03.04.24 - Esports Weekly Digest
?? Esports Weekly Digest - News Recap: 02.26.24 - 03.04.24
Another action-packed week of new gaming and esports partnerships, thrilling metaverse experiences on Fortnite and Roblox , and massive shifts among top gaming organizations! See my top 3 stories below:
See all the other relevant gaming and esports news that happened last week in the full newsletter below!
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?? Partnerships and Collaborations:
NRG has announced a Rocket League-focused partnership with American restaurant chain Panda Restaurant Group . Most notably as part of the deal, the restaurant chain will integrate into the organization’s ‘Mission Control’ broadcast show through on-air meals and exclusive content playing during breaks. The Mission Control broadcast will have a new segment known as the ‘Panda Express Pre Game’ where commentators will analyze Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) matches and eat meals provided by Panda Express. This marks Panda Express first esports team sponsorship, with its only esports-focused partnership being a sponsorship of a Super Smash Bros tournament called the Panda Cup in 2022. (Source)
OpTic Gaming has announced a sponsorship with Smoothie King (SKFI) . The international smoothie brand will become the presenting sponsor and meal sponsor of three Scump Watch Parties, of which the retired Call of Duty Pro broadcasts the Call of Duty League to his massive fanbase. Smoothie King and OpTic will also work together to create custom video content, social media posts, and sponsorship of OpTic’s popular “Around the Bar” podcast. This marks Smoothie King’s first partnership in the gaming space. (Source)
McLaren Racing has expanded its partnership with TUMI to include the McLaren Shadow esports team and Extreme E. As a result of the deal, TUMI will create an expanded product range with the sim racing team “in the near future.”? (Source)
Zenni Optical announced a partnership with the*gamehers , a media platform and social networking community of women and femme-identifying gamers. As a result of the deal, Zenni will integrate eye health education throughout the year in the media platforms initiatives and programming. This includes Safe Space Streaming Lounges, Pink Pixels programming, and ambassador programs for the brand, guardian, and collegiate squads. The collaboration will also see a new branded collection showcasing a diverse range of frame styles inspired by the*gamehers community. (Source)
领英推荐
Gaming Chair brand DXRacer USA has renewed its partnership with the VALORANT Champions Tour China (CN). As a result of the renewal, DXRacer will continue to provide designated event chairs equipped with the cutting-edge technology. This strategic alliance aims to empower participants, fuel their ambition, and propel them towards success in the fiercely competitive gaming arena. Agency SPORTFIVE stated it helped maximize benefits of the deal for DXRacer by leveraging intellectual property licensing, enhancing on-site product exposure, and implementing effective event promotion strategies. (Source)
Esports player academy Gen.G Global Academy (GGA) has announced a partnership with Ribom Hanbang Hospital in South Korea. As a result of the deal, The hospital will provide free medical support to Gen.G scholars students starting in March, as part of a new comprehensive care programme that features specialized esports training, basic education and health management. The partnership aims to help aspiring pro players mitigate health risks associated with extensive computer and wrist usage, such as back pain and wrist tunnel syndrome. As a result, the healthcare institution will offer rehabilitation therapy exercises and lectures to GGA students and their parents twice a month. (Source)
?? Metaverse (UEFN and Roblox) News
Brooklyn-based haircare brand amika debuts its first Roblox experience in collaboration with immersive shopping platform Obsess . Known as Amikaverse, users can learn about the brand as they create and share their own digital products, engage in unique challenges and interact with other characters throughout the environment, fostering creativity and community. The colorful, play-driven world embodies the brand’s commitment to inclusion, responsibility and sustainability, and leverages their professional credibility to highlight their salon-quality products. Created originally on Roblox since October 16, 2023, the world gets updates regularly and has earned 923k lifetime visits, a 68% user rating, 6 min avg session length. (Source) (Source) (Source)
Anime and manga franchises for years have flipped the “M” in 麦当劳 to a “W” to meander around trademark issues. In collaboration with some of the biggest names in anime, WcDonald's will make the move from fiction to real life. In more than 30 global markets, McDonald’s has launched the WcDonald's universe in restaurants and beyond, with a new sauce, manga-inspired packaging, episodic shorts and so many more. As part of the WcDonald’s universe, GameSquare Holdings Inc. ’s Moonlight Studios created a unique anime-styled restaurant tycoon Fortnite (UEFN) experience that has trended on the Fortnite homepage before promotion even began. Users can build their own WcDonald's restaurant and level it up as they play to unlock new floors. Additionally, after purchasing a 10 piece McNuggets on the app, users can get the weekly password to unlock the secret room in the UEFN experience. (Source) (Source)
?? Org and Personnel News:
Publicly traded esports and gaming companies GameSquare Holdings Inc. and FaZe Holdings ( FaZe Clan ) received official approval of the proposed merger that was announced late October last year. In FaZe Holding’s said in a release that it anticipates “the transaction closing shortly thereafter, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.” GameSquare owns esports organization Complexity Gaming, production studio Fourth Frame Studios, digital advertising consultancy Frankly Media, and streaming data analytics platform Stream Hatchet. (Source) (Source)
Following GameSquare and FaZe Clan shareholders approving their merger earlier last week, GameSquare announced that it’s divesting its esports organization Complexity Gaming to current CEO Jason Lake . GameSquare has sold its esports team NextGen Tech, LLC d/b/a Complexity Gaming to Global Esports Properties, LLC, and investor group led by Complexity’s founder and CEO Jason Lake, for total consideration of $10.36M USD. According to the press release, a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement has been signed between Complexity and GameSquare with the deal set to be closed following approval by the TSXV stock exchange. (Source)
ESL FACEIT Group - EFG lays off 15% of its global workforce in an effort to “reduce organizational complexity.” This results in the esports and gaming competition organizer cutting hundreds of positions around the world, with some estimates as high as 250-300 roles according to GamesBeat reporter Jordan Fragen . In January 2022, EFG became the largest independent esports company in the world when Savvy Games Group acquired both ESL Gaming and FACEIT Ltd for a combined $1.5 billion. EFG has also added Vindex and its subsidiary production company Esports Engine as well in the last two years. (Source)
Norwegian esports organization HEROIC will no longer compete in ESL events as it has exited the Louvre agreement that allows them to be a partnered team. Although this is effective immediately, HEROIC will still be able to compete in this year’s IEM Chengdu and ESL Pro League seasons. This news comes after CS:GO publisher Valve announced that franchised leagues will no longer be allowed starting in 2025. ESL has not shared any plans regarding the Louvre Agreement post-2025 to date. (Source)
Canadian esports company OverActive Media has completed the acquisitions of Spanish esports organizations KOI and Movistar (Telefónica Hispam) Riders. OverActive has also appointed founders of both KOI and Movistar Riders to its board and announced several other leadership changes. This allows Overactive Media to have top streamer Ibai Llanos and former professional footballer and entrepeneur Gerard Piqué to become brand ambassadors. Additionally, OverActive Media receives the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA license along with esports services, revenues and capabilities across the media, influencer and live event categories in Madrid, Barcelona and across Spain and the Americas. (Source)