The Esports Advocate
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Cloud9 Esports Appoints Tim Mulligan to VP, Head of Sales
Cloud9 Esports has appointed Tim Mulligan as its new Vice President and Head of Sales, effective January 2024.
- Cloud9 Esports has appointed Tim Mulligan as its new VP, Head of Sales, effective January 2, 2024.
- Mulligan joins Cloud9 from XSET, where he previously served as VP, Head of Sales for over a year.
- In his new role at Cloud9, Mulligan is responsible for revenue generation, sponsor relationship management, strategic planning, and brand representation.
The Rise and Fall of Swedish Esports Company Stryda
The Stockholm-based esports tournament platform Stryda, formerly known as G-Loot, filed for bankruptcy in December 2023, resulting in the termination of its entire staff.
- Swedish esports company Stryda, a subsidiary of G-Loot Global Esports AB, filed for bankruptcy on December 15, 2023, and laid off its entire staff of approximately 50 employees.
- Despite raising nearly $100 million in total funding since 2016, the company failed to achieve profitability, recording a net loss of over $25 million in 2020 alone.
- Annual revenues for the G-Loot group plummeted from roughly $6 million in 2020 to approximately $0.5 million in 2022, representing a significant decline in business performance.
Galaxy Racer Fails to Pay HER Galaxy $100K Apex Legends Open Winners
Dubai-based esports organization Galaxy Racer has failed to pay the winners of its HER Galaxy $100K Apex Legends Open tournament, which concluded in June 2023.
- Dubai-based esports organization Galaxy Racer has failed to pay the winners of the $100,000 HER Galaxy Apex Legends Open, which concluded in June 2023.
- Galaxy Racer missed its contractual 180-day payment deadline of December 22, 2023, and has informed winners that it currently has no timeline for when the prize money will be issued.
- Tournament platform LeagueSpot is reportedly owed at least five figures by Galaxy Racer for services rendered during the facilitation of the event.
Resolve Esports Plugs Into GRIDSERVE
The UK-based esports organization Resolve Esports has entered into a strategic partnership with the renewable energy company GRIDSERVE for the 2024 season.
- UK-based esports organization Resolve Esports has signed a 2024 partnership with renewable energy company GRIDSERVE.
- GRIDSERVE will serve as the headline sponsor for Resolve Esports' Rocket League team, which will be rebranded as 'GRIDSERVE Resolve' for the 2024 season.
- The partnership includes the integration of GRIDSERVE branding on the team's in-game Rocket League decals.
Guild Esports Renews With Subway for 2024
Guild Esports, a London-based, publicly traded esports organization, has officially renewed its partnership with the UK division of the quick-service restaurant chain Subway.
- Guild Esports has renewed its partnership with the UK division of Subway for an additional year, effective January 1, 2024.
- Under the renewed agreement, Subway will maintain front-of-shirt branding on all Guild Esports professional and academy team jerseys.
- The original partnership between Guild Esports and Subway was first established in March 2021 as a two-year deal.
Guild Esports Partners With eNDX
London-based esports organization Guild Esports has entered into a commercial partnership with the UK-based fantasy trading platform eNDX.
- Guild Esports has entered a partnership with the UK-based fantasy trading platform eNDX, with the deal estimated to be worth in the 'six figures' based on projected user acquisition and trading volume.
- Under the agreement, Guild Esports will receive a percentage of revenue generated from the trading of its Counter-Strike 2 players and teams on the eNDX platform.
- The partnership includes both the 'Guild Eagles' roster and the organization's all-female Counter-Strike team, whose virtual 'shares' will be made available for users to buy, sell, and collect.
Bobby Kotick to Leave Activision Blizzard on Dec. 29
Following Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King, the company is undergoing a significant leadership transition.
- Bobby Kotick will step down as CEO of Activision Blizzard on December 29, 2023, following Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of the company.
- Activision Blizzard's leadership team, including the heads of Activision Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment, and King, will now report directly to Matt Booty, the President of Game Content and Studios at Microsoft.
- The CEO role at Activision Blizzard will not be filled; instead, the company is being integrated into the broader Microsoft Gaming organizational structure.
NSPCC Partners With EPIC.LAN for Game Safe Cup
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) has partnered with EPIC.LAN, National Student Esports, and SAF to launch the inaugural Game Safe Cup.
- The UK children's charity NSPCC is partnering with EPIC.LAN, National Student Esports, and SAF to launch the inaugural Game Safe Cup, a free-to-enter EA Sports FC 24 tournament.
- The tournament is part of the broader Game Safe Festival, an initiative designed to educate parents and children on online safety and promote a safer gaming environment.
- Registration for the Game Safe Cup opens on January 3, 2024, with online qualifiers beginning on January 13, 2024.
GIANTX Partners With Shikenso Analytics
The esports organization GIANTX, formed through the recent merger of UK-based EXCEL Esports and Spain-based Giants Gaming, has entered into a partnership with the German analytics firm Shikenso Analytics.
- GIANTX, the newly formed entity resulting from the merger of EXCEL Esports and Giants Gaming, has entered a partnership with Shikenso Analytics to utilize its AI-powered marketing and sponsorship evaluation tools.
- The partnership will focus on measuring the performance of partner campaigns across live streams, video content, social media, and various partner integrations.
- GIANTX will use these analytics to evaluate and compare the performance of its major partners, including brands such as HSBC UK, Burger King, Kit Kat, Hot Wheels, and JD Sports.
Skyesports Reveals 2024 Counter-Strike 2 Roadmap
Skyesports has unveiled an expansive 2024 roadmap for Counter-Strike 2, signaling a significant commitment to both domestic and international esports competition.
- Skyesports will host six major Counter-Strike 2 competitions in 2024 with a combined total prize pool of $1 million USD.
- The 2024 tournament circuit includes the Skyesports Masters ($350K) in May, the Skyesports Global Tour ($250K) in October, and the Skyesports Championship ($150K) in July.
- International events scheduled for 2024 include the Skyesports Souvenir in Colombo, Sri Lanka ($150K), and the India vs. Pakistan Series in Abu Dhabi ($50K).
Cloud9 Acquires BLAST Premier Slot From Evil Geniuses
Cloud9 has officially secured a member team slot in the BLAST Premier Counter-Strike 2 competitive circuit for the 2024 season.
- Cloud9 has acquired Evil Geniuses' member slot in the BLAST Premier Counter-Strike 2 circuit for the 2024 season.
- The transaction followed a competitive bidding process, though the specific financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.
- Cloud9 will debut as a member team during the 2024 Spring Groups in Copenhagen, joining established partners such as Astralis, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid.
Mike Milanov Joins Qiddiya Gaming as Chairman
Mike Milanov, a former executive at Team Liquid, has been appointed as the chairman of the newly formed gaming and esports advisory board for Qiddiya City.
- Former Team Liquid executive Mike Milanov has been appointed as the chairman of the newly formed Qiddiya Gaming & Esports Advisory Board.
- Qiddiya Gaming is a core component of Qiddiya City, a Saudi Arabian mega-project backed by the Public Investment Fund, designed to serve as an international hub for entertainment and esports.
- The Qiddiya gaming district will feature 500,000 square meters of space, including four dedicated esports arenas with a combined peak capacity of 73,000 spectators.