The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
Documents
NODWIN Gaming Opens Subsidiary in the United States
NODWIN Gaming, an India-based esports and gaming organization, has officially expanded its international footprint by establishing a new subsidiary in the United States.
- India-based esports and gaming company NODWIN Gaming has officially established a U.S. subsidiary, incorporated in Delaware as NODWIN Gaming USA Inc.
- The expansion is part of a broader growth strategy for NODWIN Gaming, a subsidiary of the mobile gaming firm Nazara Technologies.
- CEO Akshat Rathee stated the U.S. presence is intended to provide greater agility in global business, investment, and market relevance.
Challengermode Named Official Esports Platform for Brawlhalla
Challengermode has entered into a strategic partnership with Blue Mammoth Games, a subsidiary of Ubisoft, to become the official esports and community platform for the mobile fighting game Brawlhalla.
- Challengermode has partnered with Blue Mammoth Games to become the official competitive and community platform for the mobile fighting game Brawlhalla.
- The partnership aims to streamline the competitive experience for players, with community events scheduled to begin on the platform in mid-April 2025.
- Challengermode will support official Brawlhalla championship competitions starting in May 2025.
Shikenso Analytics Signs Partnership With ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and Germany-based analytics firm Shikenso Analytics have entered into a multi-year partnership to enhance the evaluation of brand performance across EFG’s global esports portfolio.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has signed a multi-year partnership with Germany-based Shikenso Analytics to evaluate the performance of its brand partnerships.
- Shikenso Analytics will provide EFG with holistic media valuation services and deploy its tracking technology across major events, including the Intel Extreme Masters, ESL Pro League, ESL One, DreamLeague, and the Overwatch Champions Series.
- The partnership aims to help EFG optimize the impact of its commercial deals and better understand the value created for partners across its global esports portfolio.
Global Gaming League Raises $10 Million
The Global Gaming League (GGL) has secured $10 million in funding through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) round led by Solyco Capital.
- The Global Gaming League (GGL) has raised $10 million in a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) funding round led by Solyco Capital.
- The GGL is a multi-title gaming entertainment league that differentiates itself from traditional esports by focusing on celebrity-owned teams and live events held at its Las Vegas campus.
- The raised capital will fund the launch of a franchised league and the GGL Academy, an educational initiative providing career pathways and scholarships in partnership with universities like NYU, UNLV, and Syracuse.
Team Liquid Partners With Wildcard
Team Liquid has entered into a strategic partnership with Wildcard Alliance, the developer of the player-versus-player collectible card game and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title, Wildcard.
- Team Liquid has entered a partnership with Wildcard Alliance to support the development and competitive refinement of its PVP-focused collectible card MOBA, Wildcard.
- Team Liquid members Lourlo and bobqin will promote the game through streaming and by attending in-person events to help build the title's esports presence.
- The collaboration focuses on leveraging Team Liquid's professional expertise to fine-tune the game's mechanics and competitive balance ahead of its public release.
StarCraft II Joins Esports World Cup and Exits ESL Pro Tour
The ESL FACEIT Group has announced the discontinuation of the StarCraft II ESL Pro Tour (EPT), a circuit that had been in operation since 2020.
- ESL FACEIT Group has officially discontinued the StarCraft II ESL Pro Tour (EPT) circuit, which had been active since 2020.
- StarCraft II will move to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the 2025 season as a featured title.
- ESL cited the increasing difficulty of securing long-term funding for a full-scale, year-round event circuit as the primary reason for ending the EPT.
Overwatch Champions Clash to Take Place in Hangzhou, China
The Overwatch Champions Clash is scheduled to take place from April 18–20, 2025, at the Hangzhou Esports Center in China.
- The Overwatch Champions Clash will take place at the Hangzhou Esports Center in China from April 18–20, 2025.
- The event is organized by Activision Blizzard and the ESL FACEIT Group in partnership with NetEase ThunderFire Studio.
- Eight teams qualified from the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) Stage 1 will compete, including representatives from North America, EMEA, South Korea, and China.
BLAST, Reliance Industries Limited Form Joint Venture in India
Global esports tournament operator BLAST has entered into a strategic joint venture with RISE, a subsidiary of the Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited.
- Global esports operator BLAST has entered a joint venture with RISE, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, to expand esports operations in India.
- The partnership aims to develop new tournament intellectual property tailored to the Indian market while bringing BLAST’s existing production and event management expertise to the region.
- BLAST will establish a dedicated office and production studio in India as part of the operational expansion.
Waterstone Impact Fund and The Tebow Group Partner With eFuse
Ohio-based gaming and esports company eFuse has entered into a strategic partnership with the Waterstone Impact Fund, a venture capital firm backed by The Tebow Group, WaterStone, and Caplin Ventures.
- Ohio-based gaming and esports company eFuse has entered into a strategic partnership with the Waterstone Impact Fund, which includes an undisclosed amount of capital investment.
- The Waterstone Impact Fund is a venture capital firm backed by The Tebow Group—led by Tim and Demi-Leigh Tebow—alongside WaterStone and Caplin Ventures.
- The investment fund focuses on supporting technology startups founded by individuals driven by faith-based missions.
GameSquare Divests Remaining Interest in FaZe Media
GameSquare has officially divested its remaining 25.5% stake in FaZe Media, a subsidiary managed by FaZe Clan founder Richard “FaZe Banks” Bengston.
- GameSquare has divested its remaining 25.5% stake in FaZe Media, effective April 1, 2025, to streamline operations and strengthen its balance sheet.
- GameSquare will cease consolidating FaZe Media in its financial statements following the divestiture, though it retains 100% ownership of FaZe Clan Esports.
- The divestiture is expected to be linked to the expedited conversion of a $10 million convertible note held by Gigamoon Media, which would grant Matt Kalish a 74.5% controlling interest in FaZe Media.
Ubisoft Forms Strategic Subsidiary Backed by Tencent Investment
Ubisoft has announced the formation of a new dedicated subsidiary designed to manage and evolve its flagship intellectual properties, including the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six franchises.
- Ubisoft is creating a new subsidiary to manage its flagship franchises, including Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six, with Tencent acquiring a 25% economic interest for €1.16 billion ($1.25 billion USD).
- The new entity is valued at $4.3 billion post-transaction and will consolidate the studios, development teams, and back catalogs associated with these core intellectual properties.
- Ubisoft will grant the subsidiary a worldwide, exclusive, irrevocable, and perpetual license to its top franchises, subject to a royalty arrangement.
NAVI in Advanced Negotiations to Acquire Rogue’s LEC Slot
Natus Vincere (NAVI), a Ukraine-based esports organization, is currently in advanced negotiations to acquire the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) slot held by Rogue.
- Natus Vincere (NAVI) is in advanced negotiations to acquire the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) slot currently held by Rogue.
- Infinite Reality, the parent company of Rogue’s operator ReKTGlobal, has confirmed that discussions regarding the slot sale are underway.
- The proposed transaction is a cash deal for an undisclosed sum and remains subject to final approval from Riot Games.