eSports

GGTech Entertainment Acquires NUEL

Published

1 year ago

May 26, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

NUEL, the UK and Ireland organiser of Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports, has been acquired by GGTech Entertainment, a leading esports company. The strategic acquisition will see NUEL become the office for GGTech’s operations in the UK & Ireland, increasing its core activities in university esports as well as planning and delivering an array of grassroots esports and gaming activities.

NUEL will continue operating under its name but with an increased focus on player-facing brands associated with each project – for example UNIVERSITY Esports. The senior leadership at NUEL will also remain with the company, with founder Josh Williams leading GGTech’s global UNIVERSITY Esports programme. David Jackson will continue as Managing Director of NUEL and Peter Cole will continue as Head of Product.

A board of directors has been created which will oversee NUEL’s operations – this board will include GGTech senior management as well as Josh Williams and David Jackson.

NUEL now has direct access to the resources and expertise of GGTech, which has experience of delivering top-tier events on a global scale. As a result, the company can deliver more and better experiences for players in the region, as well as offer more opportunities for early career professionals trying to make their way in the industry. With a solid track record of delivering grassroots esports activities, the acquisition provides NUEL with the potential to not only grow in the UK & Ireland, but also make a valuable contribution to GGTech’s global activities.

NUEL and GGTech have collaborated extensively in recent years, including work on Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports in the UK and Ireland, and the Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports Masters, the marquee international university esports competition in Europe. Together, the two companies are closely aligned and share similar visions to support grassroot esports and build gaming communities.

Staff and students involved with NUEL have already had opportunities to work on GGTech’s international projects – including travelling out to GGTech’s facilities in Alicante to work on some of GGTech’s flagship events such as the TFT Dragonlands Championship – and this move will further expand these opportunities and facilitate progression for staff and players.

José Parilla, CEO and founder of GGTech, said: “As a company, we’re continuously looking for ways to develop and expand our services around the world. Partnering with NUEL enables us to not only enhance experiences for players and staff, but also share our commitment and excitement for the esports industry across the UK.”

“Since we began in 2010, our mission has been to widen access to esports and create memorable experiences for players, as well as providing meaningful opportunities for people to further their careers. We have been working with GGTech for years now, they share our commitment to these goals, and I’m excited for us to embark on this new stage in our journey as part of GGTech,” said NUEL founder Josh Williams.

GGTech Entertainment, based in Spain, is one of the biggest esports organisers and expanding rapidly across both EMEA and the Americas. In addition to launching and managing the global UNIVERSITY Esports project, GGTech produces Teamfight Tactics Rising Legends and Teamfight Tactics Championships, the EMEA and Global competitions of Riot Games’ strategy game. GGTech is also responsible for the GAMERGY series of major gaming conventions, with recent events held in Madrid, Buenos Aires and Mexico City. It also develops Circuito Tormenta, Riot Games’ main amateur competition in Spain.

First established as a student-run organisation in 2010, NUEL is the UK and Ireland organiser of Amazon UNIVERSITY Esports, a pan-European university esports competition managed globally by GGTech. Beyond university esports, NUEL recently developed and ran Rising Stars – the first official pan-European women’s League of Legends tournament – and the qualifiers for the “Rest-of-EMEA” region in the Teamfight Tactics Rising Legends ecosystem. In May 2023, it ran the England/Wales/Ireland Minor event in the Northern Europe VALORANT BEACON circuit.

Last year, NUEL and GGTech announced a partnership with Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies – part of Nottingham Trent University – which saw NUEL relocate its head office to Nottingham, and hold live finals for its Winter 2022 and Spring 2023 seasons at the newly opened Confetti X esports complex.

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Asia

Red Bull, Nissin Cup Noodles, and Kreo Join College Rivals Season 2 as Associate Sponsors

Published

8 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: 2 minutes

India’s premier college esports and gaming talent hunt, College Rivals, has secured three major Associate Sponsors for its highly anticipated Season 2. Nissin Cup Noodles, Red Bull, and Kreo have all come on board to support the Ampverse DMI-conducted event, each contributing their distinct energy and enthusiasm, as the official Energy Partner, Snacking Partner, and Kreative Partner, respectively.

College Rivals Season 2, featuring participation from over 2,00,000 students across various competitions, offers a prize pool of INR 50,00,000 and a prestigious professional gaming contract. Having kicked off in July 2024, the championship will continue in the following months before culminating with a Grand Finale scheduled for the first quarter of 2025.

“We’re thrilled to welcome top brands like Nissin Cup Noodles, Red Bull, and Kreo to College Rivals Season 2, which has grown exponentially this time around and is bigger and better than ever. These incredible partners will further enhance the student experience with immersive gaming, exciting activities, and creative engagements, adding new energy and thrill as we continue to inspire college-going students to engage with esports and gaming opportunities,” said Ashwin Haryani, Country Head, Ampverse DMI.

Red Bull, returning to College Rivals after a successful first season, brings extra excitement with their racing simulators and product samples in interactive zones, giving students a taste of the fast-paced energy of Esports. Nissin Cup Noodles, the event’s Snacking Partner, is bringing a flavorful twist to the action. With wet product sampling of their instant noodles, Nissin Cup Noodles seamlessly blends snack breaks with gaming.

Meanwhile, with their branded gaming peripherals, Kreative Partner Kreo is hosting interactive activities such as typing tests and giveaways, inviting students to engage with top-tier gaming gear at the country’s biggest collegiate gaming event.

“We’re absolutely fired up to be part of College Rivals Season 2! The energy is electric, with thousands of students from all over the country bringing their A-game. The fast-paced action, intense competition, and pure thrill of gaming make this event a perfect match for Nissin Cup Noodles which is the go-to snacking option for gamers” said Varun Oberoi – Vice President, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Indo Nissin Foods.

Having expanded to 20+ cities and 58+ colleges, College Rivals Season 2 is engaging 11,00,000 students across India, providing the ideal stage to connect with brands that resonate with them. Nissin Cup Noodles satisfies with its instant snacks, Red Bull keeps the energy high with its action-packed drinks, and Kreo connects creative minds with top-tier gaming gear.

eSports

IESF and ITTI Open Applications for Scholarships in Esports Management

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: < 1 minute

The International Esports Federation (IESF) and the International Institute of Technology and Innovation (ITTI) are thrilled to announce the launch of the IESF x ITTI Scholarships, an initiative designed to empower the next generation of Esports leaders. This scholarship program brings together the industry’s best resources to select young talent ready to make their mark in Esports management and gaming.

Four scholarships are available for promising students who will join ITTI’s Master’s in Esports Management and Gaming program. This scholarship opportunity opens on November 4, 2024, and closes on November 20, 2024. The project is also part of IESF and Busan City’s World Esports R&D Center Program, supporting education and development in the Esports industry.

Scholarship Allocation:

One student who is a Resident of Busan, aged 18 – 24.
Three international students, aged 18-24.

How to Apply:

Open to applicants aged 18 to 24, the program invites candidates to submit a completed application form and an introduction video addressing specific questions about their goals, interests, and vision for Esports. With support from NASEF, IESF’s educational partner, the selection committee will evaluate each applicant’s creativity, dedication to Esports, and unique ideas to shape the industry.

Applicants can access the Application Form and should complete both the form and video submission by the deadline.

The IESF x ITTI Scholarships offer a great path into Esports management, and recipients will gain access to ITTI’s advanced curriculum designed to equip students for impactful roles in Esports. We invite all eligible young enthusiasts to apply and join this exciting journey with us. Let’s help shape the future of Esports!

eSports

SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Doubles Esports Turnover in Q3 2024

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Wladimir P.

Reading Time: 2 minutes

1 November 2024 – Esports has experienced explosive growth in Q3 2024, doubling turnover compared to the previous quarter. The average bet on cybersports increased by 17.6% quarter-on-quarter. SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience providing innovative iGaming solutions, shares the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Q3 2024 report.

The top five sports by Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) remain consistent: Football, Tennis, Basketball, Table Tennis, and eFootball. For the second consecutive quarter, eFootball has outperformed Counter-Strike 2, indicating a shifting interest within the esports sector. Nevertheless, football continues to dominate, contributing nearly half of the total GGR.

The average live bet grew by 10% quarter-on-quarter, a positive development for operators as live bets hold 78.6% of turnover. The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team is actively enhancing the live betting experience, aiming to capitalise on this trend and provide operators with even greater revenue opportunities.

The average bet grew by 9.7% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2024, and the number of bets increased by 18.7%. GGR saw a modest growth of 1.5% quarter-on-quarter.

Despite the large number of projects launched for the UEFA Euro 2024, month-on-month statistics show that with the right promotional strategies, projects continue to operate successfully even after such massive events.

Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, adds: “Aligning a launch with a major sporting event can be a successful strategy, but football is not the only sport that can be leveraged in this way. The growth of cybersports presents new opportunities; for specialised projects targeting specific audiences, esports events can also serve as an effective starting point.

We continuously focus on product growth and development, enhancing features and user experience to drive further engagement and profitability for our partners.”

The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook is expanding its global presence. The product team is on track to secure certification in Brazil, conducted by an authorised testing laboratory. Furthermore, for the South African market, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook has recently integrated a Horse Racing Module. This addition offers operators new business opportunities by covering over 2,400 international and local races monthly. The solution engages players with race cards, silks, and multiple bet types while providing operators unique skins and configurations to align with various brand identities.

The SOFTSWISS team is working on The iGaming Trends Report 2025, which offers a deep dive into key industry developments based on over 50,000 media headlines and insights from industry experts. Covering areas like regulation, marketing, technology, and business growth, this report provides a data-driven perspective on the trends shaping the upcoming year. The SOFTSWISS team shares the possibility of joining the waiting list.

All SOFTSWISS products will be showcased at the final major industry event, SiGMA Europe, at stand 2145.