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Final Countdown to IEM Katowice 2023 – everything fans need to know

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With two more days to go before the Hall of Heroes opens its gates for fans to experience the legendary atmosphere of the Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice 2023 live, the tournament is entering its most crucial point. Over the last week, 24 of the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams from around the globe participated in a heated competition with only the top six progressing to the final stage. With the CS:GO teams finetuning their skills before their next battles, 36 of the world’s best StarCraft® II players now take the center stage. Over the next days, they will play against each other to claim the ESL Pro Tour Championship title.

Meanwhile, thousands of fans get ready to cheer on their CS:GO favorites in the sold-out Spodek Arena and their StarCraft® II idols in the International Congress Center (MCK), in Katowice, Poland. Moreover, they can look forward to the return of the free-to-enter IEM Expo, as the MCK will host one of the biggest trade shows in the region, the EFG Esports Forum, live ESL Impact and ESL R1 tournaments, and more.

ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Championship

Yesterday, the Group Stage came to an end, and now the top six teams are making their way towards the final weekend. The competition proved that the best players in the world brought their A-game to Katowice, and the past week resulted in some big surprises.

To begin with, IEM Katowice 2022 title holders, FaZe Clan, will not be defending their title this year. In their last game of the Group Stage, the international squad faced Team Liquid, with the latter winning the match 2-1.

In the quarterfinals of the competition, Team Liquid will be joined by the IEM Rio 2022 Major Champion, Outsiders, and the ESL Pro League Season 16 winner, Team Vitality. The last spot was decided in a hit match between legendary snipers in Natus Vincere vs. G2 Esports, where the latter took a confident victory. While Natus Vincere proceeds to the quarterfinals starting on Friday, February 10, at 3:30 PM CET, G2 Esports joins team Heroic directly in the semi-finals. This penultimate phase will  commence Saturday, February 11, at 3:30 PM CET.

With only two days left before history will be made, the top six competitors are now getting ready to show their world-class performances in the final stage of the ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Championship and fight for the major share in the $1,000,000 prize pool.

For more information and a full overview of the participating teams, the talent lineup, and more, head to the official website and follow ESL CS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Furthermore, make sure to tune in during the live broadcasts on the ESL CS channels on Twitch or YouTube, or via our dedicated broadcast partners.

ESL Pro Tour for StarCraft® II Championship

Today the Zealots, Marines and Zerglings are facing off under their commander’s supervision. 36 of the best StarCraft® II players in the world are competing in a grand tournament, fighting for the World Championship title and a total prize pool of $500,000. From February 10, the competition moves to a dedicated stage at the IEM Expo in the MCK as the contenders continue their extragalactic battle live on stage.

Head to the official website, and follow ESL SC2 on Twitter and Facebook, for additional details about the IEM Katowice 2023 StarCraft® II Championship, the full lineup of contenders, and more. The live transmissions of the competition will be available on the ESL SC2 channels on Twitch, Youtube and via our dedicated broadcast partners.

The return of the IEM Expo

For the first time in over three years, IEM Katowice returns in full glory along with the IEM Expo, filled with major highlights. Besides the StarCraft® II Championship and many other activities, this year’s IEM Expo features two additional esports competitions:

  • This year marks the beginning of a new chapter for virtual racing fans. With a total prize pool of $500,000 for 2023, ESL R1 kicks off at IEM Katowice 2023 on February 11-12. This brand-new championship, co-created with RENNSPORT, will see 48 drivers from 12 teams compete in eight rounds in order to qualify for the ESL R1 Major. Make sure to check out the first two rounds of the 2023 Spring season which will be played out live at the IEM Expo.
  • Starting its second year, the all-women CS:GO circuit, ESL Impact, makes its debut in Poland as eight of the best women CS:GO teams from around the world face each other in a standalone live event. Cheered on by their fans, the participating teams will fight for a prize pool of $100,000.

IEM Expo visitors also have the opportunity to check out the ESL Pro Tour for CS:GO Championship live in a dedicated area inside the Spodek Arena. Note that space is limited and that the entrance policy happens on a first come first serve basis.

The IEM Expo, however, is not only about esports – it is a shared celebration of passion, where fans of new technologies, gaming and pop-culture get to meet and create unforgettable memories. To support this, the free-of-charge event will host a renowned trade show where some of the largest brands from around the world will be present. Exhibitors have prepared numerous activities including free2play zones and competitions from brands such as Intel®, Komputronik Gaming, Monster Energy, Samsung, Microsoft, HyperX, Hewlett-Packard and more. Visitors can look forward to some of the newest titles in gaming, taking part in numerous tournaments and competitions and joining meet and greet sessions with influencers. Among the exhibitors are:

  • The ESL LAN Party will host a set of activities form the zone’s partners including a chillout zone with view on StarCraft II stage, numerous hardware partners and a central zone including IEM Katowice’s first-ever Cosplay Competition led by Shappi Workshop.
  • Lenovo Legion will create an experience benefiting from all aspects of the event as visitors have the opportunity to play and compete in some of the biggest competitive game titles, participate in product demonstrations by Polish tech influencers, and enjoy a spectacular concert of one of the most popular Polish rappers of the new generation – Smolasty – on February 10 from 5PM until 6PM.
  • Nintendo’s distributor ConQuest entertainment has prepared a booth for you to have tons of fun with your Nintendo Switch console! Whether you are fighting a battle of colors in Splatoon 3, scoring points in Mario Strikers: Battle League Football, or trying out an array of sports in Nintendo Switch Sports,  plenty of fun is guaranteed.
  • RENNSPORT will bring two virtual racing rigs where you have the opportunity to drive in the future of virtual racing and to experience for yourself the game that the ESL R1 drivers are racing in.

Furthermore, IEM Katowice is creating an opportunity to celebrate, experience and learn. To emphasize this, the EFG Esports Forum features representatives of the esports and gaming industries, business partners, and opinions leaders who will discuss the future of the industry during two conference days:

  • Friday, February 10 – “Esports Elevated. Trends and perspectives” –  The first part of the forum is open for everyone interested in the esports industry, its business, and its future.
  • Saturday, February 11 – “Video games and esports: an opportunity for Europe’s digital future. The example of Poland” – This second part focuses on the relationship between the esports industry and the economy – nationwide and local.

The beginning of the CS:GO tournament marks the 11th time ESL is returning to the Polish city of Katowice. The event marks the pinnacle of competition, emotions, and rivalry, while celebrating shared passion. Make sure to be part of this historic moment by joining us on-site in Katowice, tuning in during the live transmissions of the esports competitions, and following all events on the official EFG’s social media channels.

For more general information, make sure to follow ESL FACEIT Group and ESL on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Asia

Mythpat, GamerFleet, Piyush Joshi Gaming: India’s popular Minecraft Players Gear Up for the Ultimate Battle in Creators Rumble

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Get ready to dive into an electrifying, one-of-a-kind gaming spectacle as India’s most talented gamers face off in the much-anticipated Minecraft tournament titled Creators Rumble, an initiative by OP Gaming, a subsidiary of OpraahFx. This event is set to bring together India’s top Minecraft creators, who will challenge each other and display their mastery over the game in a thrilling competition spanning three rounds which includes Parkour, MLG and PvP. 

This event marks the first time that India’s top Minecraft influencers and gaming creators unite in an official tournament format, bringing fans and players alike a whole new level of excitement.

Divided into six teams of four members, they will face off across action-packed Minecraft rounds  designed to test every skill—from strategy and creativity to adaptability and teamwork.

Mythpat aka Mithilesh Patankar, one of India’s leading Youtuber and gaming influencers, shared his excitement saying, “Creators Rumble will be a chance to bring the Minecraft gaming community closer, strengthening bonds among creators and igniting excitement for both fans and gamers. India has a huge Minecraft fanbase, and this tournament will introduce even more gamers to the fun of Minecraft.”

The inaugural edition of Creators Rumble will tap into Minecraft’s worldwide popularity, which has grown steadily since its release. In October 2023, Mojang Studios, the game’s developer, revealed it has sold over 300 million copies, making Minecraft the best-selling video game in history. Players of all ages continue to be captivated by its open-ended gameplay and limitless creative potential, where they can build worlds and structures limited only by their imagination.

Anticipating the prospects Mansi Gupta, Chief Business Officer at OpraahFx, emphasized on the industry impact saying, “India’s gaming landscape is thriving, and we believe that the nation has the potential to emerge as one of the world’s biggest pools of gaming talent. The Creators Rumble is a platform for growth, not only for seasoned players but for the entire creator economy. We’re here to support these creators as they captivate audiences with their talents in Minecraft.”

The Creator’s Rumble will see iconic players Mythpat (Mithilesh Patankar) and Gamerfleet (Anshu Bisht) showcasing some exhilarating gaming experience joined by popular gaming creators, Piyush Joshi Gaming (younger brother of popular Indian YouTuber, Sourav Joshi), AndreoBee (Naveen Yadav), MC Addon (Dipanshu Prajapati), PSD1 (Prathamesh), Harshita (Harshita Shukla), ShadowShooter (Pankaj Kumar Sahoo), I.M.Kopi (Bibek Jung Kunwar), Proboiz (Paresh Solanki), Mr Lapis (Jitender Kumar), GameBeat (Nitin Tyagi), Risible Twins (Kartik and Kunal), Yug Playz (Yug Thakkar), Agnit Plays (Vinit Aggarwal), GamerJatin (Jatin Makhija), Spunky Insaan (Harshit Nema), Pahadi Gaming (Lokesh Karakoti), DevXD (Pankaj Dev), Ro9nie (Rohan Chhabra), Sidh4rth (Siddharth), CassalFx (Shrey Patel) and Dattrax Gaming (Harvest Dewangan).

With this monumental event, OP Gaming aims to further solidify India’s role in the global gaming landscape and showcase the extraordinary creativity and camaraderie of the Minecraft community.

The tournament is scheduled to take place on November 22 (Friday) and will be streamed live on the OP Gaming YouTube channel. Six teams – Team RedstoneTeam Gold, Team Emeralds, Team ShulkerTeam Amethyst, and Team Diamonds, will compete in a series of thrilling challenges, vying for the prestigious title and showcasing the finest Minecraft talent in India.

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Gaming

THE BATTLE OF POLYTOPIA RELEASES NEW AQUARION SPECIAL SKIN IN LATEST UPDATE

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Midjiwan, the award-winning independent studio behind The Battle of Polytopia has today released a new Aquarion Special Skin, additional language options and balance updates to the recently reworked Aquarion tribe. Players will dive deep into the Ritiki Marshlands encountering a lost Aquarion outpost with the new skin known as “The Forgotten”.

Long ago, when the Aquarion Empire vanished beneath the waves. One remote outpost in the swampy atolls lost all contact, leading its inhabitants to believe they were the last of their kind. This forgotten tribe evolved in isolation, adapting to the marshy landscapes with squid-like appendages and unique abilities to command the swamp and its creatures.

Using the unique abilities of “The Forgotten”, players can build on water, summon giant squids, create speed enhancing bubbles, ride crocodiles, tame toads, and traverse their marshy terrains with ease.

In addition, the latest update to the game now offers expanded language options: Hindi, Indonesian, Malay, Polish, Thai, Turkish & Vietnamese.

Christian Lövstedt, CEO of The Battle of Polytopia, commented: “I feel that this skin is one of the best we’ve created and has quickly become my personal favourite. Additionally, we have added Bubble Tech to the Aquarion Waterways, making that tribe even greater. With expanded language options and new gameplay mechanics, we’re inviting players to dive into the rich lore and strategy that make the Battle of Polytopia truly special.”

To celebrate the launch of the new update, Midjiwan hosted an exclusive livestream event, offering fans a unique look behind the scenes, live gameplay, and discussions with the development team – the livestream is available to watch now: The Forgotten livestrea m by Midjiwan.

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Conferences in Europe

Gamecity Hamburg connects Decision Makers from International Studios with new “Portside Game Assembly” Conference Format

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Gamecity Hamburg announces the premiere of the “Portside Game Assembly” (PSGA) for June 27, 2025. The new B2B conference format focuses on networking and the exchange of learnings between leading international indie game studios. Portside Game Assembly enables studio heads and decision-makers to exchange knowledge in a confidential setting in extraordinary locations of Hamburg, around the harbor – and on the water.

“The idea for Portside Game Assembly was born out of conversations with studio heads and managers from Hamburg and around Europe. Anyone navigating an indie studio through the games market benefits greatly from exchanging learnings with other decision-makers facing similar challenges. With a curated guest list and a focus on impulse talks and roundtables, PSGA will offer studio leads contacts and discussions which are highly relevant to their work and current developments in the industry,” explains Margarete Schneider, Project Manager at Gamecity Hamburg.

“The heart of PSGA is the conference, which will be held on a ship sailing through the Hamburg harbor and to which we welcome attendees from all over Europe and beyond. The conference will be complemented by a networking brunch and two evening events, which invite PSGA participants to meet the vibrant and diverse Hamburg games scene,” adds Dennis Schoubye, Head of Gamecity Hamburg.

The conference program for decision-makers at game studios

On June 27, 2025, the first Portside Game Assembly will kick off with a networking brunch.

Afterwards, the studio managers and decision makers will enter the conference ship, which offers three decks for keynote speeches, roundtables and networking, including a cruise through the famous Hamburg harbor.

Studio managers and decision-makers from the following studios are already attending:

  • bippinbits (Dome Keeper, PVKK: Planetenverteidigungskanonenkommandant) / Germany
  • Ghost Ship Publishing (Deep Rock Galactic) / Denmark
  • Indoor Astronaut (Unrailed 1 & 2) / Switzerland
  • Landfall Games (Content Warning, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator) / Sweden
  • mooneye studios (Lost Ember) / Germany
  • Maschinen-Mensch (Curious Expedition 1 & 2, Mother Machine, Codecks) / Germany
  • Overhype Studios (Battle Brothers, Menace) / Germany
  • Rockfish Games (Everspace 1 & 2) / Germany
  • Torpor Games (Suzerain) / Germany

Leads and executives from established indie game studios can register to take part in the Portside Game Assembly via our registration form.

Networking events as part of the Portside Game Assembly

The evening closing event “Games Industry Party” brings conference guests and other members of the games industry together for networking with cool drinks and snacks. Tickets for the Indie Networking Brunch and the Games Industry Party are available separately for non-conference attendees and will go on sale at a later time.

On the evening before, June 26, 2025, there will be an “Opening Mixer” with a panoramic view over Hamburg’s famous St. Pauli district in the Astra Tower, at Bytro Labs office. Portside Game Assembly participants and contacts from the games industry in Hamburg will be invited.

Registration for studios and participants

The conference itself is aimed exclusively at studio managers and decision-makers from internationally successful indie game studios. To enable a curated selection of participants, there will be no direct ticket sales, but studios can register for participation here: registration form.

The conference ticket includes the Opening Mixer event the evening before, access to the Networking Brunch, the main Conference and the Games Industry Party for a total of 189 euros.

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