Asia
Gaming Matters: From the bedroom to the boardroom
The Online Gaming Industry Comes of Age
Branded and Singapore’s Cybersports & Online Gaming Association (SCOGA) are delighted to announce that some of the biggest names from the world’s online gaming industry will be joining them in Singapore at the forthcoming All That Matters conference, including speakers from:
Twitch, ESL / Turtle Entertainment, Riot Games, PUBG, Alisport, AirAsia, Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Dare Mighty Entertainment, Mineski International Group, Makers Fund, Mighty Bear Games, BITREP, Global Electronic Sports Championship (GESC), SCOGA, LIVEME, and many more!
At more than US$135 billion a year globally, the gaming industry is bigger than Hollywood. (Source: Newzoo and Statista)
The gaming industry is exploding in Asia. Whether it is mobile gaming, video gaming, consoles, AR, VR or esports, Asia holds the brightest future for gaming.
Recently, Tencent’s ‘WeGame’ announced that it will take its gaming platform global to expose Western gamers to Chinese titles. In another development, Singtel launched a multi-title and regional esports league. AirAsia too is catching on the wave of esport with sponsorship of World Electronic Sports Games in ASEAN and esports is being included as a demonstration sport at the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta.
Gaming is now an economic driver for Asia, employing an entire ecosystem of developers, publishers, streaming platforms, distributors, social networks, brand partners, leagues and digital athletes.
China alone accounted for US$27 billion in gaming revenue last year and is estimated to grow to US$35 billion by 2021. Southeast Asia will contribute another US$4 billion from some 400 million gamers by the same year.
Kevin Lin, Co-founder of Twitch and speaker at All That Matters 2017 and again in 2018, said: “Live online gaming is booming and if a brand wants to be global they can’t ignore Asia. Gaming Matters has very rapidly become the go-to event for the Asia Pacific gaming business and I’m looking forward to joining them again.”
Jasper Donat, CEO of organisers Branded said: “Gaming is the ongoing hot story in 2018. It has moved from the bedroom to the boardroom with new businesses fighting it out with some of the world’s largest tech and entertainment companies for a slice of the ever growing pie. The virtual experience is today’s reality and no one in the sports, media and entertainment industry can afford to miss out.”
Added Donat: “We are super excited to spearhead this discussion through our Gaming Matters track at All That Matters 2018. Now is the time for gaming. Now is the time for Asia. Now is the time for any marketer seeking to expand into this new form of entertainment, connect with young audiences and drive new revenue streams.”
Nicholas Khoo, Chairman & Co-Founder of SCOGA and Gaming Matters Programming Lead for 2018 said: “Esports is becoming first for digital natives and has experienced phenomenal growth both globally and in Asia. Defying all odds to be part of the Asian Games, esports is definitely here to stay as we witness an intriguing confluence of video games, sports, and media. A number of the movers and shakers of both gaming and esports are joining us on stage this year and it is definitely going to be explosive!”
After the successful introduction of Gaming Matters in 2016, All That Matters 2018 is bringing an even bigger and better line-up of gaming giants such as ESL, Twitch, Ubisoft, PUBG, Riot Games and Bandai Namco, who will share deep insights on the rising force of Asia in the gaming industry.
The confirmed (and growing!) list of speakers at Gaming Matters includes:
Ralf Reichert, CEO, ESL / Turtle Entertainment GmbH
Changhan (CH) Kim, CEO & Executive Producer, PUBG Corporation
Jason Fung, Global eSports Director, Alisports, Alibaba Group
Kevin Lin, Co-Founder, Twitch
Linda Li, Content General Manager, LIVEME
Chris Tran, Country Manager – SEA, Riot Games
Ronald Robins, Founder & CEO, Mineski International Group
Francois Logeais, Senior Producer, Ubisoft Pte Ltd
Allan Phang, Allstars Engagement & Internal Branding, People & Culture, AirAsia (Group)
Jennifer Poulson, SVP Marketing, Bandai Namco
Lee Trink, President, Dare Mighty Entertainment (Faze Clan)
Nguyen Hoang Vinh, Head of esports, Ex-Garena Vietnam
Michael Cheung, Partner, Makers Fund
Simon Davis, CEO, Mighty Bear Games
Raiford Cockfield III, CEO, BITREP
Warren Colbert, Head of Growth, Twitch
David Ng, Founder, Go Game
Amy Ruktanonchai, CEO, Chimera Co.
Oskar Feng, Founder, Global Electronic Sports Championship (GESC)
Sammie Kang, Community Lead, North America, PUBG Corporation
All That Matters, Asia’s leading Business2Business2Fan event will be held at Ritz-Carlton Millenia from 7 – 12 September, 2018. Conference by day, music festival by night, All That Matters will bring together Asia’s leading music, sports, gaming, digital and marketing pioneers to share what it means to build fans and build brands to engage audiences in the fast-paced, digitally-connected world of entertainment.
Companies featured at this year’s All That Matters include AirAsia, Alibaba, Amazon, Cathay Pacific, China Sports Media, CMC Holdings, Empire, ESL, F1, Facebook, FOX Sports, Globe Telecom, Go-Jek, Google, INgrooves, J&J, Live Nation, Lufthansa, McDonalds, Mediacorp, Microsoft, Mission Hills, NBA, Netflix, Ogilvy, ONE Championship, Perform, Philips, PUBG, Riot Games, Spotify, Standard Chartered, Singapore Tourism Board, Telkom Indonesia, Tencent, Twitch, Twitter, Ubisoft, Unilever, Universal Music, Viacom, VICE, Warner Music, YouTube and many more.
For a full list of speakers at the festival, please view our website www.allthatmatters.asia.
About All That Matters
The All That Matters festival returns to Singapore in September after a record breaking year in 2017 with more delegates, more speakers, more live music and more networking than ever before.
Conference by day at the Ritz-Carlton Millenia (September 10-12) and music festival by night at various locations across Singapore (September 7-12), All That Matters continues to be recognised as Asia’s leading entertainment industry conference and the gateway to the Asian music, sports and entertainment industry, hosted the week preceding the Formula 1 2018, Singapore Grand Prix.
The event is attended by over 1500 industry executives, content providers, tech innovators, global brands and thousands of music fans from around the world. It is the meeting point for the most influential players and the programme reflects the convergence of the global entertainment business.
Join us to hear from over 30 keynotes and 150 expert speakers, and make thousands of business connections across the five tracks of Music, Sports, Gaming, Digital and Marketing.
About Singapore’s Cybersports & Online Gaming Association (SCOGA)
Singapore’s Cybersports & Online Gaming Association is one of the most trusted esports organisation in Singapore with more than 10 years of history. It seeks to build and serve the local ecosystem through various initiatives in education, industry partnerships, and marquee events. Signature initiatives include an esports academy supported by the National Youth Council and a full time diploma in partnership with Informatics Academy. SCOGA recently hosted Asia Game Festival and the Asia Football Gaming Championship as part of Singapore Football Festival. Millions have turned up for SCOGA’s events both in person and on twitch.tv/scoga
About Branded
Branded creates and produces live media that matters, connecting businesses, brands, celebrities and fans through large and small scale events including the YouTube FanFest global tour, It’s A Girl Thing and the “Matters” B2B festivals covering music, sports, gaming, digital and marketing.
Specialising in the media, entertainment and sports industries in Asia, Branded was founded in 2002 and has been recognised as a “Top 10 Event Marketing Agency” by Marketing Magazine and is a two-time winner of the prestigious Singapore Experience Best Trade Event of the Year award.
Branded excels in the conceptualisation, programming, organisation, and production of dynamic conferences, live music festivals, educational academies, and fan events in Asia. Branded is an independent company staffed by passionate multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-talented individuals with offices in Hong Kong and Singapore and affiliations reaching all corners of the world.
Branded key contacts:
Jen Bennett (Sponsorship/Sales enquiries): [email protected]
Ami Vora (Trade & Media Partnerships/Delegate enquiries): [email protected]
Kathy Brewin (Programming enquiries): [email protected]
Sammy Shirra-Moore (Music Matters festival enquiries): [email protected]
Press enquiries:
Madhavi Tumkur (Enterprise PR & Marketing): [email protected] / Ph: +65 9787 5221
Aquisitions/Mergers
Gladiators Esports acquires Gods Reign in one of Indian esports’ biggest moves; signs Gujarat Titans Rising champions BGMI Team
Marking one of the most significant acquisitions in the Indian esports landscape, Gladiators Esports has officially acquired Bengaluru-based Gods Reign to unite two of the nation’s leading esports entities.
As part of this acquisition, Gladiators Esports will integrate the Gods Reign into its operations, with Gods Reign retaining its name for the esports team while all other verticals, including content creation and marketing will be under the banner of Gladiators Esports. This consolidation aims to streamline operations, strengthen brand identity, and leverage the combined resources of both entities.
Speaking on the acquisition, Gladiators Esports stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Gods Reign into the Gladiators Esports family. This acquisition reflects our commitment to elevating Indian esports and driving its growth. By integrating the renowned Gods Reign brand and its talented roster, we are not only broadening our reach and influence but also creating a nurturing space for our players and creators to excel. This marks an exciting new chapter, and we eagerly look forward to shaping a bright future for Indian esports.”
In line with this transition, Gods Reign has onboarded one of India’s most decorated Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) lineups, featuring star players who have consistently proven themselves on the biggest stages and have multiple major accolades to their name.
“This acquisition by Gladiators Esports represents a pivotal step for both Gods Reign and the Indian esports ecosystem. By combining our expertise, experience, and shared vision for advancing Indian esports, we are poised to deliver unmatched experiences and achievements. Our new BGMI roster, featuring both seasoned talent and fresh perspectives, embodies the high level of competition we’re committed to bringing. Through this strategic move, we aim to amplify opportunities for our athletes, engage our community in exciting new ways, and elevate Indian esports on the global stage,” said Rohith KR, CEO of Gods Reign.
The team will be led by In-Game Leader (IGL) Ammar Khan (Destro), joined by his former teammates Justin Nadar (Justin) and Parth Garg (DeltaPG). Together, this trio has proven to be a formidable force in official tournaments last year, capturing the BGMI Series (BGIS) 2023 title and BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) 2023 and earning runner-up position in BGMI Pro Series (BMPS) 2023.
Strengthening the roster further is Shubham Ranjan Sahoo (NinjaJOD), who clinched the BGIS 2024 championship and was a runner-up at last year’s India-Korea Invitational. Former BGMI athlete Robin Singh (Robin), who recently led Destro, Justin, DeltaPG, and NinjaJOD to victory in the Titans Rising tournament hosted by the Gujarat Titans cricket team, will be coaching this skilled lineup.
The newly assembled team, which had a combined prize pool earnings of approximately INR 2.5 crores ($276,703) in FY23, brings fresh potential to build on their impressive track record and aim for even higher accolades in the upcoming tournaments.
“Having previously played with these talented players and achieved success together, returning to Gods Reign feels like a true homecoming and it’s an honour to reunite under this banner. This acquisition unites some of India’s top esports talent, all of whom are dedicated to constant improvement and focused on victory. With our combined strengths and support, we hope to set new benchmarks in BGMI and demonstrate our potential on both national and international stages,” commented Ammar Khan aka Destro, IGL of Gods Reign.
In addition to its esports rosters in Counter-Strike 2, Pokémon UNITE, and BGMI, Gods Reign is also home to some of India’s top gaming creators, including Thor Gaming, Harshdeep Singh, Red Parasite, Miss Senorita, AJ Jeffy and many others. Collectively, they boast over 6 million YouTube subscribers and more than 1 million Instagram followers.
Together, Gladiators Esports and Gods Reign are ready to make waves in India’s rapidly growing content creation and esports ecosystems.
Asia
Red Bull, Nissin Cup Noodles, and Kreo Join College Rivals Season 2 as Associate Sponsors
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.
Asia
FeedConstruct Secures Exclusive International Streaming and Data Collection Rights for Korean Volleyball Leagues
FeedConstruct is excited to enhance its offerings with the addition of another significant Korean sports content. Based on the new partnership, the company has secured exclusive international streaming and data rights for all matches of Korea’s Volleyball Leagues and Cup competitions.
Korea’s V-League is one of the most prestigious and competitive volleyball leagues worldwide, particularly in Asia, renowned for its high-level matches and featuring top-tier local and international talents. FeedConstruct will cover all the matches from both the men’s and women’s competitions, ensuring comprehensive access to this elite league and delivering premium content.
The KOVO Cup, a highly anticipated annual event, serves as a lead-up to the V-League season, offering teams a platform to experiment with new rosters and strategies. Since 2018, the KOVO Cup has invited international teams, such as Thailand’s Supreme Chonburi, raising the tournament’s prestige and drawing significant attention from volleyball fans across the country.
Volleyball has been a prominent sport in Korea for decades, with the national teams consistently competing at high levels in major international tournaments like the Olympics and World Championships.
Reflecting on the new partnership, Narek Harutyunyan, CEO at FeedConstruct, stated: “We are thrilled to secure the exclusive international streaming and data rights for all matches of Korea’s Volleyball Leagues and Cup competitions. Korean volleyball has a rich history and a passionate fan base, and we are committed to providing comprehensive coverage of these elite competitions. This collaboration not only strengthens our global volleyball portfolio but also underscores our dedication to delivering premium sports content.”
KBSN Director Lee Ju Young, added: ‘’We are honored to collaborate with FeedConstruct on this project. We hope that Korean professional volleyball will receive more global attention. We believe that partnerships are significant because they carry weight.’’
KOVO’s Director Lee Young-ho said: “I am pleased that this partnership will enhance the global capabilities of Korean professional volleyball. It seems like a great opportunity to connect with many fans overseas through FeedConstruct. I hope this will be a good opportunity for Korean professional volleyball to grow to the next level.”
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