The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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RLCS Major 1 Set for Copenhagen
The tournament organizer BLAST has announced that the first Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Major of 2024 will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark. Scheduled for March 28–31 at the K.B.
- The Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) Major 1 will take place at the K.B. Hallen Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark, from March 28–31, 2024.
- The event features a total prize pool of $255,000 USD and serves as a qualifying opportunity for teams to earn points toward the Rocket League World Championship in September.
- Tournament organizer BLAST is managing the event as part of a multi-year partnership with Epic Games signed on January 2, 2024, to operate both the RLCS and the Fortnite Championship Series.
XL Studio Officially Launches
XL Studio, a London-based creative agency, officially launched in February 2024 to provide specialized marketing and event services within the global esports and gaming sectors.
- London-based creative agency XL Studio officially launched on February 15, 2024, to provide global marketing campaigns, events, and activations for brands in the gaming and esports sectors.
- The agency is led by Managing Director Mark Carter, formerly of GiantX, and Studio Director Jason Spiller, founder of Arcanist.
- The leadership team includes Reagan May as creative lead, Jeffrey Marriott as influencer lead, and Craig Nimmo as operations lead.
NODWIN Gaming to Acquire Ninja Global FZCO
NODWIN Gaming, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, has announced the full acquisition of Ninja Global FZCO, a Turkey-based esports and gaming production company.
- NODWIN Gaming, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, is acquiring Turkey-based esports and gaming production company Ninja Global FZCO for an undisclosed amount.
- The acquisition is designed to strengthen NODWIN Gaming’s operational footprint in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
- NODWIN Gaming plans to leverage Ninja Global’s local network to provide language support and facilitate access to game publishers and stakeholders within the Middle East.
iBUYPOWER Official PC Partner of VCT Americas
Riot Games has officially designated iBUYPOWER as the exclusive PC partner for the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas International League, as well as the VCT Game Changers leagues in North America and Brazil.
- iBUYPOWER has been named the official PC partner for the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas International League, VCT Game Changers North America, and VCT Game Changers Brazil.
- Under the partnership, iBUYPOWER will supply all on-stage competition PCs for VCT Americas events.
- The company will launch a retail line of "Spec-Approved" PCs specifically branded for VCT Americas.
OverActive Media Secures VCT EMEA Agreement
OverActive Media has received official approval from Riot Games to assume a Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA team participation agreement previously held by KOI.
- Riot Games has approved the transfer of a Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA team participation agreement from KOI to a subsidiary of OverActive Media.
- OverActive Media will operate the team under the name 'Movistar KOI' for the 2024 VCT season.
- The agreement is part of a broader acquisition by OverActive Media involving esports assets from both KOI and Movistar Riders.
BLAST Names Six Invitational 2024 Partners
Tournament organizer BLAST and game publisher Ubisoft have announced a slate of seven commercial partners for the Six Invitational 2024, the premier Rainbow Six Siege esports competition.
- The Six Invitational 2024, a premier Rainbow Six Siege esports tournament, will take place in São Paulo, Brazil, from February 13–25 with a total prize pool of $3 million USD.
- Tournament organizer BLAST and publisher Ubisoft have secured seven official partners for the event: Intel, Lenovo, JBL, Kingston Technology, CTRL, Aura, and Eureka Ergonomics.
- Intel serves as the official event partner, while Lenovo is the official laptop partner and JBL is the official peripheral partner.
ESL FACEIT Group Reveals IEM Katowice 2024 Milestones
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) recently announced key performance milestones for the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice 2024, held in Poland from February 8 to 11.
- IEM Katowice 2024 achieved a peak viewership of 972,000 during the Counter-Strike 2 grand final between Team Spirit and FaZe Clan.
- The event recorded 24.6 million hours watched across 85 hours and 24 minutes of total airtime, with an average viewership of 288,000.
- Total attendance across the Spodek Arena and MCK Auditorium reached 65,000 visitors over the course of the tournament.
OMiT Acquires Electrify Steel Gaming and Deviance Gaming
The esports organization OMiT has finalized the acquisition of two pro-am Call of Duty-focused entities, Electrify Steel Gaming (ESG) and Deviance Gaming.
- OMiT has acquired esports organizations Electrify Steel Gaming (ESG) and Deviance Gaming to consolidate resources and expand its competitive footprint in Call of Duty and Warzone.
- As part of the deal, ESG founder Doug “Fresh” Wenz joins OMiT as Chief Revenue Officer, and Deviance owner Austin Will joins as Chief Strategy Officer.
- The consolidation aims to address the operational difficulties of managing esports organizations alongside traditional full-time employment by pooling capital and administrative resources.
AT&T Becomes an LCS Partner
Riot Games has entered into a multiyear partnership with AT&T, naming the telecommunications provider the official connectivity partner of the League Championship Series (LCS), the premier North American League of Legends esports league.
- Riot Games has signed a multiyear partnership naming AT&T as the official connectivity partner of the League Championship Series (LCS) for 2024.
- The partnership includes the creation of a new broadcast segment titled 'LCS Connected presented by AT&T,' which will feature behind-the-scenes audio of real-time shot calls and tactical discussions.
- AT&T will serve as the presenting partner for 'LCS Fan Fest,' the pre-party event held during the LCS Finals and LCS Championship.
ESL FACEIT Group Launches FACEIT Watch
The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has launched FACEIT Watch, a dedicated streaming platform designed to enhance the viewing experience for global esports audiences.
- ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has launched a dedicated streaming platform called FACEIT Watch in collaboration with technical partner Znipe Esports.
- The platform features multi-perspective viewing, allowing users to watch specific player perspectives alongside the main broadcast, as well as kill cams, live-generated highlights, and a sound mixer.
- FACEIT Watch currently supports only Counter-Strike 2 and Apex Legends, with no confirmed timeline for expanding features to other EFG-operated titles like Dota 2 or the Overwatch Champions Series.
IESF Reveals World Esports Championship 2024 Titles
The International Esports Federation (IESF) has officially announced the competitive lineup for the World Esports Championship 2024, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 11 to 19.
- The International Esports Federation (IESF) will host its World Esports Championship 2024 (WEC24) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 11 to November 19, 2024.
- The tournament will feature seven distinct competitions across five game titles: Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, the eFootball series, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and PUBG Mobile.
- The event includes dedicated women’s competitions for both Counter-Strike 2 and the newly introduced MLBB Women’s league.
HanseMerkur Becomes Naming Partner of VALORANT Challengers DACH
The German insurance group HanseMerkur has secured a naming rights partnership for the VALORANT Challengers DACH league, which is operated by the esports and gaming marketing agency Freaks 4U Gaming.
- German insurance group HanseMerkur has become the official naming partner for the VALORANT Challengers DACH league, which has been rebranded as 'HanseMerkur Challengers DACH: Evolution.'
- The partnership marks an expansion of HanseMerkur’s existing support for the DACH VALORANT scene, which began in 2020.
- HanseMerkur will receive branding across social media and live streams, including a sponsored 'HanseMerkur Instant Replay' segment, and will assist with league organization and community giveaways.