DreamHack
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Documents about DreamHack
High Scores in Hypocrisy: The Real Game Esports Plays With Saudi Money
The esports industry faces a significant ethical crisis regarding its financial reliance on Saudi Arabian investment, which stands in direct opposition to the values of inclusivity and human rights often championed by gaming organizations.
- The esports industry is facing criticism for accepting significant financial investment from Saudi Arabia while simultaneously promoting values of inclusivity and equality that contradict the nation's human rights record.
- The report highlights the case of Manahel al-Otaibi, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison by a Saudi tribunal for social media posts regarding women's rights, occurring in proximity to major Saudi-backed esports projects.
- Critics argue that the influx of Saudi capital is being used as a form of 'sportswashing' to improve the country's global image, effectively using the gaming community as digital camouflage for human rights abuses.
Porsche Named Exclusive Automotive Partner of OWCS Major
ESL FACEIT Group has designated Porsche as the exclusive automotive partner for the Overwatch Championship Series (OWCS) Major, scheduled to take place at DreamHack Dallas from May 31 to June 2, 2024.
- Porsche has been named the exclusive automotive partner for the Overwatch Championship Series (OWCS) Major, marking the brand's first major partnership with an esports tournament operator.
- The OWCS Major is scheduled to take place at DreamHack Dallas from May 31 to June 2, 2024, at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center.
- Porsche will host on-site activations featuring its new all-electric Macan and provide custom content for attendees, including assets inspired by new D.Va Legendary skins.
Team Vitality Enters the Realm of Competitive Street Fighter
Paris-based esports organization Team Vitality has officially entered the competitive Street Fighter 6 scene by signing two professional players, Sayff and Valmaster.
- Paris-based esports organization Team Vitality has officially entered the Street Fighter 6 competitive scene by signing professional players Sayff and Valmaster.
- The new roster will make their debut representing Team Vitality at DreamHack Dallas, scheduled for May 31 – June 2, 2024.
- The expansion is partially funded by Team Vitality's participation in the Esports World Cup Club Support Program, which incentivizes organizations to secure rosters for games featured in the upcoming Esports World Cup.
Kick Partners With ESL FACEIT Group for DreamHack
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has entered into a strategic partnership with the live streaming platform Kick to facilitate in-person activations for the DreamHack creator community throughout 2024.
- The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has partnered with the live streaming platform Kick to host in-person activations for the DreamHack creator community throughout 2024.
- Kick will feature its content creators in panel sessions, meet-and-greets, and booth activations at DreamHack events in Melbourne, Dallas, Atlanta, and Stockholm.
- The partnership schedule includes events in Melbourne (April 26–28), Dallas (May 31–June 2), Atlanta (Oct. 4–6), and Stockholm (Nov. 22–24).
ESL FACEIT Group Signs Five-Year Partnership With Qiddiya City
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has entered into a five-year strategic partnership with Qiddiya City, a major entertainment and tourism development project in Saudi Arabia.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and Qiddiya City have entered into a five-year strategic partnership to support the development of a 500,000-square-meter entertainment and esports hub in Saudi Arabia.
- Both EFG and the Qiddiya City project are backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), though the specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
- The partnership will officially launch during the Counter-Strike 2 tournament, IEM Chengdu, taking place from April 12–14, 2024.
G2 Esports Appoints Henning Christiansson as Commercial Director
G2 Esports has appointed Henning Christiansson as its new commercial director, marking a strategic move to bolster the organization’s leadership team.
- G2 Esports has appointed Henning Christiansson as its new commercial director to lead efforts in diversifying revenue and driving commercial growth.
- Christiansson brings extensive industry experience, having previously served as a marketing manager at Logitech G for nearly six years and as a global project manager at DreamHack for two-and-a-half years.
- The company has promoted Julius Ylänne to the role of director of esports as part of a broader initiative to expand its leadership team.
TEKKEN 8 Joins the Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially confirmed that Namco Bandai’s fighting game, Tekken 8, will be featured as a key title at the 2024 Esports World Cup.
- Bandai Namco’s TEKKEN 8 has been confirmed as an official title for the 2024 Esports World Cup, which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this July.
- The Esports World Cup is a multi-week, multi-title festival funded by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
- Tournament operations for the event are being managed by the ESL FACEIT Group, a subsidiary of the Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group.
EA Sports FC 24 Joins the Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup Foundation has officially confirmed that EA Sports FC 24 will be a featured title at the upcoming Esports World Cup, scheduled for July in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- EA Sports FC 24 has been confirmed as a featured title for the 2024 Esports World Cup, which will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this July.
- The Esports World Cup is a multi-title competition funded by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and facilitated by the ESL FACEIT Group.
- While financial terms for the inclusion of EA Sports FC 24 were not disclosed, the title follows the precedent set by the 2023 Gamers8 event, which featured the FIFAe Nations Cup with a $1 million USD prize pool.
Takeaways From Recent ESL FACEIT Group Town Hall
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) recently held a company-wide town hall to address a significant organizational restructuring following a global workforce reduction of approximately 15% to 20%, impacting between 250 and 300 employees.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is cutting approximately 15% of its global workforce, impacting between 250 and 300 employees and leaving a remaining staff of 1,200.
- Co-CEOs Craig Levine and Niccolo Maisto stated the company is currently not profitable but aims to reach profitability by early 2025 through these organizational changes.
- EFG has officially sunsetted the Vindex brand, fully integrating its assets—including Esports Engine—into the broader EFG ecosystem.
Brawl Stars Joins ESL FACEIT Group’s Snapdragon Pro Series
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and mobile game developer Supercell have entered into an expanded partnership, designating the Snapdragon Pro Series Powered by Samsung Galaxy as the official operator of the Brawl Stars Championship for 2024.
- Supercell has partnered with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) to make the Snapdragon Pro Series Powered by Samsung Galaxy the official operator of the Brawl Stars Championship.
- The 2024 Brawl Stars Championship circuit will feature a total prize pool of up to $2 million USD.
- Supercell plans to introduce a crowdfunding component for the November Brawl Stars World Finals, modeled after the Dota 2 prize pool structure.
Esports World Cup to Host StarCraft II Championship
The ESL FACEIT Group has confirmed that the 2024 ESL Pro Tour Championship for StarCraft II will be held as part of the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- The 2024 ESL Pro Tour Championship for StarCraft II will be hosted at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this summer.
- The tournament will feature 18 of the world's top StarCraft II players competing over five days for a prize pool that has yet to be announced.
- Joona “Serral” Sotala and Clément “Clem” Desplanches have secured the first two spots in the event based on their victories at the ESL SC2 Masters Summer and Winter tournaments.
Goodbye OWL, Hello Overwatch Champions Series
Blizzard Entertainment has officially transitioned its competitive Overwatch 2 ecosystem away from the franchised Overwatch League model, replacing it with the newly formed Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS).
- Blizzard Entertainment has replaced the franchised Overwatch League with a new open-circuit competition called the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS).
- The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) will operate the new circuit, managing competitions in North America and the EMEA region, while the South Korean organizer WDG will oversee operations in Asia.
- The OWCS circuit is scheduled to launch in February 2024 and will utilize the FACEIT platform for online qualifiers and tournaments.