The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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Shikenso Analytics Partners With NIP Group
Shikenso Analytics has entered into a partnership with NIP Group, a global esports organization, to provide AI-driven sponsorship and performance monitoring services.
- NIP Group has partnered with Shikenso Analytics to utilize AI-driven tools for monitoring and evaluating the performance of sponsorships and partnerships across competitions and social media.
- The financial terms and duration of the partnership between NIP Group and Shikenso Analytics were not disclosed.
- NIP Group operates a global esports ecosystem with approximately 40 million social media followers, maintaining offices in China, Sweden, and Brazil.
KRÜ Esports, Visa Launch Video Series Promoting Women in Esports
The Argentina-based esports organization KRÜ Esports has partnered with Visa and Publicis Groupe to launch a short-form video series titled #KRÜ Lessons By Visa.
- KRÜ Esports and Visa have launched a short-form video series titled '#KRÜ Lessons By Visa' to promote the inclusion of women in professional esports.
- The content series features players from the organization's all-women Valorant roster, known as Visa KRÜ Blaze.
- The initiative was developed in collaboration with the advertising and public relations firm Publicis Groupe.
Gen.G Esports Partners With The Scholars
Gen.G Esports has entered into a partnership with The Scholars, a newly established awards program dedicated to the collegiate gaming industry.
- Gen.G Esports has partnered with The Scholars, a collegiate gaming industry awards program, to serve as the presenting sponsor for the Global Impact Award.
- The inaugural Scholars awards ceremony is scheduled to take place November 27–28 at the Worlds Resort Las Vegas, immediately preceding the annual Esports Awards.
- As part of the agreement, Gen.G will receive branding placement at the venue and across marketing materials, and company representatives will participate in educational panels.
Sentinels Ownership Group Commits $3.4M for Ongoing Operations and Future Expansion
The Los Angeles-based esports organization Sentinels has secured a $3.4 million capital injection from its ownership group to support ongoing operations and facilitate future expansion.
- The Sentinels ownership group has committed a $3.4 million cash injection to support ongoing operations and future organizational expansion.
- Sentinels expects to reduce its operational burn rate in upcoming quarters, driven by industry-wide decreases in player costs.
- The organization plans to leverage in-game digital content monetization through its status as an official partner in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) to improve cash flow.
Guild Esports Finds a New Largest Shareholder in a Potential $1.21M Deal
London-based esports organization Guild Esports has entered into a significant financial agreement to secure a new primary shareholder.
- Guild Esports is securing a potential $1.21M (£1M) investment from an undisclosed international media and esports brand, which will make the investor the company's largest shareholder with a stake of up to 24.3%.
- The deal is structured in tranches, with an initial £500K investment for a 13.84% stake already underway and an optional second £500K tranche subject to further negotiation.
- This transaction values Guild Esports at approximately £4.11M ($4.99M), representing a significant decline from its £50M ($60.75M) valuation at the time of its October 2020 IPO.
Midwest Games Secures $3.1M in Latest Funding Round
Midwest Games, a video game publisher focused on supporting developers in the American Midwest and other underrepresented regions, has successfully secured $3.1 million in a recent funding round.
- Midwest Games secured $3.1 million in a recent funding round led by TitletownTech, a venture capital firm backed by Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers.
- Gaming personality and XSET co-owner Erin Ashley Simon has joined the company as a co-owner following her investment in the round.
- Additional investors in the funding round include Tundra Angels, Brightstar Wisconsin, Wisconsin Investment Partners, and Bay Tek Entertainment CEO Larry Treankler.
BLAST Reveals Partners for BLAST R6 Atlanta Major
Tournament organizer BLAST has secured new commercial partnerships with gaming chair manufacturer Eureka Ergonomic and food and beverage brand CTRL for the 2023 Rainbow Six Siege Major in Atlanta, Georgia.
- BLAST has secured Eureka Ergonomic and CTRL as partners for the Rainbow Six: Siege Major taking place in Atlanta from October 31 to November 12, 2023.
- The tournament features 24 teams competing for a total prize pool of $750,000 and league points required to qualify for the Six Invitational 2024.
- Eureka Ergonomic will supply gaming chairs for all competitors throughout the tournament stages, while CTRL will host an activation booth in the arena.
LeagueSpot Continues Partnership With Epic Charter Schools
LeagueSpot has officially renewed its partnership with Oklahoma-based Epic Charter Schools to continue providing scholastic gaming and esports infrastructure.
- LeagueSpot has renewed its partnership with Epic Charter Schools to continue providing gaming and esports programs to nearly 30,000 K-12 students.
- Participation in the Epic Charter Schools gaming and esports program more than doubled between 2022 and 2023.
- The partnership focuses on deploying virtual and blended learning initiatives that utilize esports to foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
The Esports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award Class of 2023
The Esports Awards announced the 2023 inductees for the Lifetime Achievement in Esports award, a recognition program dedicated to honoring professionals who have made significant, long-term contributions to the growth and development of the competitive gaming industry.
- The Esports Awards announced its 2023 Lifetime Achievement inductees: Michael “Odee” O’Dell, Ian “Crimsix” Porter, Chris Puckett, Victor “Nazgul” Goossens, Shane “rapha” Hendrixson, Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen, Lee “Flash” Young Ho, and Marc Merrill.
- Lexus has renewed its partnership with the Esports Awards for 2023, marking its fifth consecutive year as a presenting partner.
- As part of its sponsorship, Lexus will sponsor the “Streamer of the Year” and “Esports Organization of the Year” award categories.
HRH Crown Prince MBS Reveals the Esports World Cup
The Saudi Arabian government has announced the launch of the Esports World Cup, an annual, multi-title competition scheduled to debut in Riyadh in 2024.
- Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the launch of the 'Esports World Cup,' an annual, multi-title, club-based competition scheduled to debut in Riyadh in 2024.
- The new event will replace the existing Gamers8 tournament, which featured a prize pool exceeding $45 million USD in 2023.
- The Esports World Cup Foundation, a new non-profit organization, has been established to manage the event and promote global esports sustainability, with ESL FACEIT Chairman Ralf Reichert appointed to lead it.
NineBot Named Title Sponsor of LNG Esports for Worlds 2023
The League of Legends Pro League (LPL) team LNG Esports has secured a title sponsorship deal with NineBot, a manufacturer of electronic motorcycles and a brand of Segway, for the duration of the 2023 League of Legends World Championship.
- LNG Esports has signed a title sponsorship deal with electric motorcycle brand NineBot for the League of Legends World Championship 2023.
- As part of the rebranding, the team will compete as 'LNG NineBot' during the tournament, with the sponsor's branding featured on the front and back of team jerseys.
- LNG Esports is owned by the Chinese apparel brand Li-Ning, which serves as the exclusive apparel sponsor for the League of Legends Pro League (LPL).
GameSquare to Acquire FaZe Clan Amid Efforts to Revitalize the Organization
GameSquare Holdings has announced a definitive agreement to acquire FaZe Clan, a move intended to stabilize the struggling esports organization and prevent its potential delisting from the Nasdaq.
- GameSquare Holdings has entered into an agreement to acquire FaZe Clan in an all-stock transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023.
- Upon completion of the deal, existing GameSquare shareholders will own approximately 55% of the merged entity, while FaZe Clan shareholders will hold approximately 45%.
- The acquisition aims to revitalize the FaZe brand by reinstating co-founders Richard 'FaZe Banks' Bengtson as CEO, Thomas 'FaZe Temperrr' Oliveira as President, and Yousef 'FaZe Apex' Abdelfattah as COO.