]
Following the partnership revealed in July, Skillz has announced mobile gaming tournaments supporting the American Cancer Society (ACS). Skillz, an esports provider for mobile games, has announced a range of tournaments for mobile esports professionals to compete in and support the American Cancer Society. Through the Skillz platform, competitors in mobile games such as Bubble […]
Launched this April, Amuka Esports is an incubation company with a focus on the casual gaming market. Ben Feferman, the CEO of Amuka Esports, has played video games like Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! and NHLPA Hockey ’93 since he was five years old. “Those were the games that really transformed my childhood,” he told ESTNN. “I loved […]
Nielsen will track esports viewership and statistics for the two industry giants. According to a press release, ESL and Dreamhack, two large-scale tournament organizers in the esports space, have signed an agreement with Nielsen to provide “comprehensive esport measurement[s]” for their tournaments. The agreement will further advance research standards in esports and provide greater confidence […]
Eugene Luchianenco, Head of Esports at WePlay! Esports, sat down with ESTNN to talk about the grassroots tournament scene, WePlay!’s recent Dota Underlords tournament, and what the future holds for WePlay!. Earlier this month, tournament organizer WePlay! hosted the first open tournament for Dota Underlords, Valve’s newest game and one of the most popular entries […]
The Houston Outlaws have found their new president. The Houston Outlaws announced Chris DeAppolonio as the new president of the organization this morning, according to a tweet from DeAppolonio himself. I am thrilled to announce my new role as president of the @Outlaws. The brand, team, & staff are dear to me having prior worked […]
Astralis’ parent company RFRSH Entertainment have reportedly agreed to the sale of their CS: GO team. According to a report from dr.dk, RFRSH has arranged the sale of Astralis to a separate ownership group that primarily consists of Danish investors. Nikolaj Nyholm, the Director of RFRSH, has announced that he will be stepping down from […]
OG has signed a sponsorship deal with SteelSeries, and LSG has inked a partnership with Betway. With TI 9 just around the corner, the hype is getting bigger and bigger with each day. Having said that, a lot of the top organizations in Dota 2 are getting new sponsors lately. PSG Esports and Betway PSG […]
ESTNN’s Matt Pryor explores the meteoric rise of esports prize pools. The rise of esports has been one of the more intriguing topics over the past 10 years. A steadily surging increase in viewership has come hand in hand with huge prize pools, and has monetarily benefited both organizations and players alike. Last weekend’s Fortnite […]
Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch has made a billion dollars through in-game purchases since the game launched in 2016. SuperData, a Neilson-owned video game data research company, recently published its monthly Worldwide Digital Games Market analysis that revealing a global video game market revenue growth of 2% to $9.2B USD in June. While major licenses such as League […]
ESTNN’s Malik Shelp sheds some light on how China’s draconian video game policy is influencing American video game developers. Unless you’re out of the loop, it’s pretty common knowledge that China holds a monumental stake in the gaming industry. They provide a substantial percentage of the user base for popular games like League of Legends […]
The Pittsburgh Knights Esports organization announced a partnership with rapper Cameron Jibril “Wiz Khalifa” Thomaz this morning. North American esports organization Pittsburgh Knights announced a partnership with Cameron Jibril “Wiz Khalifa” Thomaz this morning, according to a press release from the organization. Thomaz will join the organization as a strategic partner and provide creative direction, […]
ESL North America and AT&T announced a partnership extension this morning ahead of IEM Chicago. Tournament organizer ESL and telecommunications giant AT&T have extended their North American partnership this morning according to an official press release. The partnership will bring new experiences to ESL’s North American events, including Intel Extreme Masters Chicago, ESL One New […]
Esports organizations NRG is teasing what looks to be a brand overhaul set to be unveiled on July 22. NRG Esports teased what looks like a brand overhaul today on the team’s official Twitter account. a whole new nrg coming july 22nd 🙂https://t.co/2jOFMO0d0f — NRG (@NRGgg) July 16, 2019 The link takes viewers to the […]
Weekly.gg has made its mark in the esports industry for veterans and newcomers alike with its recent launch of a tailored email newsletter: a to the point newsletter for esports professionals. The email goes out to subscribers every Friday, containing curated news told in a unique way. The people behind Weekly.gg, Alan Ruchtein, Gonzalo Sanchez […]
Activision Blizzard announced Johanna Faries as Call of Duty Esports League Commissioner today. Activision Blizzard promoted Johanna Faries to the Commissioner position of the Call of Duty Esports League today, according to a post on their official website. Faries, who worked for the NFL before becoming Head of Call of Duty Esports, now takes on […]
100 Thieves announced that they have brought Doug Barber, the previous owner of clothing brand Reigning Champ, onboard as Vice President of Brand & Apparel. 100 Thieves hired Doug Barber to lead a brand new position, Vice President of Brand & Apparel, according to an official press release by the organization. Doug Barber previously owned […]
IGC has laid off several employees from different parts of the OpTic Organization following their acquisition of Infinite Esports and Entertainment. As many OpTic fans already know, Immortals Gaming Club finalized their acquisition of the esports organization in early June. However, there have been even more consequences that have just come to light; according to […]
RFRSH Entertainment has announced they have entered into a two-year partnership with Logitech G. RFRSH Entertainment, owners of the Danish Counterstrike squad Astralis, announced a two-year partnership with Logitech G to provide equipment and peripherals to the Danes. This is the second RFRSH-owned team Logitech has sponsored in the past week. Last Wednesday, Logitech G […]
FURIA announced a partnership with Nike today on the teams official website. It will debut as FURIA’s CS:GO team takes the stage at ESL One Cologne. Brazillian esports organization FURA revealed a sponsorship with Nike today, per the company’s official website. This partnership is Nike’s first entrance into team sponsorships. The sport fashion conglomerate partnered […]
Activision Blizzard announced today that Immortals Gaming Club and WISE Ventures will field franchises in the upcoming Call of Duty League. Immortals Gaming Club will field a Call of Duty Franchise when the League starts next year, according to Activision Blizzard. According to the team, Immortals will retain the newly purchased OpTic Gaming brand for […]
Well, now we know what Project Whirlwind was all about. In what may be one of the largest esports partnerships of all time, Team Liquid unveiled a strategic partnership with Marvel Entertainment today when the TL League of Legends team entered the Rift Rivals tournament wearing Captain America/Team Liquid crossover jerseys. The partnership includes exclusive […]
OverActive Media announced Bell, Canada’s largest communications company, as a Founding Marketing Partner. OAM and Bell Partner Up OverActive Media (OAM) revealed a strategic partnership with Canada’s largest communications company, Bell, today. As part of the deal, Bell acquired a minority interest in OAM and became OAM’s first Founding Marketing Partner. The multi-year agreement includes […]
The LEC’s Origen and peripheral-maker Logitech announced a partnership this afternoon. Logitech and RFRSH Team Up RFRSH Entertainment and Logitech revealed their two-year partnership today in an official press release. Origen, a RFRSH brand, will start to use Logitech products when competing in the LEC. Additionally, the players will “be integrated in[to] the development of […]
A tweet today from the official Team Liquid Twitter account announced the reveal date for the mysterious Project Whirlwind. Team Liquid’s official Twitter account posted a cryptic tweet this afternoon, teasing something called mysterious: “Project Whirlwind.” The tweet itself contains Team Liquid’s most prominent sponsors, including Monster, Alienware, SAP, Honda, HyperX, Need for Seat, and […]
The Atlanta Reign posted three job opportunities last night that have us thinking. Last night, the Atlanta Reign posted three job opportunities for inside the organization. That, in and of itself, is not groundbreaking. What is interesting, however, is what those job opportunities are. The fledgling Overwatch League franchise posted openings for a Director of […]
After a few down years for Call of Duty, Infinity Ward’s return to the Modern Warfare franchise has people excited. Modern Warfare is Back Gaming retailer Gamestop has released a top 10 list of most preordered games after E3, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare tops the list. Infinity Ward’s return to the franchise clearly […]
The upcoming EPICENTER Major adds German tech company SAP as a sponsor ahead of the tournament. EPICENTER has added German IT company SAP as a sponsor ahead of their upcoming Dota 2 Major tournament. It marks the first time in EPICENTER’s history that they have had a technology company sponsor. SAP specializes in collecting in-game […]
Dreamhack has announced a partnership with Akamai Technologies to raise awareness of hacking and data theft in the esports space. In an official press release from the organization, tournament organizer Dreamhack revealed a partnership today with Akamai Technologies in order to highlight the dangers that hackers pose to esports data security. The partnership includes Dreamhack […]
According to a press release from the organization, Russian frozen foods brand Goryachaya Shutcka will sponsor the EPICENTER Major. In a press release this morning, EPICENTER named Goryachaya Shutcka an official partner of the upcoming EPICENTER Major. The brand, translated “Hot Stuff,” will host several online events for both online viewers and fans that attend […]
Riot Games announced today that Alienware will be the presenting sponsor for 2019’s iteration of Rift Rivals which will see teams from North America and Europe duke it out for the top spot. In an official press release, Riot Games has revealed that Alienware will be the presenting sponsor of Rift Rivals 2019. Alienware is […]
Immortals Gaming Club will purchase Infinite Esports and Entertainment for $35-$45M USD in cash and equity, according to a report by ESPN’s Jacob Wolf. Immortals Gaming Club has announced a deal to purchase OpTic Gaming and the Houston Outlaws parent company, Infinite Esports and Entertainment, for between $35-$45M USD in cash and equity. As of […]
ESTNN’s FPS Editor-in-Chief Nicholas Johnson managed to wrangle Frankie Ward, one of the only professional esports interviewers, away from the stage at IEM Sydney and got her perspective on her job, her experiences, and esports as a whole. There’s something to be said for post-game interviews. Through the interviewers, fans get an inside look […]
Tech investment firm Peak6 has announced today that they have acquired storied esports organization Evil Geniuses. Tech investment firm Peak6 announced today that they have acquired esports organization Evil Geniuses. Fans know Evil Geniuses for fielding teams in Dota 2 and Call of Duty (the latter of which now features FaZe Clan alum Dillon “Attach” […]
With the recent news that Immortals Gaming is close to purchasing OpTic Gaming, ESTNN’s Phillip Miner breaks down everything that we know so far. It’s a scary time to be an OpTic Gaming fan. Earlier this month, the Immortals Gaming Club announced that it was close to cementing a purchase deal for the OpTic organization. […]
Reports indicate that Immortals is close to a deal with Infinite Esports for its esports properties. Immortals Gaming Club, best known for their League of Legends team, appears to be buying the parent company of competitive gaming juggernaut OpTic Gaming, Infinite Esports. The Immortals primarily appear interested in buying Infinite for OpTic Gaming’s spot in […]
Complexity Gaming, one of esports’ longest-running organizations, announced a total rebrand today, complete with a new logo, jerseys and merchandise. Complexity Gaming announced a full rebrand today to coincide with the organizations move to their new headquarters, the GameStop Performance Center. The new design mirrors that of Complexity’s sister team, the Dallas Cowboys. In addition […]
Epic Games has announced the acquisition of San Diego-based Rocket League developer Psyonix. Fortnite developer Epic Games has announced that the North Carolina-based studio has acquired Rocket League-developer Psyonix. A blog post from Psyonix revealed the news today along with a short FAQ. The blog post states in no uncertain terms that Rocket League will […]
DouYu, the Twitch of China is filing in the U.S to go public. Their filing gave a lot of interesting data regarding esports and the Chinese gaming market. We have summarized the statistics that we found to be the most intriguing. Gamers in China is expected to reach 878 million by 2023 China is the […]
New Wave Holdings Corp. is a recently established competitive gaming and esports investment company. Their CEO and CMO, Tolga Onuk and Daniel Mitre, come from an extensive background in both the technology and gaming industries. Having previously worked for companies like Electronic Arts, Sega, and Thunderbolt Studios, their venture into esports and its communities with […]
Esports organization Gen.G revealed on Wednesday that they had raised $46 million in a round of funding to support future projects, with the fundraising led by big names in sports and entertainment. These names include actor Will Smith, known for films such as Men In Black and I Am Legend, Japanese soccer player Keisuke Honda […]
Counterstrike organization North has announced a partnership with IT consultancy Capgemini today in a press release. Danish Counterstrike organization has announced a partnership today with IT consulting firm Capgemini in an official press release. As a result, The deal includes prime placement of Capgemini’s logo on North jerseys. Additionally, Capgemini will also “spearhead several initiatives […]
100 Thieves announced today that Totino’s will sponsor its Fortnite team. In addition to the sponsorship, the 100 Thieves has also revealed that its Fortnite team will move into the Totino’s World Cup House in Atlanta in order to practice for the Fortnite World Cup Qualifiers. North American esports organization announced an expansion with current […]
Chipotle has announced a partnership with both ESL and DreamHack this morning, with content including event sponsorships and the Chipotle Challenger Series, an amateur esports league. American Mexican restaurant Chipotle revealed a partnership today with two of the largest esports tournament organizers, ESL and DreamHack. https://twitter.com/DreamHack/status/1116332574459092992 As per the press release, Chipotle will sponsor ESL […]
Abel Tesfaye, otherwise known as the rapper “The Weeknd,” has reportedly invested in OverActive Media, parent company of the Toronto Defiant and Team Splyce. The Weeknd has entered the esports realm with an investment in OverActive Media, the ownership team behind the Toronto Defiant and Team Splyce. The partnership will see Tesfaye operate as a […]
Gamestop announced a partnership this week with Infinite Esports (owners of OpTic Gaming and the Houston Outlaws), CompLexity, and Envy Gaming (owners of Team Envy and the Dallas Fuel). The sponsorship includes a series of gaming classes and clinics for gamers at Gamestop locations over the next year. GameStop announced a major partnership today with […]
With the rise of esports came the rise of the gaming house. Esports has seen a meteoric rise in the number of teams living and practicing their craft together. That said, there is a new type of facility on the rise that allows teams to work and practice in an office-like environment. The gaming house trend […]
Nissan has announced a partnership deal with OpTic Gaming and FaZe Clan. They join several other high-profile companies to enter the esports space in the past six three months. Another car manufacturer has entered the esports space. Following BMW and Honda, Nissan is now a sponsor of both OpTic Gaming and FaZe Clan, according to […]
One month ago during a fourth-quarter earnings call, Activision confirmed that a city-based franchising model would come to Call of Duty Esports next year. New information has now surfaced on just how much the franchise buy-in will cost organizations. Sources told ESPN staff writer Jacob Wolf that Activision Blizzard has begun shopping next year’s Call […]
The CVR World Cup League features competitive virtual cycling where competitors race against each other in a game called CVRcade. While CVRcade is an online multiplayer game, it also lets players do physical training at the same time. Discussions about esports and traditional sports exist in terms of how each industry differentiates from one another, however, […]
Cloud9 announced its latest high-profile sponsorship with BMW, the famous German automaker. BMW joins sponsors such as Puma and AT&T as the next prominent sponsor to join the Cloud9 ranks. Cloud9 announced a partnership with BMW yesterday. BMW joins the Cloud9 sponsorship family as the official car of Cloud9. Yesterday, the official Cloud9 Twitter account announced the […]
Esports is becoming a gold mine for companies looking to expand into new spaces, according to a report released by the Video Advertising Bureau. According to the report, 23% of esports fans have just started following the scene sometime between 2017 and 2018. Despite this late push, esports is boasting as much revenue as the […]
North American esports Organization announced a sponsorship deal with telecommunications giant AT&T yesterday. Sometime this year, AT&T will sponsor a weekly show called “The Nines,” providing fans with a look inside the Cloud9 organization. It will include highlights, team and player profiles, tournament previews and esports news. Additionally, the partnership will include AT&T social media […]
Riot Games has taken a major step towards improving its internal diversity circumstances. The company is bringing in Angela Roseboro to spearhead those efforts. Roseboro is the former Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Dropbox, the world’s premier cloud storage provider. The Diversity Controversy Riot has been at the center of a diversity […]
On Friday, the Golden Guardians announced that they were partnering up with Madrinas Coffee. They announced this on their Twitter, along with a short video featuring Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell starting an exciting match of LoL. This partnership is the first esports team the company has partnered with. The Madrinas Coffee logo will be present on the […]
Esports is a booming business according to surges in funding for top esports teams in the past ten months. G2 Esports, Cloud9, and Team Liquid have all posted record fundraising numbers since the beginning of 2018. Additionally, the amount of funding deals in esports has more than quadrupled since 2015 according to Crunchbase. The new-fangled […]
Continuing on with its sponsorship extensions, ESL has announced that it has extended its non-exclusive broadcasting rights with Facebook. This opens the way for Pro League to return to Twitch. Facebook will stream ESL competitions in English through December 19th, 2019 in 1080p at 60FPS. They will also broadcast ESL Pro League in English and Portuguese. […]
ESL and paysafe card have extended their partnership through the end of 2019. The partnership offers top billing for paysafe throughout the ESL ecosystem, including CS:GO and PUBG. Paysafe card is an online payment method, primarily in Europe, and offers online prepaid cards. Paysafe works at a variety of online outlets across the world, including gaming, online dating, and […]
Even though video gaming competitions are not a new thing, we can say that eSports took their current form pretty recently. As video games started becoming more complex and more sophisticated in the 21st century, competitions began attracting more attraction. Today, eSports is slowly becoming a spectator sport because 40% of viewers do not play […]
Secretlab is now the third international sponsor of League of Legends esports, joining two other international sponsors in Alienware and Mastercard. They will provide all seating for League events and tournaments, replacing Maxnomic, a rival gaming chair company, as the official seat of League of Legends. Additionally, Secretlab will be the first racing-chair provider to […]
Video Game revenue is up 18% from 2017, totaling $43.8 billion. According to the Entertainment Software Association and The NPD Group, this figure is high enough to pass the total recorded revenues from the film industry in 2018. VIDEO GAMES TAKE THE TOP SPOT According to Deadline Hollywood, the film industry had a record year […]
Envy Gaming has released details of its partnership with CORSAIR, who will provide peripherals to both Team Envy and the Dallas Fuel. In addition to the partnership, all Team Envy teams will be involved in “product testing, evaluations, and review of CORSAIR products,” according to the Team Envy press release. In addition to announcing the […]
HyperX is now the official peripheral provider for Complexity Gaming, who will use HyperX products exclusively. Per the press release, this is a two-year deal. From the press release: “HyperX is extremely pleased to become a partner with the competitive Complexity gaming team,” said Daniel Kelley, Director of HyperX. “Complexity Gaming is one of the […]
Jersey Mike’s and Team Liquid have announced a sponsorship for the 2019 Season, continuing Jersey Mike’s marketing strategy of targeting League of Legends players and fans. Jersey Mike’s first foray into team sponsorships comes a season after they sponsored the NA LCS Summer Split (rebranded to “LCS” in December), offering prizes, in-game items, and Hextech […]
While the titans of PC gaming at Bellevue have already managed to pull off multiple iterations of the F2P model without sacrificing the gameplay experience and esport potential of their titles, a critical look at the broader landscape might prompt you to look at CS:GO’s similar shift in a different light: there’s a pretty good […]
It’s no secret that it’s been a challenge to find profits in the world of esport nowadays, and it seems like mainstream interest, and a growing revenue pressure could very well collide in 2019. CS:GO’s third-party tournament circuit continues to produce eye-popping endeavors and sponsorship deals while many whisper about a potentially more extensive market […]
Esports, just like any other rapidly growing business, relies heavily on the individuals and companies that are willing to invest money in them. Current projections show the entire esports field to be worth more than $1 billion by 2020, but this does not mean that teams and organizations are currently generating that amount of profit. […]
According to a new report from Nielsen, less than 40% of Twitch’s esports audience watch television during a typical week. Additionally, only half of the esports audience are said to own a paid TV subscription service. 70% of Twitch’s esports fans spend more time watching esports than traditional sports. Nielsen focused their study on Twitch […]
Sad news today for esports fans, players and investors. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has stated that adding esports to the 2024 Paris Olympics is still “premature.” However, there is some potentially good news. Firstly, Tony Estanguet, Co-President of the Paris Olympic Committee, is advocating for esports to be included in the Olympics. Secondly, the […]
What Is Boosting? Firstly, what is ‘Boosting’? Boosting is when a gamer logs into another gamer’s account to play a ranked game to increase their ranking. Boosting has become a serious issue throughout major esports such as Overwatch, LoL, Dota 2 and CS:GO. The South Korean ‘Act on the Punishment of Alternative Game Act’ The […]
Any team is only as good as the complete sum of all of its parts. The same goes for esports as much as any other collective competitive venture. Creating the ultimate rank in any such domain is exceedingly tricky, mainly because it is a process of measuring something that is continually evolving. Sure, esports have […]
Today a report from Kids Insight showed some promising information for esports overall growth. Their report stated that 15% of UK girls aged 13-15 now watch esports. Additionally, they added that more 13-15-year-old girls watch esports and take part in esports than boys aged 13-15. Lastly, they stated that 84% of female teens spend time […]
The November 26th Reader Survey, Teams and Leagues on Sports Business Daily had some interesting results. The readers voted Overwatch League (OWL) as the third hottest sports property of 2018. The NBA and NFL lead the list respectively. Some notable leagues that the OWL surpassed include the MLB, NHL, MLS, NCAA and UFC. The OWL […]
There is no denying that accessing esports either as a viewer or as a potential competitor is exceedingly easy. With nothing more than a computer/smartphone and an internet connection, anyone can join the community of a particular game. For many esports, there is not even the initial barrier of having to buy the actual game. […]
OverActive Media, the owners of the Toronto Defiant, have purchased Splyce, the professional esports organization. OverActive Media is now the fourth company to own both a professional League of Legends and Overwatch franchise. Cloud9, Optic Gaming and Misfits are the other esports organizations to own teams in both popular esports. On Tuesday it was announced that […]
Goodbye EU LCS, hello LEC. After six years of the old name, a rebrand is bound to feel strange – and strange it does. After what was seen as the EU LCS’ most successful year since 2015 – having two teams in the Worlds semi-finals – was further accentuated by having an EU team actually […]
Esports work as a domain because they have the intrinsic ability to attract people. They do this on both sides of the equation – they are able to appeal to players who gradually become so good at one or more game that this allows them to turn pro. On the other side are the viewers […]
The 2018 Esports Awards have just concluded. Here is a complete list of the winners: Unsung Hero of the Year Milos Nedeljkovic | FACEIT Videographer of the Year Davis “Hitch” Edwards | OpTic Gaming Streaming Platform of the Year Twitch Breakthrough Game of the Year Fortnite Console Rookie of the Year Kenny “Kenny” Williams | […]
According to GitHyp.com, this past weekends LoL Worlds 2018 added 50k viewers (+5%) when compared to 2017. The 2018 Worlds also set a new peak of 1.14 million concurrent viewers on Twitch. They also add that there was a decline from Worlds 2015 to 2016 of 6%, so this increase is a much welcomed sign for the […]
Riot games has recently announced the location of their World Championships for the next three years. This is a step in a new direction for the company, as in the past the decision seems to have been made last minute to the dismay of the fans wishing to attend. But with this move towards a […]
NFL fans who play Fortnite will be able to dress their favorite characters in NFL jerseys. The jerseys will be available November 9 at 7PM EST. Fortnite players can purchase any of the 32 NFL teams jerseys and choose a number from 1-99. These can be bought in the Battle Royale store using virtual bucks. The […]
Toronto is about to get a 13,000-square-foot esports lounge. Waves Egaming is set to open as soon as next week after years of planning. The location will be at 2160 Steeles Ave W, Toronto. The new esports lounge will allow Canadians to have a professional venue to host Twitch streams, compete in local tournaments, and […]
NBA legend Michael Jordan and rap superstar Drake are the newest names to invest in the world of esports. Michael Jordan invested in aXiomatic, a large esports ownership group who are the owners of Team Liquid. Drake along with Scooter Braun and Dan Gilbert invested $25 million in the esports company 100 Thieves. They join celebrity investors […]
Thinking about esports as a term for organized competitions was almost unheard of 20 years ago, even in video game crazed countries like South Korea. Back in 1998, StarCraft was published, while other franchises that had a strong competitive side, like Quake, were still mainly played during LAN parties. Two more years would need to […]
It all starts with a… win at the EU Masters. Caffeine and video game enthusiasts rejoice – an industry giant, Nestlé’s premier coffee brand Nescafé took the leap into the Spanish esports scene earlier this week, with a previously unheard-of sponsorship supporting legendary Madrid-based organisation MAD Lions E.C. A first for not only the esports […]
All year long, major esport competitions flood our screens and fill arenas with avid supporters. With the expansion of esports as a whole, the amount of prize money that tournaments are offering continues to grow. That number has reached an estimated $111 million USD in 2018 alone, with three months left in the year. According […]
Blizzard is a company that has proven time and time again that it can change the landscape of gaming. Even in their early years, the team gathered around the core members, some of which are still in the company, seemed destined to make gaming history. Today, that history includes another brand new accomplishment – an […]
Why are millions of dollars and piles of cold hard cash being thrown around for esports investments and prize-pools? One of the answers is the fanbase that continues to grow. Esports also provides experiences that you cannot get anywhere else. Here are a couple of reasons why people flock to the scene and get so […]
Staffordshire University, located in England, recently announced a new undergrad degree. The BA (Hons) Esports is a three-year program focused on the business of esports. The new program will teach students how to run and organize an esports team or franchise. “The degree covers not only the technical aspects of esports but also how to […]
In the crowded and ever expanding esports landscape there are more events to attend than ever. This article will give you 4 types and examples of events and how they differ. The wins and losses under each event type will help you better understand what to expect when attending. 1. Local Community Tournaments and Meetups […]
Epic Games have announced their plans for the Fortnite Fall Skirmish esports event. The Fall Skirmish will take place over 6 weeks, with the finale taking place at TwitchCon from October 26-28. The prize pool is much larger than the Summer Skirmish fortnite tournament ($1.5 million). During the Summer Skirmish there were over 500 players who took […]
Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends has announced a new arena in Seoul, South Korea. The new venue will be called LoL PARK. The venue will host the 2018 LoL World Championship play-in stage from October 1-4 and 6-7. The LoL PARK will host the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) starting in 2019. LoL Park Features […]
Activision Blizzard has just confirmed the rumors that have been swirling for months. Eight new Overwatch League teams have been officially announced. We can’t wait for the #OWL2019 season! Here are the 8 new teams joining the league! pic.twitter.com/zhkrNYDlko — Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) September 7, 2018 It is estimated that the franchise fees for Overwatch […]
Sources at ESPN are reporting Activision Blizzard has added Vancouver, Canada and Chengdu, China to Overwatch League (OWL) for Season 2. This news comes a day after a report surfaced that Washington, DC and Hangzou, China expansion teams are joining OWL. The Vancouver, Canada team is said to be owned by the Aquilini Investment Group, the owner of […]
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President, Thomas Bach, has not yet decided if or when esports will be integrated into the Olympic Games. During an interview with The Associated Press at the Asian Games this past weekend, he discussed conditional requirements that are needed before approval. “We cannot have in the Olympic program a game which […]
Tencent’s value fell by $20 billion today due to the new video game and internet restrictions enforced by China’s Ministry of Education. The new restrictions have hindered Tencent (a now $413 billion USD company) from capitalizing on its mobile version of Player Unknown’s Battleground (PUBG). Tencent is a leading investor in the esports industry, with holdings in […]
Turner & IMG’s ELEAGUE is giving CS:GO fans an inside look at the key moments of the recent ELEAGUE CS:GO Premier 2018. The seven episode series will begin airing August 31 at 11pm EST/PST on TBS. Eight of the world’s best professional Counter-Strike / CS:GO teams will be featured during the show. According to ELEAGUE.com, “ELEAGUE will kick […]
The Overwatch League (OWL) has signed a multi-year content deal with Twitter. The partnership will broadcast Overwatch League highlights and live streams directly to Twitter. The deal begins this weekend, August 25-26, as Twitter will broadcast content from the OWL All-Star Game. Daniel Cherry, VP and CMO for Activision-Blizzard Esports Leagues discussed the partnership: “From […]
DOTA 2 is known as the esport with the highest prize pools. This year, according to the official website, the prize pool has surpassed $24,800,000, making The International the highest prize pool esports tournament to date. According to https://www.esportsearnings.com/players/highest-overall the top 40 esports earners are DOTA 2 players. The second highest esports game tourney is the LoL […]