StarCraft
Documents about StarCraft
ESL FACEIT Group Launches FACEIT Watch
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has launched FACEIT Watch, a dedicated streaming platform designed to enhance the viewing experience for global esports audiences.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has launched a dedicated streaming platform called FACEIT Watch in collaboration with technical partner Znipe Esports.
- The platform features multi-perspective viewing, allowing users to watch specific player perspectives alongside the main broadcast, as well as kill cams, live-generated highlights, and a sound mixer.
- FACEIT Watch currently supports only Counter-Strike 2 and Apex Legends, with no confirmed timeline for expanding features to other EFG-operated titles like Dota 2 or the Overwatch Champions Series.
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.
2024 Professional Gamer Workforce and Career Structure in Korea
The analysis aims to map the composition, demographics, career trajectories, and income streams of South Korea’s professional e-sports workforce, drawing on Statista surveys conducted between June and November 2024.
- South Korea’s professional e-sports workforce consists of 361 domestic players and 372 athletes competing in overseas leagues.
- League of Legends is the dominant title for Korean professionals, accounting for 58 domestic players and 169 athletes competing internationally.
- The professional player base is heavily concentrated in four domestic titles: League of Legends (58), Valorant (56), PUBG (54), and PUBG Mobile (48).
CMA Considers New Proposal From Microsoft to Finalize Activision Blizzard Acquisition
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated a phase one investigation into a revised proposal from Microsoft regarding its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has set an October 18, 2023, deadline to rule on a new proposal from Microsoft regarding its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- To address previous regulatory concerns regarding cloud gaming, Microsoft has proposed divesting the cloud streaming rights for all current and future Activision Blizzard titles to Ubisoft for a 15-year period.
- Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick stated that the divestiture proposal does not alter the core merger agreement, closing deadline, or the cash consideration to be paid per share.
SPORTFIVE Extends Partnership With Saudi Esports Federation
The global sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE has extended its partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), continuing a collaboration that began in 2022.
- Global sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE has extended its partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) to provide ongoing strategic sales support and project management.
- SPORTFIVE will serve as the primary partnership agency for the eight-week 'Gamers8: The Land of Heroes' event, which begins in Riyadh on July 8.
- The Gamers8 event features a total prize pool of $45 million USD across multiple competitive titles.
Industry Veteran Sam Braithwaite Joins ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has appointed industry veteran Sam Braithwaite as its new vice president of game ecosystems for mobile.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has appointed industry veteran Sam Braithwaite as the new vice president of game ecosystems for mobile.
- Braithwaite will lead the strategic direction of the Snapdragon Pro Series, a mobile esports circuit operated in partnership with Qualcomm Technologies and Samsung.
- Prior to joining EFG, Braithwaite served as the global director of esports at Activision Blizzard for nearly four years, managing titles including Hearthstone and World of Warcraft.
Arknights Developer HyperGryph Sponsors China’s Only StarCraft II Tournament World Team League
Shanghai-based game developer HyperGryph, creator of the mobile title Arknights, has entered into a sponsorship agreement with the World Team League (WTL), China’s only remaining StarCraft II tournament.
- HyperGryph, the developer of Arknights, has become the chief sponsor of the World Team League (WTL), China’s only StarCraft II tournament.
- HyperGryph is contributing ￥46,6K ($68K USD) specifically toward the tournament's prize money.
- The total prize pool for the WTL this year is confirmed to exceed ￥2M ($291K USD).
ESL FACEIT Group Renews Partnership With SPORT1
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has extended its media rights partnership with the German broadcaster SPORT1 GmbH and its dedicated esports channel, eSPORTS1, for an additional year.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has renewed its partnership with German broadcaster SPORT1 and its dedicated channel eSPORTS1 for an additional year.
- The agreement covers the broadcast of major ESL-branded tournaments including Intel Extreme Masters, ESL Pro League, ESL One, DreamLeague, and ESL StarCraft II Masters.
- Tournament content will be distributed across SPORT1’s broadcasting and streaming platforms in Germany, featuring commentary in both German and English.
StarCraft II ESL Pro Tour 2023-2024 Season Details
The ESL FACEIT Group has announced the structural and operational details for the 2023-2024 StarCraft II ESL Pro Tour season.
- The ESL FACEIT Group will fully fund the StarCraft II ESL Pro Tour, including all prize money and operational costs, marking a shift in the program's financial structure.
- The 2023-2024 season features two major 'ESL StarCraft II Masters' events, each offering a $200,000 USD prize pool.
- The Masters Finals will be held at two DreamHack events: DreamHack Summer in Jönköping, Sweden (June 16–18, 2023) and DreamHack Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia (December 15–17, 2023).
Overwatch League 2023 Season Won’t be Broadcast in China
The 2023 Overwatch League season will not be broadcast in China, marking a significant shift in the league’s regional accessibility.
- The Overwatch League (OWL) will not be broadcast in China for the 2023 season due to the termination of the partnership between Activision Blizzard and NetEase.
- The broadcast ban stems from the loss of official game approval for Overwatch in China, which prevents the streaming or co-streaming of related competitions.
- Chinese OWL teams—the Guangzhou Charge, Chengdu Hunters, Hangzhou Spark, and Shanghai Dragons—are currently considering relocating their operations to South Korea.
Activision Blizzard Games Going Offline: China
As of January 24, 2023, Activision Blizzard ceased operations for several major titles in China, including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, StarCraft, and Overwatch 2.
- As of January 24, 2023, Activision Blizzard games including World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, Overwatch 2, and StarCraft have gone offline in China due to the expiration of the company's 14-year partnership with NetEase.
- Because NetEase held the official government-mandated game approvals, the termination of the partnership effectively stripped the titles of their legal authorization to operate in the Chinese market.
- Any potential return of these titles to the Chinese market requires new government approval, a process that industry estimates suggest could take between six months and two years.
F2P Game Monetization: Good vs. Evil
The provided content features a panel discussion among industry experts—including representatives from Frost Giant Studios, Gossamer Consulting, and former leadership from Epic Games—focused on the evolving landscape of free-to-play (F2P) game monetization.
- The deprecation of IDFA (Identifier for Advertisers) has significantly hindered the industry's ability to target high-spending 'whale' players.
- Western markets remain highly resistant to 'pay-to-win' monetization models, forcing developers to seek alternative revenue strategies.
- Mobile gaming growth is decelerating, prompting a strategic shift toward cross-platform development to reach broader audiences.