The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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eSports Federation of Ukraine Mostly Boycotts IESF European Esports Championship 2025
The eSports Federation of Ukraine has announced a partial boycott of the 2025 European Esports Championship, a qualifying event for the IESF World Esports Championship.
- The eSports Federation of Ukraine is boycotting the Dota 2, women's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and PUBG Mobile competitions at the 2025 IESF European Esports Championship.
- The boycott is a protest against the International Esports Federation's decision to allow the Belarus national team to compete under its own national flag.
- Ukraine will continue to compete in the Counter-Strike 2 discipline at the event because the Belarusian team failed to qualify for that specific tournament.
OnePlus Partners With Valorant Mobile in China
OnePlus has entered into a strategic partnership with TJ Sports, a joint venture between Riot Games and Tencent Holdings, to support the development and promotion of Valorant Mobile in China.
- OnePlus has entered a strategic partnership with TJ Sports, a joint venture between Riot Games and Tencent, to support Valorant Mobile esports in China.
- The OnePlus Ace 5 Pro will serve as the official smartphone for community-driven Valorant Mobile esports competitions in the second half of 2025.
- The device will be featured at the Valorant Mobile Shanghai Trial Play Session in June 2025 and a subsequent competition in Qingdao in July 2025.
eCLUTCH Partners with BLAST
The satellite-based esports television platform eCLUTCH has entered into a strategic partnership with global tournament organizer BLAST to distribute competitive gaming content to mainstream audiences.
- Satellite-based esports television platform eCLUTCH has entered a partnership with tournament organizer BLAST to broadcast select esports content through 2025 and into 2026.
- The agreement includes the distribution of tournament coverage for Fortnite, Rocket League, and Rainbow Six Siege.
- eCLUTCH will utilize its newly launched 24/7 linear channel, eCLUTCH LIVE 2, to broadcast the BLAST content across satellite, pay-TV, and connected TV platforms.
Nathan Edmonds Joins The Brain Trust as Co-Founder and CMO
The Pennsylvania-based independent game development studio The Brain Trust has appointed Nathan Edmonds as a co-founder and chief marketing officer.
- Nathan Edmonds has joined Pennsylvania-based independent game developer The Brain Trust as a co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer.
- Edmonds will lead the global marketing strategy for the studio's flagship title, Esports Team Manager, which is scheduled for a Q4 2025 release on Windows PC.
- Esports Team Manager is a simulation game featuring role-playing elements that allows players to manage professional esports organizations, including team strategy, coaching hires, and facility operations.
Cloud9 Partners With Mueller Esports Medicine
North American esports organization Cloud9 has entered into a partnership with Mueller Esports Medicine to promote the latter’s health and wellness products.
- Cloud9 has entered a partnership with Mueller Esports Medicine to promote the company’s esports-focused health and wellness products.
- Super Smash Bros. Melee professional player Joseph “mang0” Marquez will serve as the central figure for the campaign, which focuses on recovery tools like the REVIVE pneumatic compression system and performance compression sleeves.
- The partnership aims to promote sustainable health habits for gamers to extend professional careers and improve performance.
Esports in a War Zone: IESF Weighs Ukraine for World Championship
The International Esports Federation (IESF) is currently negotiating with the city of Lviv, Ukraine, to host its 2025 World Esports Championship.
- The International Esports Federation (IESF) is in advanced negotiations to host its 2025 World Esports Championship (WEC) in Lviv, Ukraine, as a means to secure essential funding following the depletion of its financial reserves in March.
- The potential Lviv deal is critical for the IESF’s operational viability, supplemented by a separate $250,000 advertising agreement with an unnamed Indonesian company.
- The IESF faces significant operational hurdles for the Lviv event, including a contractual requirement for a minimum three-month ceasefire or peace period to ensure participant safety.
GeoGuessr Pulls Out of the Esports World Cup Festival
GeoGuessr has officially withdrawn from the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) Festival following intense community backlash.
- GeoGuessr has officially withdrawn from the Esports World Cup (EWC) Festival in Riyadh following intense community backlash regarding the event's association with the Saudi Arabian government.
- The planned GeoGuessr 'Last Chance Wildcard Tournament,' which was scheduled for July 21–27 with a $20,000 prize pool, has been canceled.
- The withdrawal was prompted by widespread protests from the player community, including map creators who began boycotting the game and privating major world maps to protest Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
Riot Games Wins Sports Emmy for Valorant Champions 2024 Grand Final
Riot Games received the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage at the 46th Annual Sports Emmy Awards held in May 2025.
- Riot Games won the 2025 Sports Emmy for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage for its production of the Valorant Champions 2024 Grand Final.
- The award-winning broadcast featured the championship match between Edward Gaming and Team Heretics.
- Riot Games secured the win over several major industry competitors, including the Call of Duty League, PGL for The International 2024, ESL FACEIT Group for the IEM Cologne 2024 Finals, and its own League of Legends Worlds 2024 Final coverage.
Ghost Gaming Partners With Amaze Software
Ghost Gaming has entered into a strategic partnership with Amaze Software, a subsidiary of Amaze Holdings, to serve as its official merchandise partner.
- Ghost Gaming has entered a strategic partnership with Amaze Software to serve as its official merchandise partner.
- Amaze Software will provide an integrated e-commerce platform to manage the official Ghost Gaming store and individual storefronts for members of the Ghost Creator Network.
- The partnership aims to streamline merchandise production, online store creation, and global fulfillment for the organization and its roster of over 85 content creators.
Major Apex Legends, FC 25 Esports Events Hosted at Esports World Cup
Electronic Arts has confirmed that two of its premier competitive circuits, the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) and the EA Sports FC 25 FC Pro World Championship, will be hosted at the 2025 Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Electronic Arts has designated the Esports World Cup in Riyadh as a mandatory stop for the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Midseason Playoffs and the EA Sports FC 25 FC Pro World Championship.
- The ALGS Midseason Playoffs will take place from July 10–13, 2025, featuring 40 teams competing for a $2 million total prize pool and critical league qualification points.
- The EA Sports FC 25 FC Pro World Championship is scheduled for August 7–10, 2025, with a $1.5 million prize pool and a $250,000 top prize for the winner.
Uzi Inducted into the League of Legends Hall of Legends
Riot Games has officially named professional League of Legends player Jian “Uzi” Zihao as the second inductee into the League of Legends Hall of Legends.
- Riot Games has inducted professional League of Legends player Jian “Uzi” Zihao as the second member of the Hall of Legends, following the inaugural induction of Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.
- An official induction ceremony for Uzi will take place in Shanghai, China, on June 6, 2025.
- A dedicated in-game event for Uzi begins on June 11, 2025, featuring an event pass and exclusive cosmetic items created in collaboration with the player.
BLAST R6 Major to Munich in 2025, Six Invitational to Paris in 2026
Ubisoft and tournament organizer BLAST have announced the upcoming locations for two major Rainbow Six Siege esports events, establishing a clear path for the 2025–2026 competitive calendar.
- Ubisoft and BLAST have scheduled the 2025 Rainbow Six Siege Major for Munich, Germany, from November 8–16, 2025.
- The Munich Major will feature a $750,000 USD total prize pool and will conclude with a public-facing event at the BMW Arena from November 14–16.
- The Six Invitational, serving as the 2025-2026 season World Championship, will be held in Paris, France, from February 2–15, 2026.