The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
Documents
LCSPA, AVPA Launch Agent Certification Program
The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) and the Americas Valorant Players Association (AVPA) have launched a formal agent certification and regulation program for professional and aspiring players within the North American League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) and the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas.
- The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) and the Americas Valorant Players Association (AVPA) have launched a formal agent certification and regulation program for professional players in the LCS and VCT Americas leagues.
- The program requires agents and legal professionals to undergo a background check and pay a $250 membership fee to be listed in a database of vetted, industry-experienced representatives.
- Riot Games supports the initiative and will require teams to recommend that players utilize agents from this certified list, though the publisher is not providing funding for the program.
ESL FACEIT Group Teams With Rolling Stone for Rolling Stone Gaming
Rolling Stone has launched a new gaming vertical, Rolling Stone Gaming, under the ownership of Penske Media Corporation.
- Rolling Stone has launched a new gaming vertical, 'Rolling Stone Gaming,' which will be led by Christopher Cruz, the publication's current executive producer for branded content.
- The new vertical is funded by the Saudi Arabian government through a partnership with the ESL FACEIT Group.
- ESL FACEIT Group is a subsidiary of Savvy Games Group, which is owned by the Saudi Arabian government's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Riot Games Wins Sports Emmy for Worlds 2023 Finals
Riot Games secured the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage for its production of the League of Legends Worlds 2023 Final.
- Riot Games won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage for the League of Legends Worlds 2023 Final, marking the company's fifth win in the category since its inception in 2020.
- The award-winning 2023 World Championship final took place on November 19, 2023, at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, where T1 defeated Weibo Gaming 3–0.
- Riot Games secured the win against a competitive field that included its own Valorant Champions 2023 Grand Final, as well as productions from the Call of Duty League, ESL FACEIT Group, and BLAST.
SOOP Streaming Service Goes Live June 5
The live streaming platform SOOP, a project backed by the South Korean company AfreecaTV, is scheduled to launch its global beta on June 5, 2024.
- The live streaming platform SOOP, backed by South Korea-based AfreecaTV, will launch its global beta on June 5, 2024.
- SOOP has secured exclusive partnerships with high-profile esports figures, including T1's Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and various DRX team members.
- The platform has entered a strategic partnership with Riot Games to exclusively produce and operate the Valorant Challengers Thailand 2024 and manage broadcasting rights for the Valorant Champions Tour in Thailand.
Streams Charts Secures Enthusiast Gaming Deal
The livestream data analytics platform Streams Charts has entered into a strategic partnership with the North American esports and gaming company Enthusiast Gaming.
- Livestream data analytics platform Streams Charts has entered into a partnership with the publicly traded esports and gaming company Enthusiast Gaming.
- Enthusiast Gaming will utilize the Streams Charts platform to track viewer engagement, watch times, audience demographics, and content performance across its various properties.
- The partnership aims to help Enthusiast Gaming optimize its content production and improve engagement metrics for its brand partners.
Who Is Behind USEA and the $350K ‘Born to Win’ Competition?
The emergence of a new Counter-Strike 2 tournament series, titled "Born to Win," has prompted industry scrutiny regarding the legitimacy and operational readiness of its organizer, USEA Holdings LLC.
- A new entity called USEA Holdings LLC has announced a $350,000 Counter-Strike 2 competition series titled 'Born to Win' for U.S.-based players.
- The organization is led by Ben Williamson, founder of the Naples, Florida-based investment firm The Benjamin Group, which claims ownership of USEA.
- The Benjamin Group primarily focuses on healthcare technology, Web3 assets, real estate, and luxury vehicle storage, with no prior experience in managing major esports tournaments.
Team Liquid Acquires STUN.GG
In May 2024, the international esports organization Team Liquid announced the acquisition of STUN.GG, a move designed to bolster its presence in the Southeast Asian market.
- Team Liquid has acquired the Southeast Asia-based esports organization STUN.GG, marking a significant expansion of its global operations into Indonesia and the Philippines.
- As part of the acquisition, STUN.GG’s properties AURA Esports and ECHO Esports will be rebranded to Team Liquid ID and Team Liquid PH, respectively.
- The deal provides Team Liquid with established rosters competing in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (ML:BB) leagues, specifically MPL Indonesia and MPL Philippines.
Midnight Gaming Explores TGS Esports Acquisition
Illinois-based gaming and esports company Midnight Gaming has entered into a letter of intent to acquire assets from the Canada-based firm TGS Esports.
- Illinois-based Midnight Gaming has signed a letter of intent to acquire assets of Canada-based TGS Esports in a deal valued at approximately $18 million USD.
- The proposed acquisition includes TGS Esports' intellectual property, social media channels, website domains, brands, and various gaming and AV equipment.
- The $18 million valuation significantly exceeds TGS Esports' current market capitalization of approximately $5.63 million USD ($7.67 million CAD).
Edward Gaming Generates $690K in Revenue From Valorant Weapon Skins
A recent four-hour live commerce event on the Chinese platform Douyin demonstrated the significant monetization potential of digital goods within the esports sector.
- A four-hour Valorant live commerce event on Douyin generated approximately $1.98 million in total revenue from the sale of over 100,000 team-branded weapon skins.
- Edward Gaming (EDG) led all participating teams with 78,000 units sold, resulting in approximately $690,000 in revenue.
- Bilibili Gaming (BLG) secured the second-highest sales volume with 12,000 units, generating approximately $107,000.
Netherlands Regulator Fines Epic $1.2M for Fortnite Advertising
The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has imposed a fine of approximately $1.2 million on Epic Games for utilizing unfair commercial practices within the game Fortnite.
- The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) fined Epic Games €1,125,000 (approximately $1.2 million USD) for using unfair commercial practices targeting children in Fortnite.
- The fine consists of two separate €562,500 penalties: one for using direct exhortations to purchase items and another for employing countdown timers that created a 'fear of missing out' (FOMO).
- The regulator concluded that Epic Games exploited the vulnerabilities of children through aggressive in-game advertising and misleading design choices in the Item Shop.
Gen.G Esports Acquires YOUR.GG
Gen.G Esports has acquired YOUR.GG, a data analysis and networking platform specializing in League of Legends.
- Gen.G Esports has acquired YOUR.GG, a data analysis and networking platform specialized in League of Legends, for an undisclosed sum.
- The acquisition will integrate YOUR.GG’s analytical toolset into Gen.G’s professional rosters and its Global Academy program.
- Gen.G intends to use the platform to improve player skill development, evaluate responses to coaching, and enhance scouting capabilities for new talent.
Dubai Program for Gaming 2033
The Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 represents a strategic government initiative designed to establish Dubai as a premier global hub for the esports, gaming, and digital content industries.
- The Dubai government has launched the 'Dubai Program for Gaming 2033,' a visa initiative designed to attract international esports, gaming, and technology talent for extended business operations.
- Overseen by the Dubai Future Foundation, the program aims to establish a global hub for digital content creators by providing training, job opportunities, and support for startups and entrepreneurs.
- Applicants for the program must be at least 25 years old to be eligible for consideration.