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Documents about Liquid
The Esports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Class of 2023
The Esports Awards announced the 2023 inductees for the Lifetime Achievement in Esports award, a recognition program dedicated to honoring professionals who have made significant, long-term contributions to the growth and development of the competitive gaming industry.
- The Esports Awards announced its 2023 Lifetime Achievement inductees: Michael “Odee” O’Dell, Ian “Crimsix” Porter, Chris Puckett, Victor “Nazgul” Goossens, Shane “rapha” Hendrixson, Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen, Lee “Flash” Young Ho, and Marc Merrill.
- Lexus has renewed its partnership with the Esports Awards for 2023, marking its fifth consecutive year as a presenting partner.
- As part of its sponsorship, Lexus will sponsor the “Streamer of the Year” and “Esports Organization of the Year” award categories.
Team Liquid Signs Nihachu as a Brand Ambassador
Team Liquid has officially signed German-language content creator Nihachu as a brand ambassador, marking a strategic expansion of the organization’s influencer roster.
- Team Liquid has signed German-language content creator Nihachu as a brand ambassador to headline its partnership with PC manufacturer Alienware.
- Nihachu brings a combined social media and streaming audience of nearly 11 million followers across platforms including Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter.
- As part of the deal, Nihachu will host the Team Liquid YouTube series 'Two People Talking,' succeeding Jeremy 'Disguised Toast' Wang.
ICYMI: Monumental Sports & Entertainment Scored an Investment From the Qatar Investment Authority
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the sovereign wealth fund of the Qatari government, has acquired a minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE).
- The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) acquired a minority stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), a deal previously reported to be valued at $4 billion.
- MSE is the parent company of aXiomatic Gaming, which holds a controlling interest in the esports organization Team Liquid.
- The investment also impacts MSE’s esports operations, which include NBA 2K League teams Wizards District Gaming and Caps Gaming.
Perfect World to Host CS:GO Asian Championship in Shanghai
Chinese game publisher and distributor Perfect World has announced it will host the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Asian Championship (CAC) in Shanghai from November 8–12, 2023.
- Perfect World will host the CS:GO Asian Championship (CAC) in Shanghai from November 8–12, 2023, featuring a total prize pool of $500,000 USD.
- Confirmed participating teams for the event include ENCE, G2 Esports, FaZe Clan, Mouz, and Team Liquid.
- The tournament is being co-organized by Perfect World and PGL, marking a continuation of their partnership on regional esports events.
Grit Talk with Brett Nowak, CEO of Liquid & Grit
The mobile gaming industry is currently undergoing a period of significant structural transformation, characterized by a shift toward remote-first operational models and the necessity for extreme adaptability in the face of market volatility.
- The mobile gaming industry is shifting toward remote-first and asynchronous operational models to access global talent pools and improve long-term retention.
- Industry growth through 2026 will be driven by the next console generation and strategic expansion into emerging regions, specifically the MENA market.
- Artificial intelligence is projected to be a critical tool for reducing development costs, though firms must actively manage associated copyright and public sentiment risks.
Team Liquid and Alienware Officially Open Alienware Training Facility: Brazil
Team Liquid and Alienware have officially launched a major esports training facility in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Team Liquid and Alienware have opened a 33,281-square-foot training facility in São Paulo, Brazil, which is twice the size of the organization's existing locations in the U.S. and Europe.
- The 13-story facility is designed to support over 80 employees and athletes, featuring residential suites, production studios, and dedicated areas for mental and physical fitness.
- The building includes 19 bedroom suites for athletes, a performance laboratory, a gym, a pilates studio, two kitchens, and Team Liquid's first physical retail store.
Newzoo Sunsets Dedicated Esports, Cloud, and Mobile Reports
Newzoo has officially discontinued its dedicated reporting on esports, cloud, and mobile sectors, marking a strategic shift in its data analytics focus.
- Newzoo officially sunsetted its dedicated esports, cloud, and mobile industry reports at the end of 2022.
- The firm terminated its long-standing esports partnership program, which previously involved data-sharing agreements with organizations such as Team Liquid, G2 Esports, Fnatic, and Immortals.
- Newzoo has discontinued its 'Global Esports' revenue model, citing that the partnership program and the specific financial data inputs from teams were no longer necessary for its current business strategy.
Staff Cuts Hit IGC’s Immortals
In February 2023, the esports organization Immortals implemented a round of staff layoffs.
- Immortals, a subsidiary of Immortals Gaming Club (IGC), conducted a round of staff layoffs on February 15, 2023.
- Company executives have declined to disclose the specific number of employees affected by the staff reductions.
- Immortals Gaming Club’s broader portfolio includes the Los Angeles Valiant (Overwatch League), the Brazilian organization MIBR, and the platform Gamers Club.
Riot Reveals Capsule Collection for VCT LOCK//IN
Riot Games has introduced the VCT LOCK//IN Capsule, a limited-time collection of in-game digital items designed to provide direct financial support to partnered professional teams.
- Riot Games is launching the VCT LOCK//IN Capsule, an in-game item collection that provides 50% of its revenue directly to officially partnered teams.
- The in-game collection, which includes melee items, regional player cards, and a spray, will be available for purchase from February 8 to March 7, 2023.
- The VCT LOCK//IN tournament begins on February 13 in São Paulo, Brazil, featuring 32 teams competing for a $500,000 USD prize pool.
OpTic Gaming Cuts Staff
In January 2023, the Frisco, Texas-based esports organization OpTic Gaming initiated a round of staff layoffs.
- Frisco, Texas-based esports organization OpTic Gaming laid off at least three employees on January 26, 2023.
- Confirmed departures include OpTic Brand Manager Lindsay Caudill and a team operations staffer, Ian Huston, along with one additional employee in a creative role.
- OpTic Gaming did not provide a comment or confirm the total number of staff affected by the layoffs.
A Fresh Round of Layoffs Hit Team Liquid
Team Liquid initiated a new round of staff reductions in January 2023, marking the second such event for the organization following a smaller round of cuts in September 2022.
- Team Liquid initiated a round of layoffs on January 20, 2023, marking the company's second reduction in force following a smaller round in September 2022.
- While the exact scale and scope of the layoffs remain undisclosed, at least three employees were confirmed to have been let go.
- The organization maintains a global headcount estimated between 51 and 100 employees and currently has 13 active job listings across Brazil, the Netherlands, Los Angeles, and Berlin.
Team Liquid Issues Statement on Competing in Middle East Events
Team Liquid has formally addressed its participation in esports tournaments held in the Middle East, specifically those organized by ESL FACEIT Group and BLAST.
- Team Liquid will continue participating in ESL and BLAST events in the Middle East, citing that a boycott could force the organization to exit certain esports titles entirely.
- The organization is donating 50% of its prize money share from recent Saudi Arabian events and the upcoming BLAST World Finals to Rainbow Railroad, totaling $22,500 for the initial donation.
- Team Liquid is actively negotiating with ESL and Louvre teams to secure safety guarantees for all staff and players, regardless of gender or identity, while also pushing for the protection of player data.