$10 Million in combined prize pool up for grabs in 2019
New Magic Pro League offers play and streaming contracts worth $75,000
New Mythic Championship events anchor the Magic tournament structure
First $1 Million tournament to be held at PAX East in 2019

Game Awards, Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast announced a brand new esports program coming in 2019 for Magic: The Gathering, which boasts a $10 million prize pool across digital and tabletop Magic.

“Today is an extremely important day for Magic: The Gathering as we announce our commitment to esports and our Magic players by evolving our tournament structure to include a $10 Million prize pool.” said Chris Cocks, President of Wizards of the Coast. “We are fully embracing esports and affirming Magic as a leader in the collectible card game category while providing lucrative opportunities for pros, players, sponsors, and esports partners.”

With over 35 Million Magic players to date in over 70 countries around the world, Magic’s new esports structure is designed to appeal to a wide audience of card game players and offers an open platform to allow all Magic players the opportunity to compete.

The Magic Pro League (MPL) establishes a new level of professional play and features 32 of the top ranked Magic players from around the world. Players in the MPL are offered play and streaming contracts worth $75,000. Members of the MPL will play in weekly match-ups on Magic: The Gathering Arena® that will lead to newly introduced Mythic Championship events.

Mythic Championships are the new flagship competitions for Magic: The Gathering Arena esports and tabletop Magic competitive play. Mythic Championships will feature MPL players battling against challengers from the Magic community. The Magic: The Gathering Arena esports program kicks off with a $1 Million Mythic Invitational at PAX East 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. More details on how to climb the ranks and battle the pros will be revealed in early 2019.

“The past 25 years of Magic competition has led us to design this comprehensive esports program that would support Magic: The Gathering Arena, while increasing our investment in tabletop Magic,” said Elaine Chase, Vice President of Esports at Wizards of the Coast. “Our investment in esports will catapult the game to new heights while providing support to the players by giving them the platform to build their brand and bring Magic to a broader audience.”

ABOUT HASBRO
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF®, MY LITTLE PONY®, TRANSFORMERS®, PLAY-DOH®, MONOPOLY®, BABY ALIVE® and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through its entertainment labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 5 on the 2018 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past seven years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com

ABOUT WIZARDS OF THE COAST 
Wizards of the Coast brings people together through their shared love of games. Magic: The Gathering®, Dungeons & Dragons®, and other Wizards games are enjoyed by friends around the world, both at gaming tables and on digital platforms. We bring together world-class creators in game design, worldbuilding, fantasy art, and interactive events to create unforgettable moments. Wizards of the Coast is a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS). For more information, visit www.wizards.com.

Source: Wizards of the Coast

New Call of Duty® World League and OpTic Gaming Partnerships Roll Out Ahead of January Launch of Four Flavors – Charged Cherry Burst, Charged Berry Blast, Charged Tropical Strike and Charged Original DEW

In one of the most anticipated innovation launches of the upcoming year, MTN DEW AMP is bringing its bold, boundary-pushing style to the world of gameplay with the launch of its newest beverage:  MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL®. Including ingredients shown to improve accuracy and alertness, and complete with a no-slip grip and unique re-sealable lid, MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL allows players an enhanced gaming experience. But the best part? MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL is designed by gamers, for gamers, curated for those who thrive on the thrill of competition.

“Knowing gaming is an endurance sport, we listened to what players have been asking for when it comes to a beverage,” said Erin Chin, senior director, marketing, Mountain Dew. “MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL is the first-ever drink created specifically for gamers and stands in its own category. It has energy credentials with its vitamin-charged and caffeine-boosted formula, and we can’t wait to share it with the gaming world come January.”

Level 1: Epic Co-Ops
MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL is giving gamers access to some of the biggest events, leagues and esports teams, starting with its new Call of Duty World League sponsorship. Taking place Dec. 7-9, players at the upcoming Las Vegas competition will get an exclusive first taste of MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL ahead of its 2019 launch.

“MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL shares our vision for growing the audience for esports, and will help us deliver unique experiences for fans at each Call of Duty World League event this season, as well as help create exceptional content for viewers online,” said Brandon Snow, chief revenue officer of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues. “CWL looks forward to working closely with the Mountain Dew team to develop the most exciting season in Call of Duty World League history.”

MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL is also expanding its gaming roster with the addition of OpTic Gaming, an industry-defining esports, media and entertainment organization. “We are grateful to partner with such a prestigious beverage brand, as they share in the belief of our core values: precision and focus,” said Ryan Musselman, president, Infinite Esports & Entertainment. “We look forward to helping launch the MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL brand, and are excited for all of the new content and opportunities they will bring for the Green Wall.”

Level 2: Fuel FTW!
MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL is specially crafted to give gamers the boost they need during game play. The ingredients contained in MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL have been shown to increase accuracy and alertness. All of the bold flavors contain 90 calories per 16 oz. and provide gamers great tasting energy to power through even the toughest levels.

Level 3: Next-Gen Hardware
The MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL can was specifically designed to consider how gamers play. The re-sealable lid, created by Xolution, which specializes in innovative packaging solutions, allows for more uninterrupted game play and easy opening. The can’s no-slip grip mirrors the sensory design of accessories and hardware in gaming.

MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL will launch all four flavors – Charged Cherry Burst, Charged Berry Blast, Charged Tropical Strike and Charged Original DEW – in retail stores nationwide on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019 in 16 oz. cans. Consumers will be able to find it in the energy door section of retail stores nationwide. MTN DEW AMP GAME FUEL is now available to pre-order at Amazon.com and Walmart.com.

Fanatics will become the official retail partner of the Overwatch League

The first-ever esports deal for Fanatics includes omnichannel retail and fan gear manufacturing rights

The Overwatch League announced a groundbreaking, multi-year deal with Fanatics, the global leader for licensed sports merchandise, which will provide the Overwatch League fanbase with an omnichannel retail experience along with a significantly expanded assortment of products. The agreement marks the first-ever foray into the rapidly expanding global esports industry for Fanatics and is the first of its kind between a major retailer and an official esports league.

The deal is highlighted by Fanatics securing U.S. and international rights to produce Overwatch League jerseys, fan gear, headwear, and hard goods sold across all retail and wholesale channels. Under the new agreement, both parties also will work collaboratively to identify and secure additional world-class companies to grow the overall assortment of high-quality products available to fans. In addition, Fanatics will establish a new global ecommerce and mobile shopping platform and operate on-site retail for all league events.

“Our collaboration with Fanatics—the first between a major esports league and a global sports merchandising company—allows us to reach even more fans and to provide them with high-quality merchandise and a best-in-class retail experience where they can shop for all our great Overwatch League gear,” said Brandon Snow, chief revenue officer of Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues. “Fanatics has a proven track record of success with major sports brands and we’re excited to work with them in expanding this part of our business.”

Fanatics—utilizing an innovative vertical manufacturing model, combining extensive licensing rights with on-demand manufacturing and an agile supply chain—will design and quickly distribute high-quality Overwatch League fan gear across all categories, including merchandise for league events and championships.

“The demand for team gear during our inaugural season was very strong,” said Daniel Siegel, head of esports licensing for Blizzard Entertainment. “A significant number of fans—for regular-season matches at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles and at the Grand Finals in Brooklyn—showed up in jerseys to support their teams, and we’re thrilled to make it even easier for them to represent their favorite teams and players.”

“Esports has been on our radar for some time now and we are incredibly excited to mark our first deal with the best in the world in Activision Blizzard around their incredibly successful Overwatch League,” said Ross Tannenbaum, head of special projects for Fanatics. “Our omnichannel retail capabilities and real-time vertical manufacturing model will ensure that Overwatch League fans across the globe have unprecedented access to a wide assortment of merchandise to be able to show their passion and pride for the teams and players they love, whether shopping online, on their phone, or at one of many league events.”

The agreement between the Overwatch League and Fanatics will be implemented before the start of the 2019 Overwatch League season, which kicks off on February 14. At that time, Overwatch League gear will be available on a dedicated e-store and on select sites across Fanatics’ global network.

The new online storefronts will be the first to sell gear for the Overwatch League’s new expansion teams: Atlanta Reign, Chengdu Hunters, Guangzhou Charge, Hangzhou Spark, Paris Eternal, Toronto Defiant, Vancouver Titans, and the Washington Justice. Fanatics will operate on-site retail stores for all Overwatch League regular-season matches at Blizzard Arena Los Angeles and for other league events.

Further details about the official launch of the new Overwatch League ecommerce platform and the 2019 season will be announced at a later date.

About the Overwatch League™:

The Overwatch League™ is the first major global professional esports league with city-based teams across Asia, Europe, and North America. Overwatch® was created by globally acclaimed publisher Blizzard Entertainment (a division of Activision Blizzard—Nasdaq: ATVI), whose iconic franchises have helped lay the foundations and push the boundaries of professional esports over the last 15 years. The latest addition to Blizzard’s stable of twenty-two #1 games,^[1] Overwatch was built from the ground up for online competition, with memorable characters and fast-paced action designed for the most engaging gameplay and spectator experiences. To learn more about the Overwatch League, visit www.overwatchleague.com.

About Fanatics:

As the global leader in licensed sports merchandise, Fanatics is changing the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel and jerseys through an innovative, tech-infused approach to making and selling fan gear in today’s on-demand culture. Operating multi-channel commerce for the world’s biggest sports brands, Fanatics offers the largest collection of timeless and timely merchandise whether shopping online, on your phone, in stores, in stadiums or on-site at the world’s biggest sporting events.

© 2018 Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. OVERWATCH, OVERWATCH LEAGUE, BLIZZARD, and BLIZZARD ENTERTAINMENT are trademarks of Blizzard Entertainment, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries.

[1] Sales and/or downloads, based on internal company records and reports from key distribution partners.