The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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GameSquare Experiences to Produce 100 Thieves Summer Block Party
GameSquare, a publicly traded esports and gaming company, has announced that its subsidiary, GameSquare Experiences (GSX), will design and produce the 2025 100 Thieves Summer Block Party.
- GameSquare Experiences (GSX) has been contracted to design and produce the 2025 100 Thieves Summer Block Party, scheduled for July 26 at the 100 Thieves headquarters in Los Angeles.
- The event will feature interactive brand activations, content creator appearances, and a watch party for the 100 Thieves Call of Duty team’s participation in the 2025 Esports World Cup.
- Lexus is serving as the presenting partner for the event, with additional sponsorship provided by AT&T, Razer, and Oakley.
Nerd Street Partners With Western Governors University
Nerd Street has entered into a strategic partnership with Western Governors University (WGU) to bolster competitive gaming opportunities for youth and amateur players.
- Nerd Street has partnered with Western Governors University (WGU) to support youth and amateur competitive gaming, specifically within the Rainbow Six Siege circuit.
- WGU will serve as the official education partner for Nerd Street, gaining prominent branding in marketing and broadcasts for the Element competitive league.
- The fifth season of Element, a North American 'path to pro' circuit for Tier 2 and Tier 3 Rainbow Six Siege players, kicks off in July 2025 with a total prize pool of $15,000.
GameSquare’s Stream Hatchet Partners With Esports World Cup
GameSquare Holdings has secured a partnership for its subsidiary, Stream Hatchet, to serve as the official data and insights partner for the 2025 Esports World Cup.
- GameSquare subsidiary Stream Hatchet has been named the official data and insights partner for the 2025 Esports World Cup, replacing the 2024 partner, Esports Charts.
- The 2025 Esports World Cup is a seven-week, multi-title tournament taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025.
- The event features a total prize pool exceeding $70 million USD and is funded by the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund.
SONIX Raises $3.73 Million in Crowdfunding Campaign
Switzerland-based gaming audio company SONIX has successfully secured CHF 2.95 million, equivalent to approximately $3.73 million USD, through a recent crowdfunding campaign.
- Switzerland-based gaming audio company SONIX raised $3.73 million (CHF 2.95 million) in a crowdfunding campaign that reached 121% of its target goal.
- The crowdfunding effort, conducted via the OOMNIUM platform, attracted 92 individual investors.
- SONIX has raised a total of approximately $10.9 million in funding to date from various sources.
IESF Sanctions Arslan Ash, ESIC Responds
The International Esports Federation (IESF) recently issued a two-year ban against professional Tekken player Arslan Siddique, known as Arslan Ash, following a positive test for prohibited anabolic androgenic steroids during the 2022 World Esports Championship.
- The International Esports Federation (IESF) has issued a two-year ban to professional Tekken player Arslan Siddique (“Arslan Ash”) for violating anti-doping rules during the 2022 World Esports Championship.
- The sanction follows a positive test for prohibited substances, including Stanozolol and Metandienone metabolites, which are classified as anabolic androgenic steroids under the 2022 WADA Prohibited List.
- The Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) has officially refused to enforce the IESF ruling, stating that its members have no obligation to recognize the decision.
Aramco, stc Group Renew Esports World Cup Partnerships
The Esports World Cup Foundation has secured a three-year partnership renewal and expansion with the state-owned energy company Aramco, alongside a renewed agreement with the telecommunications provider stc Group.
- The Esports World Cup Foundation has signed a three-year partnership renewal and expansion with Aramco, a state-owned Saudi Arabian company.
- The Esports World Cup features a total prize pool exceeding $70 million, funded by a grant from the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund.
- Aramco will serve as a title partner for the 2025 event, featuring a new 'Aramco SIM Arena' for interactive motorsports and a two-season Aramco Esports Championship.
Lenovo Partners With the Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup Foundation has secured a partnership with Lenovo, designating the company’s Legion brand as the official PC and gaming hardware provider for the 2025 Esports World Cup.
- Lenovo’s Legion brand has been named the official PC and gaming hardware partner for the 2025 Esports World Cup, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24.
- The partnership provides tournament participants with Lenovo Legion Tower 7i and 5i desktops, Legion Pro 7i laptops, and various gaming peripherals for use in competition and practice areas.
- Lenovo will integrate its branding into global broadcasts, digital content, and onsite festival zones where attendees can test the company's hardware.
Team BDS Names New CEO, Plans Grand Overhaul
The Swiss esports organization Team BDS has announced a significant leadership transition and a comprehensive strategic overhaul.
- Team BDS has appointed Alexandre Lopez as its new CEO, transitioning him from his previous role as head of strategy and board director.
- The organization is initiating a large-scale rebranding effort to reposition its identity as a bold and human-centric brand.
- Team BDS plans to open a new headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, by the end of 2025.
Esports World Cup Fantasy League Launched
The Esports World Cup Foundation has launched a dedicated fantasy sports platform for the upcoming Esports World Cup, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025.
- The Esports World Cup Foundation has launched a fantasy league for the upcoming Esports World Cup, which runs from July 7 to August 24, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- The fantasy platform is operated by London-based sports technology firm Genius Sports, though the financial terms of the partnership remain undisclosed.
- The Esports World Cup Foundation is allocating approximately $200,000 USD in prize money for the fantasy league, with winners determined by leaderboard standings.
Opening the Betting Frontier: Riot Games Sponsorships
Riot Games has officially authorized sports betting sponsorships for Tier 1 League of Legends and VALORANT teams across the Americas and EMEA regions.
- Riot Games has officially opened sports betting as a new sponsorship category for League of Legends and VALORANT teams to create high-margin revenue streams.
- To ensure competitive integrity, all betting partners must undergo rigorous vetting and are required to use official data feeds provided by GRID.
- Teams pursuing these partnerships are mandated to implement internal integrity programs that include policy development, monitoring, and player education.
NASCAR, iRacing, and PlayVS Renew Collegiate Sim Racing Partnership
NASCAR, iRacing, and PlayVS have renewed their partnership for the 2025–26 season of the eNASCAR College iRacing Series.
- NASCAR, iRacing, and PlayVS have renewed their partnership for the 2025–26 season of the eNASCAR College iRacing Series.
- The series will transition to operating natively on the PlayVS platform following the company's acquisition of Playfly College Esports and Generation Esports in April 2025.
- Since its 2022 launch, the series has engaged nearly 5,000 students across more than 300 U.S. colleges.
Chinese Court Orders Former RNG Star Liu “MLXG” Shiyu to Pay $3.5M to RNG Over Streaming Dispute
The Jiangxi Shangrao Intermediate People’s Court has issued an enforcement ruling requiring former professional League of Legends player Liu “MLXG” Shiyu to pay 25 million RMB, approximately $3.48 million USD, to the esports organization Royal Never Give-Up (RNG).
- On June 17, 2025, the Jiangxi Shangrao Intermediate People’s Court ordered former League of Legends professional Liu “MLXG” Shiyu to pay ¥25 million ($3.48 million USD) to Royal Never Give-Up (RNG) following a contract dispute.
- The judgment stems from a countersuit filed by RNG, which alleged that Shiyu failed to meet mandatory monthly minimum live broadcast hours on the streaming platform Huya.
- The $3.48 million penalty covers approximately ¥6 million ($835,000) in streaming fees withheld by Huya due to contractual violations, plus additional liquidated damages, interest, and legal costs.