skyesports-championship-2024:-aurora-gaming-and-3dmax-become-first-teams-to-advance-to-the-playoffs

Skyesports Championship 2024: Aurora Gaming and 3DMAX Become First Teams to Advance to the Playoffs

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The Skyesports Championship 2024, a $300,000 international Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament, is taking place at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai from July 24 to 28. As the Group Stage nears its conclusion, two teams have advanced to the prestigious Playoffs, where they will battle for glory and a shot at the lion’s share of the prize pool.

Serbia’s Aurora Gaming and France’s 3DMAX Vie for Glory: First Teams to Reach the Playoffs

Aurora Gaming and 3DMAX have earned this accolade with flawless records so far in the Group Stage.

The 11 participating teams, which include prominent esports organizations from Mongolia, France, Turkey, India, and Russia, have been split into two groups: A and B.

In Group A, Aurora has secured their spot in the Playoffs after convincing victories against Parivsion, ENCE, and True Rippers, standing first in their group with a 3-0 record. With their advancement to the next stage, Aurora is eyeing a consecutive third trophy in Skyesports’ IPs, having previously won the $350,000 Skyesports Masters 2024 and the Skyesports Grand Slam 2024 in Pune, India.

All eyes are still on Group A as teams like The Mongolz and ENCE have to battle it out on Day 3 to make it to the Playoffs.

In Group B, 3DMAX has triumphed over Amkal, DMS, and Revenant Esports, securing a 3-0 record at the top of the group.

The action continues in the Skyesports Championship on Day 3, as the final day of the Group Stage will decide who will join 3DMAX and Aurora Gaming in the Playoffs. Fans can catch all the action live on the Skyesports YouTube and Twitch channels.

Unlike the Group Stage, the Playoffs will take place on the main stage at the prestigious 5-star hotel, the Taj Lands End in Mumbai, India.

Group A Standings

Group B Standings

The post Skyesports Championship 2024: Aurora Gaming and 3DMAX Become First Teams to Advance to the Playoffs appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

iesf-kicks-off-bidding-process-for-2025-and-2026-events

IESF Kicks off Bidding Process for 2025 and 2026 Events

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

The International Esports Federation (IESF) has officially launched the bidding process for the next two editions of the World Esports Championship and Regional Qualifiers. Cities interested in hosting IESF’s flagship event can learn more about the bidding process on the IESF Events Bidding Process page.

WEC, a long-standing tradition of competitions watched across the world, creates a direct opportunity for the host to link its city brand to the IESF Realm, multiple game titles, and some of the world’s best athletes.

IESF remains open to discussions with any cities, regions, or countries worldwide that are interested in hosting the World Esports Championship or Regional Qualifiers. We welcome inquiries from all potential hosts to explore the opportunities and benefits of bringing these premier esports events to their locations.

IESF General Secretary Boban Totovski said: “After Bali, Iasi, and Riyadh this year, we are all looking forward to our next host for the 17th World Esports Championship. We already have many cities waiting for the process to start bidding and we are all very excited to start the negotiations and discover where will the IESF flag go on the 19th of November in Riyadh, on the closing ceremony”

IESF assesses potential hosts based on several criteria, including how well they align with regional and national development plans, as well as the long-term strategic goals of the IESF vision and mission. The host city is expected to meet all requirements set by IESF. The final selection of the host city is made by a vote from the IESF Board.

The 2023 World Esports Championship in Iași, Romania, was a unique experience, attracting over 100,000 attendees and amassing an impressive 35 million viewers across all platforms. This year, the championship moves to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, promising to be the biggest event yet with a record 130 nations and over 600 players competing, solidifying Riyadh as this year’s Esports capital.

Which city will rise to become the next epicenter of esports excitement?

 

The post IESF Kicks off Bidding Process for 2025 and 2026 Events appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

giantx-acquires-league-of-legends-ai-coaching-start-up,-itero-gaming

GIANTX acquires League of Legends AI coaching start-up, iTero Gaming

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

  • Global gaming and esports brand GIANTX has acquired UK AI Esports Coaching start-up, iTero Gaming in a multi-million deal.
  • The new acquisition will offer AI coaching for GIANTX fans and competitive gamers globally across the leading title League of Legends, targeting players looking to improve and elevate their gameplay.
  • iTero Gaming Founder, Jack Joseph Williams, has also become the esports organisation’s new Head of Gaming Technology.
  • This acquisition paves the way for future innovations in AI-driven performance enhancement and strategic development in the global gaming and esports industry

Today, global gaming and esports brand GIANTX (GX) is proud to announce the acquisition of iTero Gaming, a UK start-up specialising in AI coaching solutions for competitive gamers. The acquisition represents a significant milestone for the gaming and technology industry, highlighting the growing integration of AI in esports.

With a focus on the title League of Legends, the multi-million deal represents the company’s ongoing commitment to the global esports community through delivering precise, individualised coaching for gamers looking to enhance their competitive performance. Integrating iTero’s innovative AI technology will also enable GIANTX to provide tailored training and strategic insights to its global fanbase. Founder of iTero Gaming, Jack Joseph Williams, has also become the esports organisation’s new Head of Gaming Technology following the acquisition.

The iTero Gaming League of Legends coaching app has amassed nearly a quarter million installs in less than two years, harnessing AI to pinpoint player weaknesses and optimise pre-game setup. Analysing millions of games every patch, their state-of-the-art AI assesses which champions from your pool would excel in team drafts, and suggests enemy bans, optimal runes, and item builds. During matches, it also offers real-time tools such as objective timers to support players striving for a competitive edge in destroying the enemy nexus.

With a shared vision to educate and elevate competitive players globally, the acquisition will harness both companies’ strengths to create an advanced training ecosystem that supports player development at every level. With ambitions to become the leading tool on the market for those looking to improve their gameplay in League of Legends, they are set to revolutionise the competitive gaming landscape, offering resources that cater to the needs of both professional and aspiring competitive gamers.

Proving popular among esports enthusiasts already, the app also aligns perfectly with the interests of esports fans following top-tier teams like GIANTX, looking to improve their gameplay strategies significantly. With access to over 500 account statistics for review, the potential for refining gameplay is endless.

The acquisition represents a significant milestone for the gaming and technology industry, highlighting the growing integration of AI in esports. iTero Gaming’s AI coaching offers a glimpse into the transformative potential of AI across the broader tech landscape, demonstrating how traditional coaching on classic esports titles such as League of Legends can be transformed. This acquisition not only sets a new benchmark for competitive training but also paves the way for future innovations in AI-driven performance enhancement and strategic development in gaming and esports.

Founder of iTero Gaming, Jack J, is a former financial analyst at HSBC who channelled his passion for AI into developing predictive models for esports competition outcomes in his spare time. This endeavour evolved into iTero Gaming, where he began offering decision-making tools for League of Legends players. iTero Gaming launched its app in September 2022, quickly amassing over 10,000 installs, along with glowing 5-star reviews and strong user retention rates. This success validated iTero Gaming’s product-market fit and potential to disrupt the gaming industry with the innovative use of AI.

GIANTX (GX) was formed from the amalgamation of London-based Excel Esports and Malaga-based Giants Esports last year. This strategic merger has consolidated the esports organisation’s position as a dominant force in global esports, with headquarters in London and Malaga, alongside a state-of-the-art performance centre in Berlin. This union has since supported GIANTX’s goals for global expansion, solidifying its status as a leading team across multiple competitive titles, supported by an unparalleled fan base.

Tim Reichert, Co-CEO of GIANTX, said: “We are thrilled to announce our acquisition of iTero Gaming to help elevate player performance to new heights! This marks a pivotal moment in GIANTX’s ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in esports, empowering players worldwide to achieve their competitive best. We are excited to harness this new technology to optimise our team’s training during practice to unlock the full potential of our pro players and the global gaming community.”

Jose Diaz, Co-CEO of GIANTX, said: “We are excited to welcome AI pioneer Jack J to the GIANTX team. This acquisition represents a significant milestone in advancing AI in the gaming industry. The potential to enhance gameplay and provide tailored insights is enormous, and I can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have on the gaming community”

Jack J, Founder of iTero Gaming emphasises: “I’m excited to be joining the GIANTX team. EXCEL ESPORTS was the first esports team I became a fan of and I’ve followed their journey over the last few years. I believe and have always believed that data and AI have the potential to seriously disrupt the status quo of esports, whether that’s finding undervalued players or identifying strategies outside of the standard meta. I think esports is ready for the future and I’m really looking forward to what comes next working alongside GIANTX.”

 

The post GIANTX acquires League of Legends AI coaching start-up, iTero Gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

esport-sponsorship-update:-acer-predator-enters-content-partnership-with-big

Esport Sponsorship Update: Acer Predator enters content partnership with BIG

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Berlin International Gaming (BIG), Germany’s premier esports organization, is thrilled to announce a new strategic content partnership with Acer Predator, a leading global brand in gaming hardware. Right before their upcoming event at BLAST Premier Fall Group-Stage in Copenhagen and IEM Cologne, this partnership marks a significant milestone for BIG as Acer Predator becomes their official supplier of gaming PCs, gaming laptops, and gaming displays for the organization. Predator offers a large portfolio of top notch gaming hardware that allows our talents to realize their full potential.
With this partnership, Acer Predator will provide state-of-the-art gaming hardware for BIG’s esport facility in Berlin. The partnership covers BIG’s male teams in CS2, Fortnite, League of Legends, Tekken, StarCraft and Trackmania, and also includes the organization’s prestigious CS2 female team BIG EQUIPA.
As part of the partnership, both Acer Predator and BIG will work on an innovative content strategy in order to connect deeply with the German gaming community. Both partners are also planning several offline activations at upcoming major events, including IEM Cologne 2024, which will take place from August 16-18 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne.
Statements

Daniel Finkler, CEO of BIG: “We are thrilled and proud to welcome Acer Predator as an official partner to the BIG family. With their tremendous expertise and cutting edge gaming technology, we can keep BIG’s HQ in Berlin well equipped with high-end gaming hardware for our athletes. A special thanks goes also to SPORTFIVE for facilitating this partnership. Welcome to the BIG family, Predator.”

Sung-Hun Choi, Director Marketing Acer DACH: “We are excited to partner with BIG, one of the leading esports organizations in Germany. This collaboration underscores our commitment to connecting with the gaming community by supporting top-tier esports talent with next-gen gaming hardware, delivering the best gaming experience possible.”
About Berlin International Gaming (BIG)
Berlin International Gaming (BIG) is a premier esports organization headquartered in Germany. With professional teams and players competing in six top games, including major esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends, BIG has firmly established itself as one of the most powerful esports organizations globally. Securing multiple major competition victories and winning over USD 3,000,000 in prize money since its foundation in 2017, BIG is renowned for its competitive achievements as the most successful club from Germany. Continuously captivating audiences globally with its exceptional talent and dedication to esports, BIG stands at the forefront of the industry.

The post Esport Sponsorship Update: Acer Predator enters content partnership with BIG appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

nodwin(r)-gaming-ropes-in-android-as-title-partner-for-bgms-season-3;-to-be-powered-by-garnier-men

NODWIN(R) Gaming ropes in Android as title partner for BGMS Season 3; to be powered by Garnier Men

Reading Time: 4 minutes

NODWIN® Gaming, South Asia’s leading gaming and esports company has officially announced Android as the Title Partner for India’s premier esports event Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGMS) Season 3. Additionally, the tournament will be Powered By leading men’s skincare brand, Garnier Men, marking the first time that Android and Garnier Men have partnered with an Indian esports tournament.

The high-voltage action of Android BGMS Season 3 is being broadcast on Star Sports for the third consecutive year as the nation’s best BGMI squads battle it out for glory. The entire tournament will be played on high-performance Android devices.

Moreover, Crunchyroll, the world’s largest destination for anime and manga, has also joined forces with Android BGMS Season 3 as the anime partner while energy drink brand Red Bull has been onboarded as the Official Energy Drink Partner of Android BGMS Season 3. By leveraging the prominence of the tournament, partners will aim to engage with its widespread audience, while also elevating the overall experience for players and fans alike.

Anshuman Wanchu General Manager, Marketing, Garnier, L’Oréal India said, “We are delighted to partner with the BGMI Masters Series 2024. It is an incredible opportunity for us as this collaboration allows us to connect with the dynamic and passionate gaming and youth community in a meaningful manner. As a brand committed to innovation and excellence, we look forward to some incredible showcases in season 3 of BGMS. With this partnership, we aim to empower gamers to elevate not only their game, but also their skin care routine, and inspire them to achieve their best, both in the arena as well as in their daily lives.”

The tournament has also continued its association with TVS Raider, the sporty commuter motorcycle from TVS Motor Company as the Official Mobility Partner and Philips OneBlade, the male grooming product of Philips India as the competition’s Official Styling Partner.

Commenting on the partnership, Aniruddha Haldar – Senior Vice President (Marketing) – Commuters, Media and Corporate Brand commented, “We at TVS Motor company had Collaborated previously with Nodwin Gaming to help us develop a close connect with the Gaming audience – we are pleased to share that this collaboration has helped us to gain brand love, better connect to the gaming audience during and post the previous season. We are back again to announce yet another collaboration with Nodwin Gaming for the BGMI Master Series 3, this is in view to further strengthen our connect and engagement with the gaming audience.”

“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Android, Garnier Men and Redbull for the highly anticipated third season of BGMS. Having such notable partners whose vision for the growth and development of competitive gaming in India mirrors our own, is a tremendous asset. Their involvement not just highlights the emergence of esports as a mainstream sport but also the massive potential of youth engagement in this field. Together, we are confident in our ability to provide the necessary resources and visibility required to nurture and promote esports talent nationwide,” stated Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN® Gaming.
The opening weekend of Android BGMS Season 3 was a resounding success, recording peak concurrent viewership exceeding 140,000 on digital platforms. The tournament commenced with a three-day Opener Week, where all 24 teams—20 invited and 4 qualified— were in action at the Android Arena in Chhatarpur, New Delhi.
The top 18 teams led by table toppers Team 8Bit, and consistent performers OneBlade, IQOO Soul and Team X Spark progressed to the League Week. They were joined by Team Z and Godlike Esports who were selected through audience voting from the bottom six. Meanwhile, Team Limra, Gujarat Tigers, Viking Esports and FS Esports were eliminated from the competition.

During the League Week from July 22 to August 4, the 20 teams will compete in the Survival Week and Domination League stages. The top 4 teams will secure direct qualification for the Finals, while the remaining 16 teams will participate in the playoffs scheduled for August 6 and 7. In the grand finale from August 9 to August 11, the top 12 teams from the Playoffs, along with the 4 best teams from the League Week, will compete to fight for the BGMS Season 3 title.

Adding a touch of innovation, this season also includes three exciting formats –

1) Powerplay (Active throughout the tournament) – Squads will earn double points for each finish they achieve in the first circle of every match.

2) Bounty (Active during the League Weeks – Survival week and Domination week) – The top 4 squads from the overall standings of League Week one, followed by the top four in each subsequent match will carry a bounty. Teams can earn bonus points only by eliminating an entire squad with bounty on them, with 10 points per squad.

3) Impact Player (Active during the weekend matches of the League Stage: July 27-28 and August 3-4) – The in-game leader (IGL) of each squad will conduct a random draw to designate an Impact Player who will earn double points for each finish they achieve. Teams will earn four points for every finish by the Impact Player during Powerplay.

“Going beyond traditional tournament formats, our new concepts are designed not only to heighten the intensity of the tournament for players and viewers but also to set a new standard for esports in India. These innovations aim to push the boundaries of competitive gameplay, and I am incredibly excited to see this new format unfold. Similar to traditional sports tournaments, Android BGMS Season 3 will produce memorable, nail-biting moments and games decided by the smallest of margins. We will witness players rise to the occasion, carrying their teams to victory,” added Akshat Rathee.

The teams who will be advancing to the League Week of Android BGMS Season 3 are as follows: Team 8Bit, OneBlade, IQOO Soul, Team X Spark, REVENANT, Entity, Gods Reign, Team Forever, Reckoning Esports, Carnival Gaming, Raven Esports, WSB GAMING, VASISTA ESPORTS, TEAM ORANGUTAN, Global Esports, MOGO eSports, Team Tamilas, Carpediem, Team Z and Godlike Esports.

Fans can catch all the action of Android BGMS Season 3 on Star Sports 2 (HD & SD) in English and Star Sports First in Hindi from Monday to Saturday from 7:00 PM. On league week Sundays, Playoffs and Finals, the broadcast will be from 6:30 PM. Fans will also have the option to switch to Tamil & Hindi commentary on SS2 using the blue button.

The post NODWIN(R) Gaming ropes in Android as title partner for BGMS Season 3; to be powered by Garnier Men appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

ampverse-dmi-partners-with-orangutan-in-multi-year-deal;-college-rivals-bgmi-champions-to-join-exclusive-roster

Ampverse DMI Partners with Orangutan in Multi-Year Deal; College Rivals BGMI Champions to Join Exclusive Roster

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

College Rivals find, Sahil Nagpal gets dream pro debut with Rivals Ape X team

India’s largest Collegiate Esports and Gaming IP, College Rivals, owned by Ampverse DMI, has forged a strategic alliance with Orangutan, a leading esports organization in India. College Rivals, remains committed to offering professional gaming prospects to college students and has awarded its inaugural professional gaming contract to Sahil Nagpal, a student from Jalandhar, Punjab.

He demonstrated his prowess during the Season 1 representing the potential and caliber that this College IP aims to tap, cultivate and unearth as part its commitment to foster grassroot esports talents and provide them with a life changing platform and experience.

Joining Orangutan’s Academy BGMI team, Sahil Nagpal’s achievement not only fulfills his dream of becoming a professional player but also serves as inspiration for millions of others. While College Rivals will continue to empower college gamers, paving their path towards professional success in Season 2, the chosen players will also get a shot at playing for Orangutan as part of this strategic multi year partnership.

Ashwin Haryani, Country Head of Ampverse DMI, India revealed the importance of the partnership, “Ampverse DMI and Orangutan are embarking on a holistic partnership. They understood the concept of us building a talent hunt and making sure the top winners are given a platform to perform at a national and international stage. Beyond competition, our alliance also aims to enrich the esports ecosystem with an exclusive BGMI Team, a merchandise line and brand presence on the jersey of the team, every time they step out to play.”

As part of this partnership, Ampverse DMI and Orangutan will jointly co-own Rivals Ape X, a youth team beginning with a BGMI lineup that will include at least one player from every College Rivals season moving forward. Rivals Ape X, featuring some of the nation’s exciting up and coming players will aim to dazzle nationally and internationally in BGMI tournaments.

As part of the selection process, Orangutan had tried out all the 8 BGMI College Rivals Finalists, from Season 1 through a trial and Sahil was chosen on the basis of his in-game skills, game sense and overall team work.

Jai Shah, Co-Founder of Orangutan, expressed his enthusiasm about the initiative, “I am incredibly excited to introduce Rivals Ape X, our Academy Esports Team, in collaboration with Ampverse DMI and College Rivals. This collaboration marks a significant step in our mission to nurture and develop young, hungry talent, providing them with a bigger platform to showcase their skills. Together with Ampverse DMI, we aim to create a pathway for the next generation of esports champions and build a community where passion, skill, and ambition can thrive. Together, we’re setting the stage for the future of competitive gaming.”

College Rivals Season 2 will see 50+ colleges participating across 22 cities in both offline and online competition format. Any college student from Pan India can register and compete as the preliminary competitions have already been rolled out from July 15 along with diverse entertainment experiences tailored for college students including opportunities to become college ambassadors, purchase exclusive College Rivals merchandise and other interesting initiatives in a groundbreaking gaming format never seen before in India.

The competitions will take place for three gaming titles—BGMI, Valorant, and EA FC 24—with the grand finale being played in February, 2025. The winners from monthly qualifiers will compete in a grand finale for the ultimate battle and a prize pool of up to ₹50,00,000 along with the contract.

 

The post Ampverse DMI Partners with Orangutan in Multi-Year Deal; College Rivals BGMI Champions to Join Exclusive Roster appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

inspired-launches-re-play-esports-featuring-cs:go-in-partnership-with-kaizen-gaming

INSPIRED LAUNCHES RE-PLAY ESPORTS™ FEATURING CS:GO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KAIZEN GAMING

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading B2B provider of gaming content, systems, and solutions, is delighted to announce the launch of Re-Play eSports™ featuring Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (“CS:GO”) with premium online sports betting and gaming brand, Betano.

Betano is owned by Kaizen Gaming, one of the biggest GameTech companies in the world, that is active with the Betano brand in multiple markets in Europe, South & North America and Africa and operates the Stoiximan brand in Greece and Cyprus.

Betano is the first brand to launch Re-Play eSports™. The innovative launch marks a major leap into the evolving landscape of sports betting. The game blends traditional Virtual Sports with fixed odds eSports, offering continuous 24/7 eSports events through Inspired’s certified Virtual Sports platforms.

Re-Play eSports™ showcases footage taken exclusively from CS:GO’s global tournament, the Champion of Champions Tour, which includes professional teams from across the globe. The official in-game data and video feeds that power Re-Play eSports™ are provided by GRID, a game data platform that specializes in providing in-game data solutions for the eSports and gaming industry.

CS:GO is a well-known and popular tactical multiplayer first-person shooter video game. In Re-Play eSports™, two teams go head-to-head to battle it out. Bets are offered on a variety of possible outcomes including which team will win, which team will get the first kill and total number of survivors.

“eSports is a rapidly evolving recreational activity with a global audience now exceeding 500 million.      Kaizen Gaming one of the industry’s leading operators, continues to recognize the incremental revenue potential that our products can generate, in both Virtual Sports and eSports betting,” said Ian Freeman, Chief Commercial Officer of Virtual Sports at Inspired. “By integrating Virtual Sports with eSports, we are tapping into an entirely new market, offering a wealth of game-changing opportunities. This not only attracts new players, but also provides our current players with an exhilarating new gaming experience.”

“We are the first operator to launch Re-Play eSports™ with Inspired, a company known for their innovative content production,” said Vangelis Kalloudis, Gaming Senior Product Manager at Kaizen Gaming. “Re-Play eSports complements our existing collection of Virtual Sports and opens up a whole new category of sports betting that allows us to expand our reach beyond the traditional realm of Virtual Sports, ensuring we are constantly enriching our customers experience.”

The post INSPIRED LAUNCHES RE-PLAY ESPORTS™ FEATURING CS:GO IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KAIZEN GAMING appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

from-game-to-competition:-the-unstoppable-rise-of-esports-and-competitive-gaming

From game to competition: The unstoppable rise of esports and competitive gaming

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

In the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment, few industries have witnessed a tremendous rise quite like eSports.

What once started as a niche in the gaming world has now grown into a global sensation, captivating both amateur and professional players with its competitive events, life-changing cash prizes, and viewership figures in the hundreds of millions. Domain and hosting experts Fasthosts has compiled a brief overview of the rise of eSports, and competitive gaming throughout the years, and where the future may take the industry.

The Start of Competitive Gaming

eSports, at its core, revolves around competitive video gaming, and has experienced exponential growth over the past five decades. The earliest known gaming competition stems back to 1972, when Stanford University hosted a contest featuring the science fiction rocket game ‘Spacewar’. The event – orchestrated by sports reporter Stewart Brand – showcased the potential of video games as an “exhilarating spectator sport”, setting the stage for what was to come.

The Slow but Steady Rise

For several decades, the popularity of eSports experienced a gradual rise. In the pre-internet era, arcade tournaments provided the battleground for players, with magazines and record books recognising top players’ achievements. The 1990s marked a turning point as gaming tournaments began to gain traction, offering increasingly substantial prize pools. The technological advancements in video game consoles, and internet and PC gaming paved the way for a prosperous decade for the industry. At the end of the 90s we saw the internet cafe boom where young players would meet and play together in PC cafes, which was the start of the strong youth social gaming culture you see today.

The New Millennium

It was the early 2000s that witnessed the true birth of eSports as leagues and tournaments started to take shape around iconic titles like Counter-Strike, StarCraft, and Warcraft III. In 2001, the first World Cyber Games was held in Seoul. The tournament featured several popular games and attracted over 174,000 participants from 17 countries, making for an unexpected global success. In 2005, the CPL World Tour or Cyberathlete Professional League became the first event to have a prize pool offering over $1 million, demonstrating the start of life changing prizes that go hand in hand with competitive gaming.

Streaming Platforms: The Catalyst for Growth

From 2010 onwards, the world witnessed the revolutionary impact of online streaming platforms like Twitch.tv and Youtube Gaming, leading to skyrocketing eSports viewership figures. When Twitch launched, the ‘League of Legends’ world championship viewership figures went from 1.7 million in 2011 to 8.2 million in 2012, and to 32 million in 2013.

These streaming platforms connected fans worldwide, allowing them to tune into live events from home. The large viewing figures, advertising, and sponsorship opportunities led to investors starting their own teams, and household game developers creating leagues and tournaments. It became standard for eSports events to attract millions of viewers, and the landscape of competitive gaming had been transformed.

The Summit

In 2015, eSports reached a defining moment with The International 2015: Dota 2 Championships. The prize pool offered a staggering $18 million, breaking records and solidifying eSports’ place on the global stage. This marked a monumental shift, proving that tournaments could rival traditional sports events in terms of both prize money and profitability.

The New Decade: eSports Takes Centre Stage

As the calendar turned to the 2020s, eSports entered a new era. The decade began with some of the largest tournaments in history, attracting millions of spectators and providing the largest prize pools seen to date such as The 2021 International Dota 2 Championships which took place in Bucharest Romania, offering a $40,018,400.00 prize pool – the largest prize at the time.

By 2020, it had become increasingly common to see the term “professional eSports player” conceptualising the individuals dedicating their lives to competitive gaming, undergoing strict routines and training in the unique journey of becoming the world’s next best gaming athlete.

The Future

At present, the most-viewed tournaments are impressive spectacles in their own right, with titles like ‘Free Fire World Series’, ‘League of Legends’, and ‘Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’ drawing millions of viewers. Looking to the future, in August 2023, Saudi Arabian tournament organiser Gamers8 ran their ‘The Land of Heroes’ tournament with a colossal prize of $45 million dollars, a figure that has been shattered this year with the life-changing sum of $60 million dollars to be won at the eSports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Reinforcing the growing nature of the industry, according to BeyonGames.biz, the eSports market is estimated to grow at 21.81% between 2022 and 2027, with the size of the market expected to increase by $3,515.1 million.

The journey of competitive gaming from its humble beginnings to its current global standing is a testament to its enduring appeal and cultural impact. With its exhilarating competition and substantial rewards, eSports has become a true force in the entertainment world. As the industry continues to innovate and evolve, one thing remains clear: this isn’t just a passing trend. It’s a phenomenon that has permanently transformed the way we engage with and celebrate competitive gaming.

 

The post From game to competition: The unstoppable rise of esports and competitive gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

skyesports-unveils-open-for-all-the-finals-online-community-cup-with-a-$10,000-prize-pool

Skyesports unveils open-for-all THE FINALS Online Community Cup with a $10,000 prize pool

Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Skyesports, a premier global IP and community builder for gaming and esports, has announced THE FINALS Online Community Cup, a $10,000 open-for-all esports tournament giving a chance to every player from India to go pro.

Registrations for THE FINALS Online Community Cup are currently open. Players from every nook and corner of the country can register for the tournament. For players who don’t have a team, they can scout for one through the official THE FINALS India – Skyesports Discord server.

The tournament will be played on the exciting and fast-paced 5v5 Terminal Attack mode, the same mode that THE FINALS Esports Revolution Showdown was played in where Team Mortal defeated Team Scout in the Finals to become the champion.

Commenting on the tournament, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports, said, “After wrapping up THE FINALS Esports Revolution Showdown LAN event in Chennai, we have been bringing constant showdowns along with cafe events across the country. The community, however, has been demanding an open-for-all esports tournament, where they can showcase their skills. This is where THE FINALS Online Community Cup comes in. This is the first open tournament for THE FINALS in India and we are thrilled to announce a prize pool of $10,000 to support grassroots-level esports.”

All registered teams in THE FINALS Online Community Cup will compete across the Group Stage and the Playoffs to determine the India champions. With several prominent esports organizations already showing interest in THE FINALS, the cup will also serve as a scouting ground for the upcoming talent in this FPS title.

Certain matches from the Group Stage and the entire Playoffs will be live-streamed on THE FINALS India and Skyesports YouTube channel.

 

The post Skyesports unveils open-for-all THE FINALS Online Community Cup with a $10,000 prize pool appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

staffordshire-university-makes-history-in-college-esports

Staffordshire University makes history in college esports

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Students of Staffordshire University have achieved a unique success: becoming the UK’s first winning university team in Europe’s premier esports competition between colleges. Players of ‘Korean Pop Superstars (KPS)’ emerged victorious last weekend in VALORANT (Riot Games’ shooter title) at the Grand Final of UNIVERSITY Esports Masters (UE Masters), where they defeated their rivals from National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine (NUPESU) by a score of 3-2.

It was not an easy road to glory. British representatives had to overcome the continuous returns from the Ukrainian players, who demonstrated a tough competitive spirit throughout the Grand Final. However, it was a great sporting experience in which fair play prevailed between the two teams. In fact, students of KPS waited over an hour for their NUPESU’s counterparts due to a problem with the venue where they were competing.

All the clashes at the Grand Finals of UE Masters (both VALORANT and League of Legends) were played entirely in online format. Live streams of the showdowns on Twitch and X (formerly Twitter) accumulated more than 40,000 views throughout last weekend on two official social channels with over 11,000 followers.

A great victory for the UK

The win of KPS is a meaningful milestone for college esports in the UK. For the first time, a British team has been crowned as Champion of UE Masters, the most important esports tournament in the college ecosystem across Europe. Since the first edition of the competition in 2016, Great Britain has had representatives, but none had been able to lift the Championship title.

This group of five students from Staffordshire University, integrated by Diarmuid McGirr, Josh Green, Zain Lim, Stanley Lebon, and Ignas Kantauta as the main squad, have completed a successful performance in this edition of UE Masters: overcoming qualifiers, beating the best opponents, and positioning the UK at the top of the university esports in the continent.

One of the KPS integrants, Zain Lim, said: “Playing as a team has definitely been fun, competing with friends just created such an atmosphere where it felt like we would beat teams due to just having better vibes than them. I would recommend university esports to others. I felt it made gaming a more social-able hobby, as over 5 years of university, at two different unis, I have met a bunch of people.”

Find out more about VALORANT, the victory’s game

What is VALORANT? What does it consist of? It is one of the most wanted esports-games globally. This shooter title, developed by the giant Riot Games and released in 2020, is a 5v5 character-based tactical FPS where precise gunplay meets unique agent abilities. It also includes a lot of effects and advanced weapons to offer players a better first-person experience.

Millions of people have tested their tactical skills on VALORANT over the past few years. According to the specialized website Tracker Network, over 16 million active users have played VALORANT so far in July worldwide.

Beyond of a video game competition

UE Masters, supported by Riot Games, is the conclusion of the UNIVERSITY Esports season, a global program with a presence in 26 countries on four continents and involving more than 100,000 students from 2,000 universities.

The main objectives of UNIVERSITY Esports are to create a sense of community among players from all over Europe, to give them the opportunity to compete in high quality international tournaments and to provide avenues for young people to develop a career within the esports world, as well as to find a place to learn and enhance their skills.

In the UK and Ireland, UNIVERSITY Esports, a project organized by NUEL (a GGTech Entertainment’s company), has celebrated its 13th Season. The winners of its Winter Split, such as Staffordshire University, have been the national representatives in the outgoing edition of UE Masters.

The post Staffordshire University makes history in college esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.