The Story Mob

???Announcing 40 Clubs Selected for the EWCF $20 Million Club Partner Program, Uniting over 300 Million Esports Fans Worldwide ??Our industry-leading initiative, designed to promote the sustainable growth of esports organizations, offer participating Clubs up to $1 million in funding to expand their brand and grow their global audience through innovative content and marketing campaigns leading up to and throughout the Esports World Cup 2025. Since 2023, the EWCF has supported esports Clubs with a strategic funding model that contributes to the financial stability and brand growth for Club program members. In 2025, the Program will focus on global fan expansion across all borders and games through impactful storytelling and creative campaigns. ??Leveraging EWCF support, the 40 Partner Clubs, collectively reaching over 300 million fans, will drive global growth through content and fan experiences,? including behind-the-scenes production, player documentaries, and live fan interactions that strengthen community connections, amplify EWC narratives, and foster Club-driven innovation. With this year’s focus on high-growth regions, the Club Partner Program represents a truly global roster, including six Clubs from China, alongside additions from rapidly expanding markets like Japan, India, and LATAM. The full lineup of Clubs, in alphabetic order: 100 Thieves, All Gamers, Bilibili Gaming, Cloud9 Esports, Inc., Edward Gaming (EDG), EVOS Esports, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, G2 Esports, Gaimin Gladiators, Gen.G, Gentle Mates, HEROIC, JD GAMING, Karmine Corp., Movistar KOI, LEVIATAN, LOUD, MOUZ, Natus Vincere, Ninjas in Pyjamas, ONIC Esports, POWR, REJECT, S8UL Esports, Sentinels, T1 Entertainment & Sports, Team BDS, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, Team RRQ, Team Secret, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Virtus.pro, Weibo Gaming, Wolves, ZETA DIVISION. “The EWCF Club Partner Program is a cornerstone of our mission to build a sustainable future for esports Clubs worldwide while creating opportunities for organizations from some of the world’s fastest-growing markets”, said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation. "This year’s 40 partnered Clubs represent a diverse and dynamic cross-section of global esports, spanning legacy organizations, rising stars and global powerhouses that collectively define the rich history and the rapidly evolving future of the industry. By investing in their growth, the program will enable Clubs to expand their audience and reach, strengthen their brands, and gain greater visibility through fan-first content, shaping the future of esports as a global sport and mainstream entertainment." #EsportsWorldCup #EWC2025 #esports #gaming

? Omeda Studios announce Long-Awaited Arrival of Hero Boris and much more release of in 1.4 Update for Predecessor, the free-to-play third-person action MOBA as players surpass 2 million! ?? Here’s what you can expect from this game-changing update, as featured in VentureBeat, Bleeding Cool, Trend Hunter and others: ?? New Hero – Boris: The Beast Reforged Boris makes his long-awaited debut as a playable hero, bringing a unique combination of modern tech and primal force to the battlefield. Players will finally be able to experience his exciting range of abilities, most notably his powerful Ursine Burst – an ultimate ability that allows Boris to charge forward at lightning speed, grabbing the first enemy hero in his path, and slamming them into the ground. ?? ?? Loot Cores & Shadow Ops Battle Pass The introduction of Loot Cores gives players access to an exciting selection of in-game items. Plus, the brand new Shadow Ops Battle Pass brings exclusive rewards and up to 60 levels to unlock with the premium upgrade! ?? ?? Game Updates & Fixes ?? Voice Chat integration ?? Text Chat upgrades ??? Improved Custom Match functionality Predecessor is a fast-paced, strategic MOBA game, putting players at the heart of the action with unique characters and abilities, with stunning third-person gameplay and next-gen graphics. Whether this is someone’s first MOBA experience or they’re a veteran of the genre, Predecessor gives players all of the tools needed to succeed and is available to play now across multiple platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Microsoft Windows via Steam and Epic Games. Check out ?? in the comments for the full patch notes and recent media stories. #gaming #predecessor #omedastudios #pr

?? Excited to speak at #SXSW 2025! ???? Next week in Austin, I’ll be joining Erik Anderson (FaZe Clan), Andrew Haworth (BLAST), Sean Smith (Tribe Gaming), and Megan Van Petten (Esports Trade Association) on a panel discussing the global expansion of esports and how we continue to shape the future of live entertainment. Esports has evolved from niche competitions to a global phenomenon, with regional markets—from North America to Asia and the Middle East—driving gaming culture forward. ?? ?? SXSW 2025 | Monday, March 10 | 4:00 PM CT | Fairmont Manchester GG ??? Attending SXSW? Drop me a message or join us at the panel! Looking forward to meet some new and old friends, also pop by Monica Dinsmores and Paul Bellezzas sessions! #SXSW2025 #Esports #Gaming #EWC #LiveEntertainment #GlobalEsports #FutureOfGaming #EsportsIndustry #GamingCulture ????

?? BAFTA has announced the nominations for the 21st BAFTA Games Awards, highlighting outstanding creative excellence from a broad range of UK and international development teams. From big-budget blockbusters to indie gems, a total of 41 games across 17 categories have been nominated, showcasing the innovation, creativity, and dedication behind crafting immersive gaming experiences that leave a lasting impact. We are proud to continue supporting the BAFTA Games Awards and excited to see multiple nominations for standout titles that are making waves in the industry today, including: ?? "Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II" – Leading the way with 11 nominations, this stunning continuation of the franchise captivates with breathtaking visuals and intricate storytelling. ?? "Astro Bot" – Eight nominations for a masterfully crafted family favorite that continues to invigorate the platformer genre. ?? "Still Wakes The Deep" – With eight nominations, this suspenseful horror survival entry perfectly encapsulates the terrors of isolation at sea. ?? "Black Myth: Wukong" – Six nominations for a triumph in RPG design, blending rich storytelling inspired by Chinese mythology. Tara Saunders, Chair of BAFTA’s Games Committee, said: “Today’s nominations are a celebration of 41 outstanding games that showcase the very best of the British and international games industry. They put game titles onto the global stage, unearthing hidden gems alongside the best-known game experiences of the year. A nomination is an incredible achievement for any team or individual, especially during what continues to be a turbulent and trying time for our industry. I extend my congratulations to each and every nominee for your incredible work, skill and endurance.” The nominations were featured by the BBC, The Hollywood Reporter, GAMINGbible, Polygon, and IGN Entertainment, among other mainstream and gaming media, shining a light on the gaming industry's creativity on the global stage. We can’t wait to see who takes home the coveted BAFTA Games Awards on April 8, 2025. #BAFTA #BAFTAGamesAwards #gaming #awards

Mob Memo issue 9 is here! In the latest edition, we bring you the biggest stories and can’t-miss moments in gaming, esports and industry communications. From Chess Grandmasters joining the world’s most prominent esports clubs and the BAFTA Games Awards’ most influential games to the latest on the Olympic Esports Games, Monster Hunter and MrBeast, we’ve got everything you need to stay ahead of the game this month. #PRTrends #Gomms #GamingCulture #PRAgency #GamesPR #esports

?? PRWeek People & Places Awards Nomination Shortlist! Being shortlisted for our first agency award is special. The fact it’s within the PRWeek Mental Health Champion category makes us proud. When The Story Mob was created seven years ago, our founder, Anna Rozwandowicz, wanted to do things differently. This included a desire to readdress the work-life balance and end the excessive working hours many of us have considered the norm throughout our careers. This vision led to us being the first UK PR agency to join the global four-day working week pilot in 2022, in partnership with 4 Day Week - Global. Three years later, this has become a permanent opt-in benefit where we pay our staff 100% of their salary for 80% of their time. But that’s not all. We have an in-house planning tool where we track and monitor everyone’s workloads continuously, offering solutions when we predict Mobsters will be at capacity. We also recently partnered with Safe In Our World - a charity whose mission is to foster positive mental health and well-being in the video games industry (our sector specialism) - so our team has access to more mental health and well-being resources. ? Congratulations to all the shortlisted agencies and our brilliant team Anna Rozwandowicz Karen Low Tuminu Onagoruwa John Potter Brian Fisher Riikka H. Daniel Fleming Michael Bryant Thomas Keirnan Joseph Pascoulis Inga Howell and fingers crossed for our first win! ?? Mobsters being Mobsters ????

? BAFTA Launches Poll to find the Most Influential Video Game of All Time! Video games have had an unimaginable impact on our society and while, in their purest form, they’re primarily enjoyed on PC, mobile and/or console, now there isn’t a part of modern culture that remains untouched by them. To recognise this, and to celebrate the 2025 edition of the #BAFTAGamesAwards, BAFTA has launched a poll to decide what the most influential game of all time is! ?? ‘Most influential game’ can means different things to different people. Perhaps it’s a game that birthed a genre, one that defined an era, or one that set the standards for storytelling and interactivity. Perhaps it’s a game whose influence crosses into films, TV and music, which we still see today. It could even be a game that’s had a big influence on you, personally, changing the way you look at the world. Whatever ‘influential’ means for you, BAFTA wants to hear your choice. Need some inspiration? Some of the biggest names in games are having their say on our socials so follow @BAFTA socials to find out more.' ??It’s a hotly contested question, but one that you can answer by casting your vote until Thursday 20th?March?5pm GMT on BAFTA.org/stories and link in comments.? Our team has already cast its vote. Which game has influenced you? #BAFTA #BAFTAGamesAwards #gaming #awards

Chess is becoming an esport. You've probably heard this before, but now it's closer than ever to becoming a reality. Magnus Carlsen, the world's strongest chess player, just signed with one of the largest esports organizations in the world: Team Liquid. We asked Team Liquid co-CEO Steve Arhancet and Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert what this means for the bigger picture and making chess an esport. https://lnkd.in/dv8BbF-J

?? What's better than *absolutely* smashing it at the 2024 Esports World Cup? Doing it again in 2025! ?? Last year, the Esports World Cup Foundation appointed the Mob as the Lead Agency, and we played a pivotal role in shaping the event’s global reception with international media, and on-site execution of media operations: ?? Secured 20,000+ headlines worldwide - CNBC, ABC World News, AP, CNN, BBC (17 pieces!??), New York Times, USA Today, and coverage in over 2,700 media worldwide... ?? ...including a coveted CNN push notification for an earned story, the first-ever for esports! ?? Provided eight consecutive weeks of live event support, facilitating hundreds of interviews and shots... ? ...and crafted some of the best stories in esports with endemic and mainstream media The event set a new benchmark for esports - 22 tournaments in 21 games, 1500+ players, and a record-breaking $60M+ prize pool over an amazing 60-day spectacle at the world's largest esports and gaming festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia! We're excited to see what 2025 will bring for the EWC, but one thing is for sure - it's going to be epic ?? ?? Our top 10 favorite mainstream beats ?? #EsportsWorldCup #EWC #esports #gaming #riyadh