eSports
Manchester City Announces Collaboration with Global Esports Organisation Gen.G
Manchester City has announced a new collaboration with world-leading global esports organisation Gen.G.
Formed in 2017, Gen.G fields nine top-level esports teams across titles including League of Legends, Valorant and Overwatch. Gen.G has won eight championships to date, including two victories at the prestigious League of Legends World Championship.
Manchester City are the current Premier League Champions, winning the title consecutively over the last three seasons. During the 2022-23 season, the Club also became Champions of Europe and lifted the English Cup, securing a historic treble.
This exciting collaboration will combine football and esports audiences, creating bespoke experiences and unique engagement opportunities tailored towards both sets of fans, including new content with talent and players across multiple platforms as well as in-person fan events in regions including South Korea and the UK.
Manchester Cityâs own esports side has enjoyed healthy growth in recent years, forming successful professional Fortnite and EA Sports FIFA teams with a global player roster including the likes of 2020/21 ePremier League Champion âShellzzâ and 2023 DreamHack San Diego winner âThreatsâ.
This ultimate crossover will see City and Gen.G explore new avenues of co-branded merchandise to launch limited edition products for fans to enjoy.
Following Manchester Cityâs recent announcement of the Clubâs visit to Seoul as part of 2023/24 preseason preparations in July, this collaboration will further establish an opportunity for both organisations to activate and maximise the clubâs presence in Asia as the team prepares to move into the new season as reigning Premier League Champions.
Gavin Johnson, Media Director at City Football Group said: âWe are delighted to launch the collaboration between Manchester City and Gen.G, another fantastic addition to the Clubâs growing involvement in the esports space which will further increase our presence within South Korea and the region. Working with Gen.G, a hugely successful name in the gaming industry, we hope to spark a unique synergy of global audiences, providing both organizations the chance to create exciting experiences for football and esports fans alike.â
Arnold Hur, CEO of Gen.G Esports, said: âWeâve been on a search to learn from the sports worldâs best about what it takes to maintain a championship mindset even under the brightest lights of competition, and we are excited to work with the newly crowned champions, Manchester City under the banner of GEN CITY. We are incredibly excited about this partnership both for our competitive pro and educational academy teams and hope to build upon this collaboration into the future.â
Asia
Esports media platform TalkEsport raises $1 million in pre-series A funding round
TalkEsport, Indiaâs leading esports media platform, announced today the successful closure of its pre-series A funding round, securing a significant investment of $1 million from Saswat Ventures. The substantial investment underscores TalkEsportâs robust growth trajectory and reaffirms its position as a pioneering force in the esports industry.
Founded in 2011, TalkEsport was set up with a vision to bring timely news and updates to gaming communities worldwide. As Indiaâs oldest esports media platform, the company now caters to millions of gamers worldwide through its website and social media channels. TalkEsport plans to utilize the investment to scale up its core website while launching a highly interactive application for its audience and setting up a state-of-the-art production studio in Mumbai. Through it, the company will be launching exclusive content IPs focused on gaming and esports.
“We are delighted to welcome Saswat Ventures as our strategic partner,” exclaimed Deepak Ojha, Founder and CEO of TalkEsport. “Their belief in our vision and commitment to the esports ecosystem align seamlessly with our mission to redefine gaming experiences globally. With this investment, we will be scaling up our newsroom to cater to gaming communities worldwide while launching new content IPs targeted towards Indian and international audiences.”
Saswat Ventures, a family fund set up by Mr. BL Sharma, Principal, shares a vision of catapulting TalkEsport into a global phenomenon. Mr. Sharma has businesses across the country and expressed his confidence in TalkEsport’s potential to revolutionize esports media and connect with a vast audience of passionate gamers worldwide, “We believe in TalkEsport’s potential to become a global platform for esports enthusiasts worldwide.”
Trilochan Sharma, a seasoned expert in compliance matters, joins TalkEsport’s board as the Director of Compliance. His wealth of experience will ensure adherence to regulatory standards and bolster the company’s governance framework.
In addition to this pivotal investment, TalkEsport is proud to announce key developments that highlight its commitment to innovation and growth:
Production Studio in Mumbai
TalkEsport is excited to unveil its state-of-the-art production studio in Mumbai. This cutting-edge facility will serve as the epicenter for creating high-quality esports content, launching content IPs, live broadcasts, interviews, and immersive gaming experiences.
Pranav Nalawade, the Editor-in-chief of TalkEsport, said, âOur new era of esports coverage will begin not only with TalkEsportâs revolutionary approach in publishing news and covering esports events but also high-quality esports content courtesy of our new production studio. As one of the oldest esports media platforms, we have built an audience that relies on us for our history of trustworthy and reliable news. Now, we want to double up on this audience, reforming the way content around esports is consumed in India and abroad through podcasts, media, short-form content, and analytical stories â both in the form of video and text.â
Upcoming Mobile App Launch
Furthermore, TalkEsport is gearing up for the launch of its mobile application soon. This innovative app promises to redefine how gamers access news, engage with esports communities, and participate in live tournaments, all from the convenience of their mobile devices.
“Proceeds of the $1 million will be utilized in creating a robust team of gaming enthusiasts and expanding our global reach,” added Deepak. “This investment not only propels TalkEsport’s growth initiatives but also fuels our mission to provide unparalleled experiences for esports enthusiasts worldwide.”
Through its application, esports viewers will be able to get live coverage of esports tournaments, scores, and interviews. Additionally, they will be able to participate in community tournaments, thus providing an end-to-end immersive experience from the convenience of their mobile devices.
The media company continues to lead the charge in transforming the esports landscape, fostering community engagement, and pushing the boundaries of gaming innovation. The company’s dedication to excellence, coupled with strategic partnerships and visionary leadership, sets the stage for an exciting chapter in esports media.
eSports
ESIC Announces Establishment of Global Esports Industry Advisory Board
The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Global Esports Industry Advisory Board, designed to enhance integrity and ethical practices across the esports landscape. The Advisory Board will serve a pivotal role by providing expert advice to ESICâs Chief Executive Officer on a range of critical industry issues.Â
The primary function of the Advisory Board is to create a robust framework for integrity and fairness, setting a global benchmark for ethical conduct and fair competition in esports. The board will offer strategic insights, help shape policies governing fair play, liaise with key industry stakeholders, and act as ambassadors advocating for ethical practices.Â
ESIC has appointed two highly esteemed members to inaugurate this board:Â
- David Neichel, Senior Vice President of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), joins the Advisory Board with over fifteen years of experience in the video games industry, including significant roles at Activision-Blizzard and Electronic Arts. Davidâs profound impact on international and public affairs initiatives makes him an invaluable addition to the board.Â
- Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, also joins the Advisory Board, bringing a wealth of experience from his roles at Google and Disney, along with his leadership through major acquisitions. Robbie is celebrated for his strategic leadership and his instrumental role in elevating esports to a significant global entertainment platform.Â
The formation of the Advisory Board is an engagement that underscores the commitment of its members to upholding and promoting the highest standards of integrity within the esports industry. The board will meet as required to address strategic challenges and ensure that ESICâs initiatives effectively meet current and future industry needs.Â
âBoth David and Robbie bring a remarkable depth of knowledge and a passion for advancing the integrity of esports,â said Stephen Hanna, CEO of ESIC. âTheir expertise will be crucial as we navigate the evolving landscape of esports and strive to maintain the integrity that our community expects and deserves.âÂ
Robbie Douek, CEO at BLAST, said: âIâm honoured to be given the opportunity to support the Global Esports Industry Advisory Board and ESIC in their ambition to create the best and fairest environment possible for players, teams and fans.âÂ
David Neichel, Senior Vice President of Public & International Affairs at ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) also commented: âIt is a true honour to join the Global Esports Industry Advisory Board and support ESICâs successful journey. Fairplay and integrity are at the core of esports. We owe it to the players and to the fans and for a better endemic industry governanceâÂ
eSports
How Team Vitality Utilises Abios Data to Create a Better Fan Experience
Abios has partnered with leading eSports club Team Vitality to help fuel its fan engagement application V.Hive with eSports data. With access to coverage on more than five of the largest eSports titles from Abios, Team Vitality can ensure that fans can stay engaged and updated with results, schedules and statistics from its latest matches.
Abios, an enterprise eSports data and technology provider, has agreed to a long-term deal to supply its eSports data to Paris-based eSports organisation Team Vitality.
The major-winning eSports team will deploy Abiosâ data to fuel its prediction tool, which allows fans to score points by successfully predicting how Team Vitality will perform in upcoming matches. The scores will be posted to a leaderboard where the best contenders can win prizes including merchandise and money-canât-buy experiences with professional players.
Driven by Abiosâ rich performance and scheduling data, the prediction tool is part of a wider effort by Team Vitality to create an immersive fan experience, following V.Hive app launch in November of 2022 jammed with features geared to building a digital community around the team with news, mini-games and custom avatars.
With rosters in several eSports titles, Team Vitality will use Abiosâ extensive coverage to include data for matchups in the most popular eSports titles including League of Legends, Starcraft ll, Counter-Strike, Rocket League, EA Sports FC and Valorant.
The founder and Chief Executive Officer for Abios, Oskar Bonnevier Froberg, commented on the partnership: âTeam Vitality is one of the oldest and most prestigious eSports teams in Europe and weâre proud to be able to supply it with top-tier eSports data.
âWith high-performing rosters across many eSports disciplines, Team Vitality has millions of fans all over the world. It is fantastic to see its dedication to its fans and how it brings added value to its followers and we are excited to power Team Vitality with our extensive data and help it to deliver the next generation of eSports fan experiences.â
âThrough Abiosâ interfaces, we are able to provide our fans an immersive experience that goes beyond just watching matches,â the Brand and Revenue Diversification Director for Team Vitality, Amelie Canet, said. âTogether, weâre creating an environment where fans can interact, predict outcomes and feel even closer to the eSports action. Its tech overlay allows us to engage our fans and offer them a more entertaining experience.â
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