eSports
Esports and Media: How Should the Two Interact?
The media wants more access, and eSports organizations want the freedom to opt out of that access. No matter which way you slice it, there’s no easy answer.
Should media access to players and post-match press conferences be mandatory at major esports events? The ongoing question was brought up by former Yahoo! Esports Director Travis Gafford, who while covering the League of Legends World Championships in China tweeted the following: “It only took about 75 seconds for me to hear “Immortals has declined all interview requests” after that game finished.”
Esports (without the “E”)
As esports continues to move more in line with its traditional sports bretheren, looking at the policies of traditional sports leagues can provide context to this issue. The most popular professional sport in the United States, the NFL, mandates Super Bowl attendees to be available to journalists during their annual media day. In 2015, at Super Bowl XLIX in Phoenix, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch came to the stage. “I’m here so I won’t get fined,” Lynch replied to every single question.
While his remarks are now a trademarked joke, there’s an underlying point. While not entirely productive, Lynch at least appeared at the event. Also, the NFL has a pre- and post-game policy regarding media access:
“After a reasonable waiting period, defined as 10-12 minutes maximum after the completion of the game and the players have entered the locker room, the home and visiting team locker room areas will be opened to all accredited media with immediate access to all players and the head coach.”
Traditional sports leagues see working with media as a symbiotic relationship; media creates the content which fans consume which then turns into revenue for both parties. However with esports, universal access hasn’t been as consistent. Media is not always guaranteed access to players, coaches and organizational staff — and the issue goes much deeper than simply not being able to do interviews with players that have just lost a match.
Friend or foe?
It’s no secret that esports doesn’t always get along with the media. Players, coaches and owners have made it known that the media isn’t a priority and that — at times — it is a privilege to talk to them.
As one former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive manager said, “We don’t owe the media anything.” They weren’t wrong, either — without statutes in place, there’s no requirement for teams to do anything with the media if they so choose.
Take for instance Dota 2’s yearly world championship, The International. The event, just like most, has a media day where teams come down and meet with journalists and do various interviews. But unlike other developers or tournament organizers, Valve does not facilitate these interactions. It creates a risky scenario for press outlets hoping to cover the event: those who show up without industry contacts may be unable to garner a single interview, and especially for non-endemic outlets this can become a wasted coverage investment.
Be careful what you ask for
In situations like the latest League of Legends World Championships and The International, it’s easy to see where the frustration comes from. When there’s no guarantee the largest events of the year won’t yield the results outlets are looking for, who wouldn’t be? However, some events are starting to get on board with mandatory press conferences — and it’s not as simple a solution as some would imagine.
ELEAGUE attempted to increase media access during their Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major held back in January. The organizer asked the winning teams to do press conference immediately after their matches and while some teams obliged, bringing their entire roster, other teams sent only one or two players — and some didn’t show up at all.
As the discussion continues, one major theme in regards to players, coaches, and team staff have separated themselves from the rest: esports players aren’t always prepared for life in the spotlight.
The above reason isn’t just a lazy excuse, either. Good players in the esports space can rise to prominence quickly; according to a study by ESPN, esports players are as much as five years younger than their traditional sports peers. This sometimes comes at the cost of post-secondary education and life experience. Going from playing a video game in a bedroom to competing on a stage in front of millions with the hounds of Reddit scrutinizing a player’s every move is hardly a smooth transition, either.
Given all that, is it really that hard to believe that not everybody is prepared for the spotlight? Nobody wants to see a sobbing teenager pelted with questions right after a loss, or an angry player lose control and say something in the moment that could damage their career forever — and when media demands access no matter what, teams often do (and in many cases, should!) push to protect their teams from those types of situations.
So what now?
It’s fair to say that there’s not a lot of trust between esports organizations and the media right now. Plenty of people on the organizational side have heard a horror story or two about overreaching media figures who push too hard when working with talent. Likewise, the frustration of inconsistent access continues to be a thorn in the side of outlets looking to enrich the space with deeper narratives. But at the end of the day, it’s not one side or the other that has to give. Both can be better.
On the organizational side, it will continue to be important that players be educated on how to live life in the public eye, and help guide young players as they learn how to navigate that lifestyle — which certainly includes media relations. It will also be important to come to grips with the fact that all press won’t be good press. Leagues, teams, players, talent and everybody in between are capable of making mistakes, and the media should feel comfortable to talk responsibly about the positive and the negative sides of esports without fear of retaliation.
Media can continue to improve, as well. As young a space as esports is, esports coverage is even younger. The word ‘responsibly’ is bolded above for a reason; it’s not uncommon to see coverage that blurs the line between opinion and fact, nor are stories of players feeling unfairly pressured or miscontextualized during interviews. As players and teams mature, so must the industry that covers them.
Will the two sides be able to come together? For the sake of everybody involved, let’s hope so.
eSports
TEAM VITALITY UNVEILS A SPECIAL EDITION JERSEY AND NEW CAMPAIGN FOR PERFECT WORLD SHANGHAI MAJOR 2024
- Leading global esports organization Team Vitality heads to China for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, fueled by the ambition to reclaim their place at the top as the world’s best CS2 team.
- The team will proudly debut the club’s Shanghai Major Limited Edition White Fan Jersey from the Qualification Stage (RMR) onward. Designed in collaboration with Paris-based contemporary artist Nairone, this special edition jersey pays tribute to Counter-Strike and Team Vitality’s dedicated Chinese fanbase.
- For the occasion, Team Vitality is proud to present a new campaign titled “The Year of Vitality”.
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Global esports leader Team Vitality proudly announces its participation in the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024. As one of the most competitive teams in the international esports circuit, Team Vitality is set to make a powerful impact in Shanghai in what promises to be a thrilling tournament.
With anticipation building for this pivotal event in a country full of dedicated Counter-Strike fans, the club will be unveiling a new campaign on its Chinese social media accounts named “The Year of Vitality” This tribute to Chinese culture also underscores the team’s determination to secure a back-to-back victory, solidifying its global dominance.
ALL EYES ON THE TROPHY
Team Vitality’s CS2 roster has consistently delivered strong performances over the past two years, capped by their recent win at Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne 2024. Having claimed the World Champion title at the BLAST Premier World Finals in 2023 and secured an iconic victory at the BLAST.TV Paris Major, the team has firmly established itself as one of the most dominant forces in competitive CS2. After a conclusive 3-0 qualification at the RMR in Shanghai, Team Vitality is set to reinforce its status on the world stage.
Team Vitality’s dedication to competitive excellence since entering the scene in 2018 has been instrumental in shaping the modern Counter-Strike era. With legends like ZywOo, crowned HLTV’s best player in 2019, 2020, and 2023, and apEx, a seasoned pro with over a decade in the game, the team has set new industry standards in skill, dedication, and leadership. Building on this momentum, Team Vitality is poised to leave a lasting legacy in esports and proudly represent France in Shanghai.
“We are thrilled to compete at the Shanghai Major and showcase the team’s hard work against the best teams globally,” says Fabien ‘Neo’ Devide, Chairman and Co-founder of Team Vitality. “Growing our global presence and supporting both players and our worldwide community remains a top priority. We’re especially excited for zywOo to deliver a stellar performance in front of our Chinese fans. I am incredibly proud of the team and can’t wait to see them on the big stage with our fans in China!”
GEARED UP FOR VICTORY WITH SHANGHAI EDITION OF THE ALTERNATE JERSEY
Team Vitality players will debut a special edition of their newly released Alternate Jersey on the stage, created exclusively for the Shanghai Major. This limited edition features a prominent “V” on the back, with design elements that pay homage to Counter-Strike, Shanghai, and the wider Chinese fanbase. The club released the exclusive jersey in a dedicated video that includes Chinese references, graphics and design.
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Crafted in collaboration with Paris-based contemporary artist Nairone, known for his striking black-and-white contrast style, the jersey blends modern streetwear aesthetics with esports flair, making it a standout choice for both fans and players. Team Vitality’s PERFECT video showcases how the 2024 Alternate Jersey can be styled, featuring star players and brand ambassadors, underscoring its unique place in both the fashion and esports worlds.
Available for purchase only online, this special version of the alternate jersey is limited to 150 pieces and costs 89,99€.
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TEAM VITALITY UNVEILS ITS NEW CAMPAIGN “THE YEAR OF VITALITY”
Team Vitality is excited to launch “The Year of Vitality,” a campaign celebrating Chinese culture and dedicated to Counter-Strike fans across China. This initiative reflects the team’s relentless pursuit of back-to-back victories on the world stage.
As China hosts this year’s Major, Team Vitality has chosen the dragon—a powerful symbol of ambition and determination—as the emblem of its campaign, representing the team’s commitment to overcoming challenges and dominating the competition. Each campaign visual draws inspiration from Chinese iconography, bringing the Counter-Strike team into this vibrant, culturally rich world.
In a tribute to Chinese tradition, the campaign combines gold and red to signify not only the country’s national colors but also the passion, energy, and unyielding drive to win. The design aims to honor Chinese fans’ enthusiasm and capture their hearts as Team Vitality battles to bring home another title.
Join us online to get behind-the-scenes content, exclusive updates, and the chance to celebrate each milestone with the team as they strive to secure their place at the top!
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- More information:
- Team Vitality website
- PR Contact:
- SwipeRight agency – [email protected]
- Team Vitality – [email protected]
The PUBG MOBILE tournament at WEC24 has officially wrapped up, delivering three days of competition that exceeded all expectations. With 10 out of 16 teams securing Chicken Dinners throughout the tournament, every map brought its own excitement, with the final rounds determining the champions and medal placements. We saw impressive viewership numbers with 776,454 unique viewers achieving 89,675 hours watched throughout the three days of competition.
On the competitive front, the Indonesian team set a WEC24 record by securing a Chicken Dinner with an astonishing 18 eliminations, packing a remarkable 28-point round.
Turkey stepped up to claim the title of WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions, delivering a fierce, precise performance and seizing the trophy in the final maps, a true champions’ style victory.
Congratulations are also due to Ukraine, who came very close to securing the gold. Consistent and determined to win, they kept fans and their nation on edge until the final rounds, ultimately securing the silver medal. Brazil took home the bronze, showcasing exceptional talent and positioning themselves as strong contenders for future titles.
Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF, praised the athletes, the tournament’s success, and the ongoing collaboration with Tencent: “The PUBG MOBILE tournaments have been one of the highlights of WEC for years now, and our ongoing collaboration and support from Tencent has played a huge role in its success. Congratulations to the medalists and to all athletes participating for their remarkable WEC24 performance.”
Micah Li, Senior Esports Manager at Tencent, “Congratulations to Turkey on becoming the WEC24 PUBG MOBILE Champions. We greatly value our partnership with IESF and the success we have achieved together over the years. We look forward to continuing this collaboration and delivering many more exceptional PUBG MOBILE tournaments in the future.”
With the PUBG MOBILE tournament concluded, IESF looks forward to further PUBG MOBILE competitions, as national teams from around the world improve year by year.
eSports
Mortal cements his name as face of Indian gaming, wins ‘Content Creator of the Year’ at global Esports Awards 2024
Naman Mathur, popularly known as Mortal, has added another feather to his illustrious cap by winning the coveted ‘Content Creator of the Year’ award at the Global Esports Awards 2024 Part 2 in Los Angeles on Friday. The grand ceremony saw Mortal triumph over globally renowned gamers like Tarik Celik, Ibai Llanos Garatea, and Marc ‘Caedrel’ Lamont, solidifying his stature as India’s biggest gamer.
Mortal’s groundbreaking victory marks a significant milestone not only in his personal journey but also for the Indian gaming community at large. The 27-year-old’s illustrious gaming career boasts numerous accolades, including championship titles in BMPS Season 1 (2022) and the PUBG Mobile Club Open (2019) as an esports athlete. He has amassed over 7 million subscribers on YouTube and more than 5.3 million followers on Instagram through his distinctive and impactful content, making him one of India’s most influential gaming personalities.
Speaking on this remarkable achievement, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, Co-founder, S8UL Esports, stated, “Winning this award is an incredible moment of pride, not just for me but for the entire Indian gaming and esports community. My journey began with a simple passion for gaming, and seeing that passion resonate with millions of people is truly humbling. I hope this achievement inspires more young gamers to chase their dreams and believe that they too can earn global recognition through dedication and hard work. I am deeply grateful to S8UL for being the backbone of my journey. This success is not mine alone- it belongs to every fan, every teammate, and every supporter who believed in me and in the potential of Indian esports.”
This was Mortal’s sixth consecutive nomination at the prestigious awards, a feat achieved by no other Indian gamer. Having been nominated for various categories over the years such as ‘Esports Mobile Player of the Year’, ‘Streamer of the Year’ and ‘Esports Personality of the Year’, Mortal’s victory in this edition is a testament to his immense contribution to growing the esports and gaming content ecosystem in India.
“This award holds a deeply personal meaning for me. Watching Mortal achieve this recognition feels like a shared victory- one that takes me back to where it all began. From the late nights to the sacrifices, every moment has led us here. Together, we’re not just creating history; we’re shaping the future of gaming and esports globally. A victory for him, a milestone for Indian esports!” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder, S8UL Esports.
The Esports Awards is the most prestigious night in esports, dedicated to showcasing top-tier performance and innovation from players, teams, media, hardware providers, games, events, and personalities within the scene.
“When we first started this journey, we had no idea how far it would take us, but we always knew we were in this together. Mortal has always been like a brother to me, and seeing him win this award feels like a personal achievement. For him to be honoured with this accolade today is a reflection of the countless hours, effort and heart we’ve poured into building who we are and what we stand for,” commented Lokesh ‘Goldy’ Jain, Co-founder, S8UL Esports.
Mortal’s achievement reaffirms India’s rise as a formidable force in the global esports and gaming content landscape.
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