Kolex Plans On-Demand Collectible Services for Esports Organizations

Key insights

6 slides

New offering

Kolex will launch new print-to-order and print-on-demand services in Q3 2024.

These services are designed to help esports organizations monetize and commemorate historical team moments. The initiative focuses on creating limited-edition physical and digital trading cards.

Efficiency focus

The on-demand model is designed to minimize waste and prevent excess inventory.

It supports both physical and digital collectible options.

Like a just-in-time manufacturing process, it only creates what is needed when it's needed.

Waste reduction. This on-demand model is designed to provide teams with scalable revenue streams while minimizing waste associated with overproduction and excess inventory.

Company history

Kolex has focused on hybrid collectibles since its inception in 2018.

The company has partnered with various entities across esports and pop culture sectors. Its aim is to bridge the gap between physical keepsakes and digital fan experiences.

Hybrid focus. Kolex has operated in the hybrid collectibles space since 2018, previously partnering with organizations such as the ESL FACEIT Group, Tencent, and DC Comics.

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Summary

Kolex is expanding its service offerings to include print-to-order and print-on-demand capabilities specifically designed for esports organizations. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide teams with scalable revenue streams and enhanced fan engagement tools by allowing them to commemorate significant historical moments and players through limited-edition physical and digital trading cards.

The new service model offers teams significant flexibility, allowing them to control design elements, data inclusion, production volume, and sales channels. Organizations can choose to sell these collectibles directly through the Kolex platform or via their own proprietary storefronts. The system supports both pre-order models, where physical cards are fulfilled after a window closes, and digital-first options that allow collectors to trigger physical printing on demand. This approach is intended to minimize paper waste and prevent the accumulation of excessive duplicate inventory.

Revenue generated from these hybrid collectibles—which link physical cards to a digital ecosystem featuring quests, leaderboards, and fantasy games—will be shared between the participating teams and Kolex. The program is scheduled to launch later in the third quarter of 2024, with SK Gaming serving as the inaugural partner. The first physical cards produced under this new system are slated to be showcased and distributed as promotional items at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. Since its inception in 2018, Kolex has maintained a focus on hybrid collectibles, partnering with various entities across the esports and pop-culture sectors to bridge the gap between physical keepsakes and digital fan experiences.