The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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S8UL to Promote Bullet Echo India
The Indian esports organization S8UL has entered into a strategic partnership with South Korean publisher Krafton to facilitate the official launch of the mobile game Bullet Echo India.
- Indian esports organization S8UL has partnered with publisher KRAFTON to promote the official launch of the mobile game Bullet Echo India.
- Bullet Echo India is a multiplayer PvP tactical top-down shooter developed in collaboration with ZeptoLab, which entered a soft launch phase on April 4, 2024.
- The promotional campaign will feature S8UL content creators, including Mortal, Scout, Regaltos, Snax, JokerKiHaveli, PayalGaming, and KaashPlays, producing YouTube content for their audiences.
NECC Raises Fees for the 2024-2025 Season
The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) has announced a fee increase for the 2024-2025 season, marking a shift in its financial structure for member institutions.
- The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) has increased its membership fees for the 2024-2025 season, moving from approximately $1,000 to $1,300 for schools participating in multi-title programs.
- Schools opting to compete in an unlimited number of teams for a single game title will now be charged a fee of $650 for the 2024-2025 season.
- NECC Commissioner and CEO Jacob VanRyn stated that the fee hikes are intended to fund additional full- and part-time staff, increase prize pools, and improve educational resources and operational support.
$100K HER Galaxy Apex Legends Open Winners Remain Unpaid
The $100K HER Galaxy Apex Legends Open, a women-only esports tournament held in June 2023, remains a subject of controversy as winners and service providers have yet to receive their promised compensation.
- Winners of the June 2023 HER Galaxy Apex Legends Open have remained unpaid for over nine months, missing the contractually obligated 180-day payout deadline.
- The Dubai-based esports organization Galaxy Racer (GXR) owes a total of $80,000 in prize money to the top three teams: $40,000 to Team Cuties, $25,000 to Luminosity Red, and $15,000 to Team Lust.
- Tournament platform provider LeagueSpot is also owed $40,000 for its services in facilitating the event and has reported that GXR has ceased responding to inquiries.
GameSquare Holdings 2023 Financial Results
GameSquare Holdings released its 2023 financial results, highlighting a period of significant revenue growth alongside increased operational costs and net losses.
- GameSquare reported a 2023 net loss of $31.3 million, an increase from the $18.1 million loss recorded in 2022.
- Annual revenue grew 85% year-over-year to $52 million in 2023, up from $28.1 million in 2022.
- Total operating expenses rose significantly to $44.1 million in 2023, compared to $27.9 million the previous year.
ViewSonic Partners With FATE Esports
ViewSonic has entered into a strategic partnership with FATE Esports, an organization based in Amman, Jordan.
- ViewSonic has entered into a partnership with Amman, Jordan-based esports organization FATE Esports to provide premium gaming monitors for the organization's headquarters.
- The gaming monitors supplied by ViewSonic will be utilized by FATE Esports players for training and during local gaming events hosted at their facility.
- Financial terms and the specific duration of the partnership agreement were not disclosed by either party.
eFuse Partners With NECC
The Ohio-based competitive gaming platform eFuse has entered into a strategic partnership with the North American collegiate esports organization, the National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC).
- The National Esports Collegiate Conference (NECC) has entered a strategic partnership to license the Collegiate Carball Association (CCA) and College CoD League (CCL) intellectual properties from eFuse.
- Under the agreement, the NECC will assume full responsibility for the operational and broadcast aspects of the CCA and CCL competitions.
- Three eFuse staff members will transition to full-time roles within the NECC to support the management of these newly acquired leagues.
Maharashtra Government Honors Esports Players
The government of the Indian state of Maharashtra has taken a significant step in the formal recognition of competitive gaming by awarding financial bonuses to esports athletes.
- The government of Maharashtra, India, has awarded INR 10 lakhs (approximately $12,000 USD) to each esports athlete who represented the state at the 2022 Asian Games.
- This initiative marks the first time an Indian state government has provided financial bonuses to esports players, placing them on par with mainstream Olympic athletes.
- The honored athletes competed in Dota 2 and League of Legends, with the selection process facilitated by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI).
Esports Event Veterans Launch ELO Agency
Roald Van Buuren and Jan Moerland, both veterans of the esports events industry, have launched a new London-based consultancy firm named ELO Agency.
- Former FACEIT and ESL executives Roald Van Buuren and Jan Moerland have launched a new London-based consultancy firm called ELO Agency.
- The agency provides comprehensive event management services, including RFP creation, partner sourcing, staff training, and operational framework development for game developers, esports teams, and sports clubs.
- CEO and founder Roald Van Buuren brings over a decade of experience from FACEIT, where he served as director of esports, VP of events, and VP of marketing, as well as a tenure at Fnatic.
Shikenso Analytics Partners With Team BDS
Shikenso Analytics, a Germany-based firm specializing in marketing and sponsorship analytics, has entered into a partnership with the Swiss esports organization Team BDS.
- Swiss esports organization Team BDS has partnered with Germany-based Shikenso Analytics to monitor and optimize its sponsorship and partnership performance.
- Team BDS will utilize Shikenso’s AI-driven data tools to track partner visibility and engagement across its streaming platforms and social media channels.
- The organization competes in multiple titles, including Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, EA FC 24, and League of Legends (LEC and LFL).
PSG Talon Partners With Monster Energy
PSG Talon, a joint venture between the esports division of Paris Saint-Germain and the Asia Pacific-based organization Talon, has entered into a partnership with the energy drink brand Monster Energy.
- PSG Talon, a joint venture between Paris Saint-Germain’s esports division and Talon, has entered into a partnership with Monster Energy.
- The partnership includes prominent branding for Monster Energy on PSG Talon player jerseys, social media channels, and streaming platforms.
- The collaboration will feature joint activities, including exclusive behind-the-scenes content and interactive fan experiences.
A Closer Look at IEM Chengdu 2024: China’s First CS2 Event
IEM Chengdu 2024, held from April 8–14, marked a significant return for the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) to the Chinese esports market after a five-year hiatus.
- IEM Chengdu 2024 marked the first major Counter-Strike 2 event in China for 2024 and currently stands as the most-watched CS2 tournament in the region.
- The event served as a return to the Chinese market for the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), which previously hosted IEM Chengdu in 2009.
- EFG secured ten commercial partners for the tournament, including Intel, DHL, Monster Energy, Predator, the U.S. Air Force, 1XBET, white.market, and local entities INS, Culture Club, Radi, and KEZEE.
Kick Partners With ESL FACEIT Group for DreamHack
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has entered into a strategic partnership with the live streaming platform Kick to facilitate in-person activations for the DreamHack creator community throughout 2024.
- The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has partnered with the live streaming platform Kick to host in-person activations for the DreamHack creator community throughout 2024.
- Kick will feature its content creators in panel sessions, meet-and-greets, and booth activations at DreamHack events in Melbourne, Dallas, Atlanta, and Stockholm.
- The partnership schedule includes events in Melbourne (April 26–28), Dallas (May 31–June 2), Atlanta (Oct. 4–6), and Stockholm (Nov. 22–24).