The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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Multiple Esports Federations Publicly Condemn IESF’s Reinstatement of Russia
The International Esports Federation (IESF) faced significant backlash in August 2023 following its decision to reinstate the Russian Esports Federation, allowing Russian athletes to compete under their national flag and anthem starting in 2024.
- The International Esports Federation (IESF) voted to reinstate Russian athletes for 2024 competitions, allowing them to compete under their national flag and anthem.
- The reinstatement vote passed with 32 delegates in favor, 13 against, and 25 abstentions during the IESF Annual General Meeting held on August 28, 2023.
- In response to the decision, the Ukraine Esports Federation withdrew its national CS:GO and Dota 2 teams from the 2023 IESF World Esports Championship.
Shikenso Analytics Partners With FURIA, Turtle Beach
Shikenso Analytics, a Germany-based firm specializing in gaming and esports data, has expanded its client portfolio through new partnerships with the Brazilian esports organization FURIA and the peripherals manufacturer Turtle Beach.
- Shikenso Analytics has entered into new partnerships with Brazilian esports organization FURIA and peripherals manufacturer Turtle Beach to provide AI-driven marketing and sponsorship analytics.
- The partnerships will utilize Shikenso’s tools to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of sponsorships across social media, streaming platforms, and broadcast interactions.
- Financial terms for the agreements with FURIA and Turtle Beach were not disclosed.
India’s Top Tournament Organizers Comment on Free Fire India News
The return of Garena’s Free Fire to the Indian market represents a significant development for the regional esports industry, signaling new opportunities for investment and competitive programming.
- Major Indian tournament organizers NODWIN Gaming and Skyesports have expressed strong interest in partnering with Garena to resume hosting Free Fire esports events following the game's return to the Indian market.
- Free Fire MAX maintains a significant user base in India, currently ranking as the #1 free-to-download action game on Android devices in the region.
- Despite a long-standing ban, industry stakeholders report that Free Fire retains a highly loyal fan base and viewership levels comparable to its primary competitor, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI).
Nicole LaPointe Jameson Stepping Down as CEO of Evil Geniuses
Nicole LaPointe Jameson, the Chief Executive Officer of the Seattle-based esports organization Evil Geniuses, announced her departure from the company in August 2023.
- Nicole LaPointe Jameson is stepping down as CEO of Evil Geniuses in September 2023 after serving in the role for over four years.
- Chris DeAppolonio, the current Chief Innovation Officer at Evil Geniuses, has been named as the successor to the CEO position.
- Jameson joined the Seattle-based esports organization in May 2019 after previously serving as an advisor to PEAK6 Investments.
Enthusiast Gaming Partners With the NFL for NFL Tuesday Night Gaming Season 2
The National Football League and Enthusiast Gaming have announced the second season of their collaborative video gaming series, NFL Tuesday Night Gaming.
- Enthusiast Gaming and the NFL are launching the second season of their weekly video gaming series, 'NFL Tuesday Night Gaming,' on September 12, 2023.
- The series will be broadcast live on Twitch, YouTube, and X (Twitter) and will feature a mix of prominent content creators such as TypicalGamer, NickEh30, and QTCinderella alongside current and former NFL players.
- A pre-launch 'Play Day' episode hosted by rapper Quavo is scheduled for September 5, 2023, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, featuring outdoor competitions between four teams of creators and athletes.
Galaxy Racer Formally Announces GXR Records
The Dubai-based esports and gaming organization Galaxy Racer has formally launched GXR Records, an independent music label established in partnership with Empire.
- Dubai-based esports organization Galaxy Racer has officially launched GXR Records, an independent music label established in partnership with Empire.
- GXR Records is focused on developing musical talent across the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region and plans to organize regional music festivals and tours.
- Elia Mssawir, who has been with the label since March 2022, serves as the CEO of GXR Records.
Joyce Ajouri Joins Galaxy Racer North America
Galaxy Racer North America has appointed Joyce Ajouri as its new director of operations.
- Joyce Ajouri has been appointed as the new director of operations for Galaxy Racer North America.
- Ajouri joins the company after a six-year tenure at YouTube, where she served as a branded content manager focusing on gaming and creator partnerships.
- In her new role, Ajouri will oversee North American backend management, operational planning, and communication with the company's clients and creators.
Free Fire Makes a Triumphant Return to India
Garena, a subsidiary of Singapore-based SEA Ltd, announced the return of its battle royale title to the Indian market on September 5, 2023, under the name Free Fire India.
- Garena, a subsidiary of SEA Ltd, is re-releasing its battle royale title as 'Free Fire India' on September 5, 2023, following a previous ban.
- The game generated $1.1 billion in revenue globally between January and December 2021 prior to its removal from the Indian market.
- To ensure compliance with local regulations and provide a stable experience, Garena has established a partnership with Yotta Infrastructure.
The Guard Will Not Be a Participating Team in VCT Americas 2024
The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas league officially excluded The Guard from its 2024 season due to the organization’s failure to meet a critical deadline regarding the Team Participation Agreement.
- The Guard will not participate in the 2024 VCT Americas League after failing to meet the deadline to sign the required Team Participation Agreement.
- Riot Games confirmed that no replacement team will be promoted, leaving the VCT Americas league with 10 teams for the 2024 season.
- The Guard’s parent company, Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, is actively winding down its esports division, which previously included teams in Apex Legends, Call of Duty League, and Overwatch League.
Perfect World to Host CS:GO Asian Championship in Shanghai
Chinese game publisher and distributor Perfect World has announced it will host the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Asian Championship (CAC) in Shanghai from November 8–12, 2023.
- Perfect World will host the CS:GO Asian Championship (CAC) in Shanghai from November 8–12, 2023, featuring a total prize pool of $500,000 USD.
- Confirmed participating teams for the event include ENCE, G2 Esports, FaZe Clan, Mouz, and Team Liquid.
- The tournament is being co-organized by Perfect World and PGL, marking a continuation of their partnership on regional esports events.
International Esports Federation Members Vote to Reinstate Russia
The International Esports Federation (IESF) voted in August 2023 to reinstate Russia, allowing its national esports athletes to compete under their own flag and name.
- The International Esports Federation (IESF) voted to reinstate Russia, allowing its athletes to compete under their national flag and name in future events.
- The reinstatement vote passed with 32 delegates in favor, 13 against, and 25 abstentions.
- The IESF rejected separate motions concerning gender equality and LGBT-related topics during the same meeting.
Wouter Sleijffers Leaves EXCEL Esports
Wouter Sleijffers has officially departed the London-based esports organization EXCEL Esports, concluding a four-year tenure with the company.
- Wouter Sleijffers has officially departed London-based esports organization EXCEL Esports after serving as CEO for nearly four years.
- Sleijffers stepped down from his CEO role in January 2023, transitioning to an advisor position for the board on strategy and growth before his final exit in August 2023.
- Prior to his tenure at EXCEL, which began in late 2019, Sleijffers served as the CEO of Fnatic for more than four years.