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GRID Signs Multi-Year Deal With Ubisoft for Rainbow Six Esports
GRID, a Berlin-based gaming and esports data platform, has entered into a multi-year partnership with Ubisoft to serve as the exclusive provider of live esports data for the Rainbow Six Siege competitive ecosystem.
- Ubisoft has signed a multi-year partnership with Berlin-based GRID to serve as the exclusive live data platform for Rainbow Six esports.
- GRID will manage the distribution of all official data assets for global and regional tournaments, including BLAST Majors and Six Invitationals.
- The partnership includes the development of custom data infrastructure and APIs to source granular, real-time, in-game statistics directly from esports game servers.
Lionel Messi Joins KRÜ Esports as a Co-Owner
International football icon Lionel Messi has officially joined the Argentina-based organization KRÜ Esports as a co-owner.
- Professional footballer Lionel Messi has joined the Argentina-based esports organization KRÜ Esports as a co-owner.
- The organization was founded by former professional footballer Sergio Kun Agüero, who remains the CEO.
- The partnership aims to increase KRÜ Esports' international visibility and bridge the gap between traditional sports culture and the esports industry.
INSIGHT Partners With Shikenso Analytics
The German influencer and content creator marketing agency INSIGHT has entered into a strategic partnership with Shikenso Analytics, a firm specializing in sponsorship and marketing data for the gaming and esports sectors.
- German influencer and content marketing agency INSIGHT has entered a partnership with Shikenso Analytics to evaluate the performance of its marketing and sponsorship campaigns.
- INSIGHT will utilize Shikenso’s AI-powered tools to track brand exposure and audience engagement across live streams, video content, and social media platforms.
- The analytics tools will specifically monitor brand mentions in live-stream chats and visual brand presence within video and stream content.
Teams Vote to Exit Overwatch League
The Overwatch League has reached a critical turning point as a majority of its franchise teams have voted to exit the league. This decision marks the formal conclusion of the league’s existing franchised structure.
- A majority of Overwatch League (OWL) franchisees have voted to exit the league, effectively ending the current franchised model.
- The dissolution of the league required a two-thirds majority vote from franchisees, who are eligible for a $6 million USD exit payout per team.
- OverActive Media confirmed that the Team Participation Agreements (TPAs) for the league have been officially terminated.
OverActive Media First Organization to Announce Exit From Franchised Overwatch League
OverActive Media has become the first organization to formally exit the franchised Overwatch League, signaling a significant shift in the professional esports landscape.
- OverActive Media has become the first organization to officially exit the franchised Overwatch League after reaching a final termination agreement with Activision Blizzard.
- The agreement grants OverActive Media a total termination payment of $8.26M CAD ($6M USD) from Activision Blizzard.
- The payout includes approximately $916K CAD ($666K USD) for payments previously advanced by the league to the Toronto Defiant.
Galaxy Racer North America Employees Owed Back Pay
Galaxy Racer North America, a Los Angeles-based esports organization, is facing a severe labor crisis as approximately 10 to 12 full-time employees have gone unpaid for at least two months.
- Approximately 10–12 full-time employees at Los Angeles-based Galaxy Racer North America and Her Galaxy have not been paid for at least two months.
- Employees are considering a mass resignation or legal action due to the recurring nature of the payroll delays, which staff report has occurred five times.
- Galaxy Racer leadership, including CEO Paul Roy, has attributed the payment failures to bank wire transfer complications and a pending merger with Riva Technology and Entertainment.
Oxygen Esports to Host Call of Duty League 2024 Major I Tournament
Oxygen Esports has announced that it will host the Call of Duty League 2024 Major I tournament in partnership with Live Nation.
- Oxygen Esports will host the Call of Duty League 2024 Major I tournament from January 25–28, 2024, at the MGM Music Hall in Boston.
- The tournament features a $500,000 USD prize pool for competing franchised teams, including the host team, Boston Breach.
- The event is being produced in partnership with Live Nation and expects an attendance of approximately 15,000 guests over the weekend.
Infinite Reality, KOI Announce Amicable Separation
Metaverse company Infinite Reality and the Barcelona-based esports organization KOI have announced an amicable separation, concluding a strategic partnership established one year prior.
- Infinite Reality and esports organization KOI are ending their strategic partnership following the conclusion of Worlds 2023.
- Infinite Reality’s subsidiary, ReKTGlobal, will assume full ownership of the Carolina Royal Ravens (CDL), as well as its Rocket League, Rainbow Six: Siege, and LEC teams.
- KOI will take full control of its League of Legends LVP Superliga, FIFAe, and Valorant Champions Tour EMEA League teams, the latter pending Riot Games approval.
100 Thieves Cuts Staff, Spins Off Juvee, Game Development Businesses
In November 2023, Los Angeles-based esports organization 100 Thieves announced a strategic restructuring involving staff layoffs and the spin-off of two non-core business units.
- 100 Thieves is spinning off its beverage brand, Juvee, and its internal game development studio into independent entities.
- The company is implementing staff layoffs as part of a strategic shift to refocus on its core business of esports, content, and apparel.
- President and COO John Robinson stated that the organization grew too large for its current business performance, noting that growth did not keep pace with the company's expansion over the last two years.
Chengdu-Based All Gamers Secures $1.37M in a Series B+ Financing Round
The Chengdu-based esports organization All Gamers (AG) has successfully secured over ¥10 million RMB, approximately $1.37 million USD, in a Series B+ financing round.
- Chengdu-based esports organization All Gamers (AG) raised over $1.37 million (¥10M RMB) in a Series B+ financing round.
- The funding round was led by Orinno Capital, a state-owned investment firm backed by the Chengdu Gaoxin District Holdings.
- All Gamers intends to use the capital to accelerate its IPO process, with a target completion date between 2025 and 2026.
NODWIN Gaming Reveals Slate of Partners for DreamHack India
NODWIN Gaming has secured a diverse slate of corporate partners for the fourth edition of DreamHack India, a three-day gaming and pop culture festival held in Hyderabad from November 3–5, 2023.
- NODWIN Gaming and DreamHack are hosting the fourth edition of DreamHack India, a three-day gaming and pop culture festival, from November 3–5, 2023, in Hyderabad.
- Key corporate partners for the event include Hyundai (official mobility partner), TVS Raider (official motoring partner), Intel (technology and CS2 Invitational title partner), Monster Energy, Opraahfx (talent partner), BenQ (monitor partner), and ACT (connectivity partner).
- The government of Telangana is providing official support for the three-day event held in Hyderabad.
M80 Partners With Recently Launched Gamer Platform Forge
The esports and gaming organization M80 has entered into a strategic partnership with Forge, a recently launched community and rewards platform.
- Esports organization M80 has entered a partnership with the newly launched gaming community and rewards platform Forge, though financial terms and the duration of the deal remain undisclosed.
- M80 will integrate Forge branding across its team jerseys, social media channels, and streaming platforms, while its professional players will serve as platform ambassadors.
- The collaboration includes the creation of co-branded content designed to promote Forge’s features, including its in-game reward programs for currency and cosmetic items.