The Esports Advocate
Esports business news: deals, legal, and governance.
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Bollywood Star Tiger Shroff Makes Strategic Investment in Revenant Esports
In May 2023, the India-based esports organization Revenant Esports announced that Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff completed a strategic investment in the company.
- Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff has made an undisclosed strategic investment in the New Delhi-based esports organization Revenant Esports.
- Revenant Esports plans to utilize the new funding to expand its global footprint and enhance its bootcamp infrastructure, esports rosters, and content creator network.
- The organization currently fields competitive teams in Valorant, Battlegrounds Mobile India, Pokémon Unite, Call of Duty Mobile, Apex Legends, and Brawl Stars.
LCS Players Vote to Walkout
The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) announced an overwhelming vote by professional League of Legends players to initiate a walkout in May 2023.
- The LCS Players Association (LCSPA) has voted to approve a walkout in protest of Riot Games' decision to remove the requirement for LCS teams to maintain a North America Challengers League (NACL) roster.
- The LCSPA described the vote as 'overwhelming' in favor of the walkout, though the specific vote tally was not publicly disclosed.
- The walkout threatens the start of the LCS competition, which was scheduled to begin on the Thursday following the May 29, 2023, announcement.
SPORTFIVE Extends Partnership With Saudi Esports Federation
The global sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE has extended its partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF), continuing a collaboration that began in 2022.
- Global sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE has extended its partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) to provide ongoing strategic sales support and project management.
- SPORTFIVE will serve as the primary partnership agency for the eight-week 'Gamers8: The Land of Heroes' event, which begins in Riyadh on July 8.
- The Gamers8 event features a total prize pool of $45 million USD across multiple competitive titles.
Tencent Appoints New Chairman to Huya
Tencent Holdings has appointed Vice President Lin Songtao as the new chairman of its gaming-focused live streaming subsidiary, Huya.
- Tencent has appointed its Vice President, Lin Songtao, as the new chairman of its wholly-owned live streaming platform, Huya.
- Lin Songtao replaces Huang Lingdong, who had served as Huya's chairman since April 2020.
- Tencent stated that the leadership change is intended to increase synergy between its core gaming business and the Huya live-streaming platform.
Orangutan Signs PUMA as a Partner
The Mumbai-based esports organization Orangutan has entered into a strategic partnership with the global sports apparel brand PUMA.
- Mumbai-based esports organization Orangutan Esports has signed a partnership agreement with global sports apparel brand PUMA.
- Under the terms of the deal, PUMA will serve as the organization's official performance and kit partner, with branding featured on player jerseys.
- While the financial terms and duration of the partnership were not disclosed, the collaboration is expected to include content creation across YouTube, Rooter, and social media channels.
ISU Taps PIVOT Agency to Tackle Naming Rights for the Redbird Esports Complex
Illinois State University has entered into a partnership with PIVOT Agency to secure a naming rights sponsor for its Redbird Esports Complex.
- Illinois State University has contracted PIVOT Agency to manage the valuation and sale of naming rights for its Redbird Esports Complex.
- The Redbird Esports Complex is an 11,000-square-foot facility in Normal, Illinois, that was developed through a $5.95 million renovation of a former bowling and billiards center.
- The facility features 72 gaming PCs, a broadcast and production booth, and dedicated spaces for console, tabletop, and team-based gaming.
Game Industry Veteran Marcos Pereira Joins FURIA
The Brazilian esports organization FURIA has appointed industry veteran Marcos Pereira as its new head of partnerships and customer success.
- Brazilian esports organization FURIA appointed Marcos Pereira as its new head of partnerships and customer success in May 2023.
- Pereira joins FURIA following a tenure at Google, where he served as the games business development manager for Google Play LATAM.
- His professional background includes significant experience at major industry firms, including four years at Blizzard Entertainment and over two years at Microsoft Brazil as an Xbox marketing specialist.
Olympic Council of Asia and Asian Electronic Sports Federation to Host Road to Asian Games
The Olympic Council of Asia and the Asian Electronic Sports Federation have announced the Road to Asian Games, a qualifying competition scheduled to take place in Macau from June 15 to July 16, 2023.
- The Olympic Council of Asia and the Asian Electronic Sports Federation will host the 'Road to Asian Games' (RTAG) competition in Macau from June 15 to July 16, 2023.
- Twenty-nine countries and regions will participate in the event, with results directly impacting the seeding and grouping for the subsequent Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
- The tournament will feature the same seven official esports titles as the Hangzhou Asian Games, including League of Legends, Dota 2, Honor of Kings, Peacekeeper Elite, Dream of The Three Kingdoms, Street Fighter V, and FIFA Online 4.
Gen.G Continues Support for McDonald’s Gaming League in 2023
The esports organization Gen.G has renewed its partnership with regional McDonald’s franchises, represented by Davis Elen Advertising, to facilitate the McDonald’s Gaming League for the 2023 season.
- Gen.G has renewed its partnership with regional McDonald’s franchises and Davis Elen Advertising to facilitate the McDonald’s Gaming League for the third consecutive year.
- The 2023 season, which began on May 12, features competition across Southern California, Southern Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas), the DMV (Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia), and the Pacific Northwest.
- The league is designed to support McDonald’s employees and youth through competitive gaming, with playoffs scheduled for June 24–25.
Ghost Gaming and XP League Open New Location in Atlanta
The esports organization Ghost Gaming has expanded its regional partnership with the youth-focused XP League by establishing a new facility in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia.
- Ghost Gaming and youth esports organization XP League have opened a new facility in the Buckhead district of Atlanta, Georgia.
- The new location is situated directly within the Ghost Gaming team headquarters, allowing youth players to interact with professional team members and attend pop-up events.
- The facility is scheduled to open on May 29, 2023, as an expansion of the regional partnership established between the two organizations in February 2023.
European Olympic Committee Reveals Esports Championship
The European Olympic Committee (EOC) has announced the launch of its inaugural Esports Championship, scheduled to take place from June 30 to July 2, 2023, in Katowice, Poland.
- The European Olympic Committee (EOC) will host its inaugural Esports Championship from June 30 to July 2, 2023, in Katowice, Poland, alongside the European Games Kraków-Małopolska.
- The tournament will feature two titles, 'Rocket League' and 'eFootball 2023,' selected for their alignment with the International Olympic Committee’s policy of promoting non-violent, sport-centered games.
- Both featured game competitions will include separate 'Open' and 'Women' categories for participants.
China Approves Acquisition of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has granted unconditional approval for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has granted unconditional approval for Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- This approval marks a significant milestone for the deal, which has now been cleared in 38 countries representing a combined population of 2.3 billion people.
- The official SAMR statement regarding the approval was expected to be published in late May 2023, following the agency's standard ten-day update cycle.