The Mob Memo - Issue 3 (August 2024)

As we bid farewell to summer, we're excited to bring you the latest insights, trending stories, and standout placements from our team’s action-packed month.

With our deep involvement in the inaugural Esports World Cup, we're sharing key takeaways on how we successfully managed communications for this groundbreaking two-month event.?

Dive in for tips and tricks that can elevate your own strategies!

?? PRO TIPS ??

• Assess whether your story genuinely merits being EARNED worthy - PR Daily?
• Why LinkedIn is the IT platform for enhancing media strategies - PR Week?
• Step-by-step guide for creating a SUCCESSFUL PR campaign - Meltwater?

???THE MOB WAY???

MAKING A MASSIVE GLOBAL EVENT SUCCESSFUL

Behind the Scenes at the Esports World Cup

For the past two months, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been the epicenter of the esports world, hosting the largest global event of its kind—the inaugural Esports World Cup. With 1,500 players and over 200 clubs competing across 21 titles and 22 tournaments, the action has been nonstop. This unparalleled event has captivated audiences worldwide, and The Story Mob was at the heart of it all as the Lead Agency.?

??The Lead-Up: Global Strategic Communications

The Story Mob crafted and executed a comprehensive communications strategy, handling partner announcements, product-related news, competitive updates, and media engagement. This groundwork set the stage for success and secured over 20,000 media hits in top outlets like CNN, BBC, Reuters, and Forbes.?

PR Takeaway: Effective strategic communications can elevate an event's visibility and impact, ensuring it reaches mainstream audiences and underscores its cultural significance.

?? True Partnership: Embedded with Clients

As Lead Agency, The Story Mob provided crucial C-level strategic counsel and operational support, collaborating closely with production, operation teams, and government entities. Our deep involvement enabled us to authentically narrate the EWC’s story from the heart of the action.?

PR Takeaway: Being deeply integrated with clients enhances the ability to manage complex narratives and deliver authentic storytelling.

??Navigating Complexities: From Local Agencies to Language Barriers

We navigated multilingual translations and efficient dissemination by partnering with four local and regional agencies. Ensuring accurate and timely communication was essential to address diverse media and cultural considerations.?

PR Takeaway: Consistent collaboration with local agencies and attention to cultural nuances are critical for managing global communications.

??International Media Handlers: Managing Media Center

The EWC Media Center was the hub of activity throughout the event. Managing the EWC Media Center involved overseeing international media accreditation, handling interview requests, and distributing content. Our team’s ability to stay solution-oriented under pressure was crucial.?

PR Takeaway: Efficient media management and staying adaptable under pressure are vital for successful event execution.

??? Sustaining Momentum: 60 Days of Nonstop Action: Unlike any other sporting event, the Esports World Cup ran continuously for two months straight, requiring daily activities, from press conferences to media management. We streamlined information sharing and content delivery to maintain high impact throughout the event.

PR TAKEAWAY: Consistent and timely content management is essential to sustaining momentum during extended events.

Conclusion: A Testament to Teamwork and Flexibility

The Esports World Cup in Riyadh was a massive undertaking, but with careful planning, a dedicated team on the ground and in key markets across multiple time zones, and the trust of our client, The Story Mob ensured its success. This event is a true testament to the power of teamwork, flexibility, and the ability to think on your feet—qualities that are at the core of what we do at The Story Mob.

Stay tuned for the case study on The Story Mob’s role in the Esports World Cup, coming soon! ?

?? MUST KNOW HEADLINES (ICYMI) ???

Gaming Culture Industry Insights and Trends?

• ‘Virtually real’ e-games can promote participation and inclusion in real sports? | The Drum – Video games are increasingly recognized for promoting real-world sports participation and inclusion, offering valuable brand engagement and sponsorship opportunities. By bridging the gap between virtual and physical sports, gaming fosters motivation, social interaction, and brand visibility, challenging outdated perceptions and opening new avenues for commercial success.
• How Karol G and Fortnite Pulled Off Her Colorful In-Game Concert | Variety –? Karol G headlined "Fortnite Festival's" fifth season with an interactive, in-game concert that blended her music and life story into a unique, fantastical experience for players. The collaboration showcases "Fortnite" as a creative platform for artists to connect with new audiences, enhancing both the game’s diverse ecosystem and the reach of Latin music globally.
• Riot Games announces major internal reshuffling? | Esports Insider – Riot Games has restructured its internal team, with President of Esports John Needham now serving as President of Publishing and Esports. He will oversee a combined team from publishing, esports, platform technology, and music.?
• Newzoo: Global games market expected to grow to $187bn in 2024 | GamesIndustry.biz – Newzoo forecasts the global games market will grow to $187.7 billion in 2024, a 2.1% increase year-on-year, but slightly below the initial estimate of $189.3 billion. The PC segment is expected to drive growth, while mobile and console markets show more moderate changes.
• Global Esports Federation launches Global Social Impact Initiative | Esports Insider – The GSII will focus on several key areas, including digital transformation, education, environmental sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and wellbeing, universal connectivity and youth employment.
• Mortal Kombat Mobile Game to Shut Down a Year After Launch as Developer Nether Realm Suffers Layoffs? | IGN – Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm suffered significant layoffs and has signaled the closure of one of its high-profile mobile games. As spotted by users on ResetEra, NetherRealm developers took to LinkedIn to announce they had been laid off as part of what looks like the gutting of the company’s mobile team.

?? CLIENTS IN THE NEWS???

• (The Ultimate 2??-4??-1?? PR Win!) Esports World Cup Foundation and NIP Group provided invaluable industry knowledge on CGTN’s (China Global Television Network) hit show “The Agenda” for a special esports-focused episode
• EWC CEO Ralf Reichert spoke with CNBC’s Squawk Box and CNBC’s Beyond the Valley on the first-ever Esports World Cup?
• G FUEL’s Energy + Protein Formula received an A- across the board in USA Today’s FTW’s Weekly Mix Review
• Special shout out to STURDY. for being recognized as one of the top-growing companies on the Inc. 5000 for 2024?
• Esports World Cup reaches significant viewership and attendance with 175M+ hours watched and 60K tickets sold at the halfway mark - VentureBeat
• Highly anticipated TCG Altered was demoed and provided a sneak peek to BoardGameGeek before its release on September 13
• NIP Group announces its IPO - Bloomberg?
• Riot Games announces VALORANT’s first mixed-gender LAN and GC final - Dot Esports
• To celebrate the beginning of the New Global Sports Conference Europa Press covers the fact that? the video games Industry Elite are coming together for this event - Europa Press
• NIP Group partners with BTG Homeinns to enter the hospitality industry - Esports Insider
• G FUEL sets sail with One Piece limited-edition collectors box - Retail Wire?
• Qiddiya Gaming & Esports District Chairman Mike Milanov and our very own The Story Mob CEO Anna Rozwandowicz shared their perspective on stage at the 2024 New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh

??MUST KNOW INDUSTRY EVENTS ??

Looking to connect and engage with like-minded industry folks? Here are a few upcoming events we suggest keeping in mind:??

• PAX West - Seattle, Washington (USA) - August 30-September 2, 2024?
• Twitchcon NA - San Diego, California (USA) - September 20-24, 2024
• DICE Europe Summit - Lake Como, Italy (EU) - September 30-October 2, 2024
• Dreamhack Atlanta - Atlanta, Georgia (USA) - October 4-6, 2024
• TechCrunch Disrupt - San Francisco, CA (USA) - October 28-29, 2024
• GamesBeatNEXT - San Francisco. CA (USA) - October 28-29, 2024

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More about The Story Mob ??? ???

We’re a strategic communications consultancy focused on gaming culture. With offices in London, New York, and Los Angeles, we blend passion and PR mastery by pairing genuine fans - whether straight-up gaming, esports, or live events - with high-level communications specialists. This means we approach each project with the emotional understanding of the community and the skills of an elite comms agency. We believe gaming culture is a part of everyday life, in front of and away from the screen. Our expertise is layered across multiple audiences united by this transcendency - from gaming and streaming to VR, IRL events, and much more. Our partners and clients represent the richness of these communities, whether they are publishers, esports teams, media networks, or global conglomerates.

Let’s stay in touch: [email protected]?