Riot
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GRID Partners With Abios
Abios, a subsidiary of the Malta-based Kambi Group, has entered into a strategic data partnership with GRID, an in-game data solution provider.
- Abios, a subsidiary of Kambi Group, has entered a data partnership with esports data solutions provider GRID.
- GRID will supply Abios with real-time data from tier-one Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valorant, and Dota 2 tournaments.
- The integration of GRID’s data is intended to enhance Abios’s esports odds feeds and widgets by enabling higher market uptime and increased automation in odds modeling.
Global Esports Partners With Intel India
Global Esports, an Indian esports organization, has entered into a 15-month partnership with Intel India.
- Indian esports organization Global Esports has signed a 15-month partnership agreement with Intel India.
- Intel India will provide its 13th Gen Intel Core processors to power the PCs used by Global Esports' staff and content teams.
- The partnership includes support for the Global Esports Valorant team, though Intel branding will not appear on player jerseys during the last chance qualifier.
LCS Spring Finals: Economic Impact for Wake County
The 2023 League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) Spring Finals, held in Raleigh, North Carolina, served as a significant economic driver for Wake County.
- The 2023 League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) Spring Finals in Raleigh, North Carolina, generated $2.74 million in direct economic impact for Wake County.
- The event directly supported 1,178 jobs within the local economy.
- Primary spending categories included transportation ($655K), recreational activities ($548K), retail purchases ($532K), food and beverage ($501K), and lodging ($464K).
GGTech Entertainment Secures $12.4M USD Investment
GGTech Entertainment, a Spain-based organizer of multilingual esports events and tournaments, has secured $12.4 million USD in new funding.
- GGTech Entertainment, a Spain-based esports organizer, has secured $12.4 million USD in funding from growth equity firm Glisco Partners and investment firm Heart Beat.
- The primary strategic goal for the new capital is to facilitate GGTech’s expansion into the United States market.
- GGTech plans to leverage its existing content production studios in Mexico and Spain to service the growing U.S. esports sector.
Mastercard Extends Riot Games Relationship to Valorant Champions Tour
Mastercard has officially expanded its long-standing partnership with Riot Games to include the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT).
- Mastercard has expanded its global partnership with Riot Games to include the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT).
- The sponsorship will debut at the Valorant Champions 2023 tournament in Los Angeles this August.
- Mastercard’s activation strategy for VCT will mirror its existing model for League of Legends, featuring brand integration and broadcast presence.
LVMH Partners With Epic Games to Create Digital Experiences
LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has entered into a strategic partnership with Epic Games to integrate advanced 3D technology into its luxury brand experiences.
- LVMH has entered a strategic partnership with Epic Games to utilize 3D creation tools, including Unreal Engine 5, Reality Capture, Twinmotion, and MetaHuman technology, for digital customer experiences.
- The collaboration aims to develop virtual fitting rooms, 360-degree product carousels, augmented reality, and digital twins for LVMH brands.
- Louis Vuitton debuted a 'Digital Show Experience' at the 2023 Viva Technology show in Paris, featuring an interactive recreation of its 2023 Fall-Winter Men’s fashion show.
Riot Games Sought Third-Party Proposals to Handle Collegiate and Scholastic Esports in North America
Riot Games initiated a request for proposals (RFP) process in early 2023 to identify a third-party partner to manage its collegiate and scholastic esports operations in North America.
- Riot Games issued a request for proposals (RFP) earlier in 2023 seeking a third-party partner to manage collegiate and scholastic esports for League of Legends and Valorant in North America.
- The proposed contract spans a three-year term and grants the winning bidder the rights to media, sponsorships, and partnerships.
- GGTech is considered the likely winner of the contract, given its existing partnership with Riot Games for collegiate tournaments in Europe and the UK.
Seasoned Riot Games Veteran Joins Mobile Global Esports
Mobile Global Esports (NASDAQ: MGAM) has appointed Devin Murphy as its new director of strategic development.
- Mobile Global Esports (NASDAQ: MGAM) has appointed Devin Murphy as its new director of strategic development to help establish best practices in the Indian university esports sector.
- Devin Murphy brings over eight years of experience from Riot Games, where he served in various roles including senior esports event coordinator for the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS).
- The hiring of Murphy occurs while Mobile Global Esports faces significant corporate instability, including a potential Nasdaq delisting following a deficiency warning issued in April 2023.
Play for Power: The LCS Lockout Battle Begins
The League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) faced a significant labor dispute in June 2023, triggered by a walkout organized by the LCS Players Association (LCSPA).
- LCS players voted to stage a walkout at the start of the Summer Split to protest Riot Games' decision to remove the requirement for franchised teams to field North American Challenger League (NACL) rosters.
- The policy change eliminated a mandate that previously required teams to use a portion of their $2M–$3M annual stipend to operate secondary teams, resulting in only three of the ten franchised organizations committing to maintain an NACL presence.
- The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) is currently not a formal union, though Executive Director Phil Aram indicated that the walkout serves as a foundational step toward potential future unionization.
LCS Players Vote to Walkout
The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) announced an overwhelming vote by professional League of Legends players to initiate a walkout in May 2023.
- The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) has voted to approve a walkout in protest of Riot Games' decision to remove the requirement for LCS teams to maintain a North America Challengers League (NACL) roster.
- The LCSPA described the vote as 'overwhelming' in favor of the walkout, though the specific vote tally was not publicly disclosed.
- The walkout threatens the start of the LCS competition, which was scheduled to begin on the Thursday following the May 29, 2023, announcement.
Court Greenlights Riot Games’ $100M Settlement
California courts have granted final approval for a $100 million settlement between Riot Games and the California Department of Civil Rights, effectively resolving a gender discrimination class action lawsuit that originated in 2018.
- California courts have granted final approval for a $100 million settlement to resolve a 2018 class-action gender discrimination lawsuit against Riot Games.
- The settlement includes $80 million in direct payments to approximately 1,600 current and former employees and contractors, with the remaining $20 million allocated to legal fees and related expenses.
- Riot Games is required to spend an additional $18 million over the next three years to fund diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Delane Parnell Steps Down as PlayVS CEO
Delane Parnell, the founder and CEO of the U.S.-based scholastic esports company PlayVS, has stepped down from his leadership position.
- Delane Parnell has stepped down as CEO of scholastic esports company PlayVS, with VP of Finance Joe Gibson appointed as interim CEO.
- Parnell will remain on the PlayVS board of directors and serve as a senior advisor during and after the search for his permanent successor.
- Negotiations for Parnell’s exit began in December 2022, reportedly driven by his desire to pursue a new project.
