Esports Business News
Do you have a business idea that you think could strike it big time in the world of Esports? Well, Esports Insider has an opportunity that might spark your interest. 📢Attention all gaming, esports and creator economy startups! Applications are now open for The Clutch, ESI's pitch competition! Don't miss this chance to showcase your […]
Angry Birds developer Rovio is set to be acquired by video game publisher Sega. Here are all the details! We don’t think anyone had video game publisher Sega purchase one of the biggest mobile game franchises on their bingo card this year but here it is. As of today, the Japanese gaming publisher Sega has […]
News has broken of Epic Games freezing hiring, but while expansion is slowing down, the Fortnite creator remains committed to some of their most significant projects. Update: Epic reached out to us with the following statement From Elka Looks, Director, Corporate Communications Epic Games: “We’re not laying anyone off. We have ambitious plans to invest […]
The reigning Intel Grand Slam winners have not been doing great on the financial front. FaZe clan has released its financial report for the fourth quarter of 2022, which shows the company ended the year with a $53 million USD deficit. They have also reported an increased revenue of $70 million, but it was not […]
Gaming giant Electronic Arts lays off approximately 800 members of its workforce amidst operation “from a position of strength”. Read all the details here! After the recent wave of layoffs that rippled through the industry, FIFA and Apex Legends publisher Electronic Arts (EA) is now cutting 6% of its workforce. In big tech, it’s nothing […]
Respawn Entertainment has opened up a new studio to ramp up efforts on Apex Legends. Respawn Entertainment has just opened its third studio in collaboration with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, Respawn Wisconsin will primarily focus its initial efforts on assisting the other Apex Legends development teams in Los Angeles and […]
All the details of the most recent Twitch layoffs In a recent blog post, new Twitch CEO Dan Clancy announced that Twitch would lay off 400 members of its staff in order to save costs against “the current macroeconomic environment”. This comes just a week after former CEO and co-founder Emmett Shear announced that he […]
Here is the latest update in the divine comedy that is the Activision Blizzard King – Microsoft merger. Over a year ago, we reported that tech giant Microsoft had been making moves to acquire Activision Blizzard King (ABK) for a cozy $68.7 billion USD. What started out as the largest acquisition of a tech company […]
Some Riot Games veterans have started their own studio and are planning on developing a brand new IP. Founded in April 2022 by Michael Chow, The Believer Company secured over 24 million dollars in unknown Series funding last November. On March 7, it was announced that The Believer Company secured 55 million dollars in Series […]
Forspoken developer Luminous Productions is getting absorbed back into Square Enix. Games aren’t just becoming more and more expensive for consumers to buy. They’re also becoming more and more costly for developers to make. Solely prioritizing the Japanese market is becoming more financially unfeasible for the gaming juggernaut Square Enix. As such, Square Enix has […]
Square Enix is getting serious about its company restructuring. After over a decade as the President of Square Enix, Yosuke Matsuda will be stepping down. The decision is not yet official; that will have to wait until June of this year after getting approval in the annual shareholder meeting in May. If things go according […]
The game’s announcement trailer hid a special showcase for The Thaumaturge’s gameplay. Fool’s Theory and 11-bit studios give the world a much closer look at their narrative RPG with a brief gameplay showcase that reveals a tiny bit about the story’s antagonists. Formerly titled “Project Vitriol”, The Thaumaturge is a game where you play a […]
An icon in grassroots event organizing officially has a questionable future. For years, Beyond the Summit has been a premiere household name in Esports, hosting top-tier events for various games like Smash, DOTA 2, TFT, Rocket League, and CS: GO. With over 20 billion lifetime minutes watched on Twitch and as the 5th most-viewed Twitch […]
Shadow of The Erdtree’s first look confirms a piece of Elden Ring lore. Better late than never! It has officially been more than a year since Elden Ring was released, and with the anniversary has come and gone, the hype surrounding a possible DLC expansion grew thin as the end of February drew near. As […]
Loads of exciting gameplay reels were shown in Sony’s first State of Play this year. With a new year comes new games to look forward to. Playstation has been a long-time staple for every gamer’s collection, and in its nearly 30-year run, the gaming giant still has some of the best titles to offer. Sony’s […]
After more than 12 years, founder and CEO Shinji Mikami is set to leave Tango Gameworks. Shinji Mikami leaves Tango Gameworks in a few months. With the surprise success of Hi-Fi Rush, you’d think that Tango Gameworks is now gearing up for yet another big project. But today, Bethesda senior vice president of development Todd […]
The Activision Blizzard third quarter 2022 earnings have been released, showing a decent buff from mobile for the gaming company. Activision Blizzard has just released its quarterly earnings for the months ending in September. Ahead of one of the industry’s biggest buyouts, we’ve gotten a better look at how the gaming giant is performing. While […]
Marvel is teaming up with EA to bring fans more video games set in the Marvel Universe. We’re thrilled to announce a multi-title collaboration between @Marvel and @EA to develop action-adventure games for consoles and PC! Each game will also be its own original story set in the Marvel Universe. pic.twitter.com/I2fuT8xnEz — Marvel Games (@MarvelGames) […]
Netflix is getting a lot more active in game development with the acquisition of Spry Fox. November 2022 marks the 1st anniversary of Netflix’s foray into the gaming industry with Netflix Games. To celebrate the occasion, Netflix has announced they’ve acquired Spry Fox. We have some very big news! https://t.co/37eq5FSmrw pic.twitter.com/eT9IVu5ayn — Spry Fox (@spryfox) […]
Blizzard has revealed plans to launch a new Survival game based on a new IP. Update – October 2022 – well, it looks like the staff ramp-up is well underway. Blizzard is now really getting into the hiring mood for this new title. For now, the focus appears to be two-fold: Engineering and Art. Engineering […]
Yesterday, Square Enix announced a new Cloud Strife figure in order to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy VII. Actually, they announced several figures that you can preorder now for their November 2023 release. That Cloud figure particularly garnered the ire of both the gaming media and Twitter, so we here at ESTNN investigated […]
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive might seem like a pretty straightforward game where people have to buy a weapon and try to win a specific round. Like most other games, CS:GO also has its specifics, especially if you decide to play competitively. Make sure you know about the roles in CS:GO with the help of this overview. […]
Despite the lack of High profile titles, Square Enix came out of 2021 looking better than ever. Here’s the breakdown on Square Enix’s Financial Report! DISCLAIMER! All the information here is from Square Enix’s Financial Results Briefing Session 2022 which can be found here. The rest are my own musings on the subject and should […]
Sony and KIRKBI have each invested $1B in Epic Games to “advance the company’s vision to build the metaverse and support its continued growth”. The North Carolina-based developer, known best for the hit game Fortnite, released a statement regarding the investment. This latest development follows The LEGO Group’s partnership with Epic Games to build a […]
Some heroes deal more damage in Overwatch than others, and Bastion is definitely one of them. Depending on the situation, this hero is notorious is known for doing the highest damage in the game. Of course, this comes at a cost, which in Bastion’s case is his mobility. That’s the reason the hero can only […]
Ninja joins team G FUEL as its latest sponsored creator and ambassador. Twitch streamer and gaming icon Tyler “Ninja” Blevins announced today a partnership with popular energy drink G FUEL. Blevins previously enjoyed a lengthy agreement with Red Bull dating back to his initial popularity boom in 2018. However, that partnership appears to have expired […]
Fortnite developer Epic Games announced today the acquisition of Bandcamp–an internet music company. Joint press releases from both companies today confirmed that Bandcamp would join Epic Games. The two share common goals, making the deal much more appealing. Epic states that “Bandcamp will play an important role in Epic’s vision to build out a creator […]
Overactive Media announce a new apparel partnership In Overactive Media’s newest update, they’ve announced a new apparel partnership. Luxury Canadian brand Nobis has become the official outerwear brand of Toronto Ultra and Toronto Defiant. Luxury in Esports Along with partnering with those teams, they are also the presenting partner of Call of Duty League Opening […]
Sony strikes back and is the third big Publisher this month to acquire a big studio with a huge legacy. January has been a wild month for the Gaming Industry, not only did Take-Two start off the month with buying Zynga, the creator of FarmVille. As we previously reported Mircosoft swooped in just two weeks […]
Savvy Gaming Group, which is backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), has added ESL and FACEIT to its growing portfolio. With the purchase, Savvy Gaming Group has now purchased two of esports’ largest tournament operators in ESL and FACEIT. The total purchase of the two comes in at $1.5bn. ESL was previously […]
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is set to get approval in 2023. Making it the largest in the Games Industry’s history. The deal will add some of the gaming industries most well-known IPs under the Microsoft banner. The likes of Call of Duty, Spyro, Guitar Hero, and Tony Hawk from Activision, Warcraft, StarCraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch, […]
As Riot Games continues to grow and expand, they’ve set up a new office in the Seattle Area (USA). The new 156,000 square foot office will be home to 400 Riot Games employees. The roles will be a mix of new roles and existing roles, covering engineering, R&D, live services, and a variety of other […]
J.R. Smith, Leonard Fournette, Max Holloway, Megan Anderson and more join the Complexity Stars gaming division. North American esports organization Complexity Gaming, a GameSquare Esports company, announced today the launch of the Complexity Stars gaming initiative, where multiple professional athletes and celebrities to boost their presence in the industry. The list of athletes includes NBA […]
Faze will be a purchasable share on NASDAQ in 2022. Faze Clan will soon become a publicly listed company through its merger with B. Riley Principal 150 Merger Corp. The deal’s equity value will be $1 Billion. Estimated public funding is around USD $275 million in cash. For you, the fans. Our biggest announcement to […]
100 Thieves enters the keyboard equipment space, acquiring the manufacturer known as Higround. Lifestyle brand and esports organization 100 Thieves announced today the acquisition of Higround—a company known for its “graphic gaming keyboards.” It’s the first acquisition for 100 Thieves as the organization ventures into the PC equipment business. Keyboards, in particular, have become a […]
FaZe Clan breaks into the music industry with Kaysan as its first artist and producer. Esports team and lifestyle brand FaZe Clan has broken into the music space. The California-based organization announced today its signing of American Producer Artist and DJ—Kaysan. Also based out of Los Angeles, Kaysan signed with FaZe Clan one day before […]
Fosun Sports Group are making a minority investment in EG. Evil Geniuses announced a new partnership with English Football League club Wolverhampton Wanderers. We are proud to announce our new partnership with the ultimate sports and entertainment challenger brand, the Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (@Wolves). World domination is easier with a good mate. Read more here: […]
Rumble Gaming is thrilled to announce the signing of the Renegades, one of the world’s most popular and renowned esports organizations. The partnership combines Rumble Gaming’s expertise in esports talent management, consulting services, and team sponsorships with the Renegades’ world-class roster of superstar esports competitors and multi-game appeal. “The Renegades are a premium brand with […]
As everyone jumps on the NFT hype train, ESTNN takes a look at their influence in esports; and chats with WePlay Esports Managing Partner, Yura Lazebnikov, about where their new collection fits in. NFTs, or Non-Fungible-Tokens, are everywhere right now. And depending on your social media circles, you either love them, hate them, or still […]
Esports spikes the interest not only of gamers but also of major investors. Esports is one of the fastest-growing industries, estimated to reach $13 billion by 2025. In 2020, nearly 1 in 4 people worldwide were aware of esports, with a projected market growth of 9% annually through 2023. Esports is more popular than ever […]
It looks like after years of laying off staff, Activision Blizzard is now looking to hire upwards of 2000+. The First Quarter Financial Results for Activision Blizzard are in, and it’s once again great news for the developer. Posting better than expected results, the company will now look to expand development teams in all major […]
Park and Friedman developed an exam to add merit to hiring processes. In an announcement on Twitter, Sebastian Park and Ryan Friedman announced the launch of their new company the Esports Certification Institute (ECI). We are excited to announce the launch of Esports Certification Institute, a Public Benefit Corporation created to foster professionalism, promote meritocracy, […]
ESL and DouYu extend their contract for another year and expand their terms. According to EsportsInsider, ESL Gaming and DouYu are not only renewing their partnership but are also expanding on its terms. DouYu now scores exclusive rights to the broadcasting of the ESL Pro Tour CS:GO, Warcraft III, StarCraft II, and Dota 2. Plus, […]
Council adds 5 active players as new members. Announced Tuesday, April 27, the Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association (CSPPA) has added new board members. The board now includes players with their first change in council. Chris “chrisj” de Jong and Nathan “NBK-” Schmitt remain on the board. Making them the only founding members still involved with […]
Team Nigma has pulled one of the best plays in their books. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced their long-term partnership with Dota 2 team Nigma. The next level play🤯 We're thrilled to finally announce our partnership with @etihad. Closer than ever to the stars🌟 đź”—https://t.co/LwUY1uvEal#StarsAlign #Etihad pic.twitter.com/wTKHt9tBeB — Nigma […]
After a successful run in Europe and NA, ESL are bringing mobile esports on to the global stage. ESL, undoubtedly the world’s biggest esports company, have just announced they’re taking their Mobile Open series worldwide. The ESL Mobile will encompass not just North America, Europe, but the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) and the Asia-Pacific region. […]
Microsoft’s hunt to buy companies with access to flourishing communities has led the tech giant to Discord. Microsoft is in negotiations to buy Discord, the popular instant messaging, voice chat and digital distribution platform. As per reports, the deal is worth more than $10 billion. As reported by VentureBeat on March 22, Discord was talking […]
Alienware ends sponsorship with League of Legends amidst sexual harassment claims. Alienware has terminated its sponsorship contract with Riot Games. The company’s branding has been successfully removed from all League of Legends broadcasting over the weekend. The global esports partnership began in 2019 and wasn’t supposed to end until January 2022; just over 10 months […]
The King joins Oakley as their first esports Athlete. Scump is undoubtedly the most popular Call of Duty professional in the world. With a number of tournaments wins and his 2017 World Championship success, Scump has been loyal to OpTic, and their brands have grown together. Today, Oakley unveiled Scump as their first esports athlete […]
Twitch and The International Basketball Federation came to agreement and signed a multi-year partnership deal. According to Reuters, Twitch will now broadcast basketball matches, which is a big step ahead for the streaming platform. FIBA plans to share 600 hours of content to broadcast on Twitch yearly. The Federation will also give fans and media […]
The owners of Toronto Ultra and Defiant have revealed plans for a new esports Venue in their hometown. OverActive Media; owners of Toronto Ultra and Defiant, just revealed plans for a new Esports Venue. Set to be completed in 2025, the $500 million project plans to host 200+ events a year. Bringing music, entertainment and […]
The ecommerce giant enters esports with their own Starcraft 2 roster. Canadian ecommerce giant Shopify announced their interest in the esports scene back in September 2020; when they appointed Dario WĂĽnsch as esports program manager. Back then, not much was known about Shopify’s intentions in esports. But today they have announced their first venture, a […]
Russian esports organization Gambit announces a partnership with Monaco-based eponymous sports club. From now on, Gambit’s Dota 2 and Fortnite rosters will play under the new tag; AS Monaco Gambit (ASM.GMB). The partnership applies to Gambit’s Dota 2 and Fortnite squads, excluding League of Legends and CS:GO teams for now. And will include streams, content […]
Paper Crowns reveal more on their humble beginnings, partnership with the CDL, and much more. Recently, ESTNN had the opportunity to speak with Paper Crowns Founder & CEO, Skyler Johnson, along with their Lead Developer, Ollie Groves. We spoke about everything from their origins as a company, their recent partnership with the CDL, and what […]
News that’s sure to delight Astralis fans, the org is planning to open it’s first ever flag-ship store in Copenhagen. Copenhagen-based amusement park Tivoli Gardens will soon house a fun-filled facility built by Danish esports organization, Astralis. Best known competitively in CS:GO, Astralis also boast rosters in Fifa and League of Legends. Although this isn’t […]
Ultimate Gamer is on the prowl for the “Best Gamer on Earth®” with the Ultimate Gamer Worldwide Open. There is no better time for esports and video games to thrive, taking full advantage of the millions stuck at home. Ultimate Gamer is putting gamers’ skills to the test and open up the floor for anyone […]
Find out the highest earning Fortnite players of 2020. Competitive Fortnite: Battle Royale in 2020 was another milestone year in the growing legacy of one of the most popular games of all time. In some senses, it seems that the competitive scene has usurped casuals with the evolution of building, editing and utilizing in-game mechanics […]
People around the world are constantly finding new modes of entertainment, and esports is a budding industry that is steadily increasing in popularity and is quickly taking over the world. While traditional athletic sports remain a favorite pastime for sports fans around the world, the world of esports is catching up and is garnering the […]
The parent company of CDL franchise London Royal Ravens and Team Rouge continue to acquire new investors, with TikTok superstars now joining the team. At the start of the month, ReKTGlobal, parent company of London Royal Ravens and Team Rouge introduced Vikram “Vikkstar” Singh-Barn as a new co-owner of the CDL Franchise. To kick off […]
Esports job-posting website Hitmarker is launching a second equity crowdfunding campaign to facilitate expansion into new markets. Hitmarker is known as one of the go-to for esports-specific jobs postings. Back in November 2019 they launched a successful crowdfunding campaign and raised over ÂŁ200,000 in the process. Now the company is back for the second round […]
Excel Esports is now just Excel after a rebranding move. The United Kingdom-based esports organization Excel Esports announced today that it has rebranded to Excel, promising ‘The Power of Better’ for its fans, followers and players. Excel currently possesses a Fortnite player, World Cup runner-up Jayden “Wolfiez” Ashman, and will soon announce full League of […]
A leak almost led to H3CZ not reacquiring OpTic Gaming. Call of Duty’s esports scene is still recovering from the shocking news that the OpTic Gaming brand is back in the hands of owner Hector “H3CZ” Rodriguez. This ground-breaking deal took place more than a year after Immortals Gaming Club acquired Infinite Esports & Entertainment, […]
Popular YouTuber and Warzone streamer Vikkstar has joined the London Royal Ravens as Co-Owner. ReKT Global, the parent company of the London Royal Ravens, has announced Vikram “Vikkstar” Singh Barn as a new co-owner of the Call of Duty League franchise. Vikkstar is one of Britain’s most popular YouTubers and streamers. Vikkstar has a collective […]
Scholastic esports are receiving more love courtesy of Ultimate Gaming Championship from Nov. 9- Dec. 12, with the launch of UGC EDU and their flagship $25,000 Battle Academy tournament series. Esports has grown exponentially in 2020, and with the expansion of professional events, support for collegiate gaming continues to climb. Blizzard made its own attempt […]
Traditional sports still dominate the list of most marketable sports globally, however, League of Legends has made its way into the top 20. The news comes from SponsorPulse’s Opportunity Score and sees LoL come ahead of Formula 1, Manchester City FC, the NFL, and the Chicago Bulls as the 12th most marketable sports property on […]
Two of the biggest companies in esports are teaming up. Today, ESL and DreamHack announced that the two companies will be merging together. This is a massive move for the esports and gaming scene, as both companies are hugely influential. Along with this, the company will now be known as ESL Gaming. ESL and DreamHack […]
Apple vs. Epic Games could continue well into 2021. The news cycle went quiet for a few weeks in the ongoing legal battle between Apple Inc. and Fortnite developer – Epic Games. It seemed that both companies reached an impasse. Epic Games aired their grievances toward Apple and vice versa in several court proceedings beginning […]
With the world of collegiate esports growing larger every day, ESTNN speak with some of the bright young minds working to shape the next generation of professional players. Despite the industry growing so rapidly over the last decade, the concept of esports is still a bit of a mystery to the mainstream. But that is […]
Riot is surprising the Valorant community with FTW Summer Showdown, an all-women Valorant tournament with a $50,000 prize pool. Leveling the Playing Field The North America Ignition Series was set to end after Pop Flash, but Riot had a surprise waiting. A new tournament aimed to bring eyes to the underrepresented group in esports. The […]
Guild Esports, of which David Beckham is a partial investor, are looking to raise ÂŁ20m by listing on the London Stock Exchange. David Beckham has a 40% minority stake in Guild Esports. Guild Esports will be the first organization of its kind in the UK; allowing fans to directly invest in its future. The initial […]
Envy Gaming has made giant leaps this week by renewing their sponsorship deal with Jack in the Box and Post Malone joining the ownership group. Jack is Back Envy Gaming’s sponsorship with Jack in the Box began back in 2017 with the foundation of their Overwatch League team, the Dallas Fuel. The initial deal lasted […]
Bitkraft Ventures has raised $165 million for their fund, a hefty $40 million over the initial goal. BITKRAFT is a venture capital fund that focuses on gaming, esports, and interactive media. They began Pre-Seed Funding back in 2017 and have since consistently built up a network of over 50 companies. The limited partners in the […]
The executive order will be limited to WeChat transactions only a White House official has confirmed. US President Donald Trump shook the gaming and business world today when he signed an executive order banning transactions between American companies and citizens and the Chinese business conglomerate; Tencent. Tencent just also happen to have whole or partial […]
In the wake of the controversial partnership with NEOM, Riot Games is set to shake up how it handles global deals. This new global deals council aims to provide company-wide transparency for all business development and sponsorship deals within Riot Games’ global markets. The new council will feature members from the Global Esports team, Riot’s […]
Activision Blizzard has revealed massive gains in its second-quarter financial results conference call. Activision Blizzard revealed that second-quarter revenue grew 38% to $1.93 billion. With a global pandemic still raging on, video games have looked to be standouts in profitable entertainment. The industry was already the largest entertainment medium, and it doesn’t look like that’s […]
Gaming is no longer a niche hobby; it’s gone full mainstream. The rapid rise of gaming is unprecedented. Ten years ago, most people would laugh at you if you told them you wanted to be a “pro gamer”. Nowadays, colleges and universities offer scholarships to talented players. Streaming gameplay on YouTube and Twitch has become […]
The Australian organization Chiefs Esports Club and the men’s skincare and grooming brand L’OrĂ©al Paris Men Expert have just launched a deal until the end of 2020. To celebrate the partnership L’OrĂ©al and Chiefs will be holding a giveaway for Chiefs’ fans. The organization also has plans to host several events, though the details surrounding […]
OG and Rumble Gaming partner up to take the esports org to the next level. In a bid to continue their growth in the NA market, European esports organization, OG, have signed with talent agency, Rumble Gaming. Billed as full-service esports and gaming company, Rumble Gaming offer a wide range of services specifically targeted at […]
A new esports management company has been born from two influential esports businesses. ReKTGlobal, the parent company of Rogue and the London Royal Ravens, has just begun a new partnership with on the rise development company TalentX Entertainment… forming a new TalentX Gaming talent management company. We're thrilled to announce our partnership with TalentX today! […]
FaZe Clan is teaming up with Sugar23 for a huge project. Top American esports organization FaZe Clan is an unstoppable force both on and offline. Their presence is huge in the esports community. Now, it looks like the Clan has their eyes on a new media prize. Just this week, the Clan have announced that […]
Rousey will team up with iBUYPOWER to provide livestream content and product announcements. Former MMA champion and WWE wrestler Ronda Rousey is dipping her toes into the streaming market. iBUYPOWER introduced Rousey as a brand ambassador today. She’ll be teaming up with the computer company to collaborate on vlogs, product announcements — and even surprise […]
In a world where video games are more popular than movies, it was only a matter of time until The Social Network started their hand at online video streaming. Today, Facebook unveiled plans to release a brand new, top of the line video apps. The app itself collects each of Facebook’s gaming-related services together including […]
FaZe Clan pulled off a very successful round of fundraising. Leading esports organization FaZe Clan has released details this week regarding their Series A funding round. In it, the organization raised over $40 million dollars. This funding round was led by Jimmy Iovine and NTWRK, which was unveiled earlier this month. Those who contributed towards […]
The German automotive giant BMW has made a huge move into esports. BMW has picked up a sponsorship with five of the world’s largest esports (and League of Legends) teams. With the new deal involving Europe’s Fnatic and G2, US organization Cloud9, Chinese side FunPlus Phoenix and Korean organizationsT1. The partnership will see content activations […]
Rumble Gaming and Fade2Karma have announced their new partnership today. They will collaborate to expand their viewer bases and bring esports and gaming content to more people. Both companies are known for bringing their brands and creators to prominence and the partnership is a promising one indeed. Rumble Gaming is an esports talent agency that […]
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 […]