US/Malta-based Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) has engaged Akur Capital as its iGaming mergers and acquisitions advisor. 

Akur Capital is a cross-border M&A advisory firm, specialising in the iGaming and sports betting sectors.

Commenting on the news CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, Grant Johnson, said:

“We just signed with Akur and are already evaluating multiple potential M&A opportunities they’ve introduced to us.

“The Akur team has years of iGaming and gambling experience and an extensive network of industry contacts. As the first US-based iGaming company to list on NASDAQ, we’re in a great position to capitalize on these highly fragmented markets and believe Akur will prove to be a valuable partner in our ongoing success.”

Johnson will be participating in a webinar panel at The emergence of Esports, presented by Maxim Group and M-Vest tomorrow (Thursday, 9 July, 2020). During the discussion, Johnson will discuss the esports industry, its major players, and factors driving the current dramatic market growth.

Esports Entertainment Group runs its gambling operations from the European iGaming hub of Malta, and last month set up a subsidiary in New Jersey, USA. Last week, the company announced the appointment of two Argyll Entertainment executives, Stuart Tilly and Dan Marks, to key leadership positions.

AYO.NEWS says:

EEG is obviously planning some acquisitions, but what will they be? Small specialist esports operators, or more traditional iGaming/sports betting operators with a presence in esports? Or maybe it’s something more along the lines of tournament platforms or media? With the esports sector booming and so many exciting startups and innovative companies in the space, the possibilities are endless.

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Hitmarker, the UK-based gaming and esports jobs platform, has announced a partnership with The NUEL (National University Esports League).  

The partnership will see The NUEL harness Hitmarker’s data and expertise to help university students enter the video game and esports industries. At the same time Hitmarker will benefit from a “ever-increasing pipeline of potential hires” for the jobs it advertises. 

In addition to carrying on live Hitmarker jobs feed on its website, The NUEL will also be offering a limited number of students one-on-one guidance sessions with professionals from Hitmarker, and there will be collaboration covering career-focused content and events. 

Discussing the partnership Managing Director of Hitmarker, Richard Huggan, said:

“When The NUEL approached us about working together for the benefit of university students here in the UK, we jumped at the opportunity. 

We’re committed to doing as much as we possibly can to advance the cause of esports globally, but it’s fantastic to be able to give something back a little bit closer to home. We hope hundreds of students will benefit from this partnership in the months and years ahead, and we look forward to working with all of them to help them reach their goals.”

While Founder of The NUEL, Josh Williams, added:

“Helping to develop pathways into the esports industry is a critical part of what The NUEL does, so we’re incredibly excited to be working more closely with Hitmarker. By connecting the support and expertise of the Hitmarker team with the university esports community, we hope to help even more students with their professional development.”

AYO.NEWS says:

This seems like a win-win partnership for everyone; Hitmarker can provide its clients with access to a steady stream of new talent, while students will get professional advice and access to the contacts and opportunities that can kick-start their careers. 

This kind of partnership, together with increased investment in esports and video games from universities, is exactly what is needed to enable the development of a truly sustainable and exciting industry. 

Staying with UK students and esports, only yesterday we reported the Asian Electronic Sports Federation has entered a strategic partnership with Coventry University. 

Earlier this year Hitmarker expanded to cover Spanish and Portuguese speaking markets through a partnership with Brazil-based esports job platform VaggasBR. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Indian PUBG MOBILE esports organisation Megastars has announced a partnership with streaming platform Nimo TV. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Nimo TV, which is owned by Chinese streaming platform Huya, will get exclusive streaming rights for Megastars players. 

Since launching in 2020, Nimo TV has been building a presence in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and South America, attempting to entice content creators and esports players onto the platform. It has been aiming particularly at the PUBG MOBILE audience, which is extremely large in those regions, hosting tournaments like the recent Nimo TV PUBG MOBILE League.

Megastars are now ready for the highest level of competitive play in PUBG MOBILE, having recently qualified for the World League. The organisation also fields players in Call of Duty: Mobile, and Clash Royale. 

AYO.NEWS says:

There’s a lot of news coming out of the Indian PUBG MOBILE scene recently. Last month UK-based esports organisation, which acquired Indian PUBG MOBILE team XSpark in October 2019, entered a long-term partnership with Indian streaming platform Loco. 

At the end of June, Hong Kong-based Nova Esports also announced it was partnering with GodLike Esports to field an all-Indian roster in PUBG MOBILE. 

With its relatively low technical requirements, PUBG MOBILE can be played on even entry level and low-end smartphones, turning it into something of a cultural phenomenon in India, where its popularity shows no signs of slowing. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

The Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) has partnered with Coventry University in the UK. 

The partnership, which is intended to increase opportunities for students, will focus on the development of the university’s esports course, and involve extensive collaboration with AESF and its members. 

Discussing the partnership Director General of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, Sebastian Lau, said:

“Coventry University’s expertise in sports management and business studies will help further support our member associations, players, and officials in developing content around the education of esports. 

“This collaboration not only signifies AESF’s continuous effort in supporting this industry, but it also reflects Coventry University’s dedication and commitment to adapting and keeping up with the times.”

While Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International Development) at Coventry University, Dr David Pilsbury, added:

“We are delighted to have reached this key milestone in developing this crucial partnership for the university. We understand the importance of esports globally and in Asia particularly and are delighted at the opportunity to work with the AESF to support the athletes, players, officials and associations who make up this vibrant community as it continues its rapid growth and innovation.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Though universities in the UK are starting to invest in esports facilities and courses, for example with Staffordshire University introducing the country’s first esports degree back in 2018, it seems the Brits still have a lot of catching up to do with their cousins across the pond in the US. 

Still, partnerships like this, will likely prove very valuable in accelerating the development of esports in Britain’s education sector, and we look forward to seeing what they get up to. 

Staying with university esports, last week we reported the University of Kentucky had signed a 13-year esports facility naming rights deal with UK Federal Credit Union.

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty League has announced the entire postseason will be held online, in response to the continuing COVID-19 crisis. 

After consultations with players and team owners, the league’s management concluded the playoff portion of the competition should be played entirely online.

Teams will play from remote locations, and are collaborating with the league on “additional competitive integrity measures.” This will include a universal camera setup, that will enable organisers to view the players, computers, monitors, and competition areas. 

The camera set-up will be provided to all competitors, and in-place prior to the start of the New York Subliners Home Series on 10 July. 

A pool of nine servers will be available for the competition, with three available for each series, and teams matched up with servers that are closest to each other in terms of latency. 

Organisers also say they will be bulking up the production, technical, and officiating staffing teams, so they are ready to handle any issues that might arise in the new online competition environment. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite many seeming to think the COVID-19 crisis is over, it is still very serious, with infection rates surging and lockdowns returning in many parts of the world, so it’s great to see Call of Duty League is being responsible and moving entirely online for now. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Getty Images has partnered with all-female simulation racing competition W Series Esports League.

The agreement makes Getty Images the “exclusive official photographic partner” of the league, which was launched in response to the real-world W Series championship being postponed until at least 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Getty, which is well known for its involvement in traditional sports photography and media, will capture in-game images from the remaining races of the league. 

Discussing the deal Global Head of Content at Getty Images, Ken Mainardis, said:

“Ever since Getty Images was founded 25 years ago, our specialist operations team and industry-leading photographic talent have been at the forefront of creating innovative sports photography. 

“This partnership furthers the W Series aim in elevating female esports to a global audience and demonstrates how Getty Images leads the way in delivering cutting-edge content to our customers around the world.”

While CEO of W Series, Catherine Bond Muir, added:

“We at W Series are delighted to partner with Getty Images, whose expertise is unmatched across all sorts of photography and whose brand values in respect of diversity and inclusion are a great fit with those of W Series.

“But although the W Series Esports League provides great on-screen entertainment for fans and poses a stern sporting test for our drivers, there is a bigger purpose to it also: we hope that women and girls who perhaps have not engaged with esports or in particular sim racing, either as viewers or players, will be inspired by the exploits of our 20 female racers to embrace it in greater numbers than they have hitherto.”

It’s not Getty Images’ first foray into esports, as it already signed a similar partnership with the FIA-sanctioned Gran Turismo championships earlier this year. 

AYO.NEWS says:

This may be an “exciting” deal for W Series, but it’s hard to see how this can be successful. Getty’s pedigree in traditional sports, editorial and news photography is unquestioned, but its prices are also eye-watering, and its business model seems like something from another era. 

Will any users of esports content really be able to justify spending close on €500 for an editorial image from the W Series Esports League? It seems doubtful. And, the question has to be asked – sure, it can be argued that those prices are justifiable for events which involve photographers, with very expensive kit, going out into the field and taking images, but for computer generated in-game images from a video game? 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020