British Formula 1 driver Lando Norris has launched esports and content creation organisation, Team Quadrant. 

Norris, who drives for McLaren, already has more than 600K followers on his Twitch channel, and is the second F1 driver to launch their own team, after Frenchman Romain Grosjean launched R8G eSports. 

In an interview with BBC Sports, Norris revealed he’s been planning to launch his own organisation for some time, and though it will focus on sim racing, it will also expand into other categories of esports and games. 

Team Quadrant has signed sim racing content creators Aarav “Aarava” Amin, and Steve “Super GT” Alvarez Brown, and gaming content creators Niran “FNG” Yesufu, and “RiaBish”, to expand its online presence, with a view to entering esports in the near future. 

🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘 #QUADRANT pic.twitter.com/qsbXUQ3ouw

— Lando Norris (@LandoNorris) November 6, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

Given the huge boost in popularity sim racing, especially F1, has enjoyed during the COVID-19 crisis, it seems like the perfect time for Norris, and other drivers, to establish themselves in the gaming and esports world. 

Staying with F1, AYO.NEWS’ very own Simona Pinterova recently caught up with Julian Tan, Head of Digital Business Initiatives & Esports at Formula1, to find out how the iconic racing organisation has expanded its esports offering this year, and what the future has in store. 

‘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.

UK-based social publisher GameByte has entered e-commerce with the launch of The GameByte shop. 

According to GameByte, it is now the only social publisher in the world to fully own every step of the consumer journey, and its new shop will stock over 1,000 products including video games,  next-gen consoles, and gaming accessories. 

Using a proprietary e-commerce platform, GameByte says it will provide media buyers with total transparency and insight. 

GameByte is owned by global social agency and publishing house, Social Chain, and on 6 November 2020, its audience stood at over 6 million gamers, with more than 25 million views on its Facebook videos each month. 

Commenting on the news head of GameByte, Rich White, said:

“This isn’t just the next generation of GameByte, it’s the next gen of games media. Though it’s never been done before, we’re in the perfect position to launch a gaming e-commerce platform. We know our audience inside-out.”

While Social Chain’s business development director, Sam Barrett, added:

“We’re already a trusted source of gaming news and entertainment. Now with our proprietary e-commerce platform, we can provide a seamless purchase journey for both our community and for the world’s leading gaming companies, by owning every step involved to help them reach their customers.”

Until now, four-year-old GameByte’s growth has been powered by creating fan-centric original content and coverage for major gaming brands like Frontier and Logitech. However, the GameByte brand itself will now become a client too, marketing its own products. 

The GameByte Shop will also be used as ad inventory for clients, media buyers, and affiliates, enabling them to tap into the global gaming market, which is estimated to stand at some 2.6 billion active gamers, and looks set to increase by 5% in 2021 to 2.725 billion. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With so many cut-price e-commerce competitors out there, some of which enjoy incredible economies of scale, this is nothing if not a bold move by GameByte, and it will be interesting to see how it pans out. Will the brand loyalty of entertainment and news consumers translate into retail purchases? Time will tell…

‘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.

Video game publisher Electronic Arts has reported $185M, and Take-Two Interactive $99M, profit for the second quarter.

EA: changes to release dates drag on period

In the second quarter of its fiscal year 2021, which ended 30 September, Electronic Arts (EA) generated $1.15B USD in net revenue, down 15% year-on-year. The period saw a 30.7% fall in net bookings (total net revenues added to the change in deferred net revenues for online and mobile game fees), falling to $910M.

Despite dropping by 45% , the majority of net bookings, some $513M, was contributed by EA’s console products, though both PC and mobile grew by 4% each, adding $225M and $172M respectively. 

According to EA, the drop in revenue is attributable to the decision to move the launch of Madden NFL 21 back, and move FIFA 21 from Q2 to Q3 – resulting in an estimated $525M of net bookings to shift from Q2 to Q3 and Q4 of fiscal year 2021. 

Despite the subdued results, EA noted that the FIFA player base has hit almost 35M globally, while Madden has seen a 30% year-on-year increase in players, and Apex Legends grew 20% year-on-year, and is on track to contribute more than $500M in revenue for the fiscal year – making it EA’s next billion-dollar franchise. 

Staying with Electronic Arts, earlier today we reported that EA Sports has renewed its partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL), and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), allowing it to continue developing its EA SPORTS NHL 21 game.

Take-Two: revenue down, but in-game purchases drive profit up

Take-Two Interactive Software, developer of popular basketball sim NBA 2K21 and NBA 2K20, also saw revenue drop in its FY 2020 Q2, down 2% year-on-year to $841M.

Despite this, revenues from in-game purchases, virtual currency, and add-on content actually surged by 56%, contributing a significant 59% of total net revenues, and the company ended the second quarter with a net profit of $99.3M, up a healthy 38.3% year-on-year.

In addition to its basketball titles, Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption 2, and the WWE series, also contributed strongly to revenue. 

Staying with Take-Two’s offering, earlier today we reported that USA Basketball is entering esports for the first time, creating an E-National Team ahead of the FIBA Esports Open II, which will be played on T2’s NBA 2K21 title. 

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

UK-based organisation Guild Esports has hired Duncan ‘Thorin’ Shields to help put together a CS:GO roster. 

The London Stock Exchange-listed organisation, which is part owned by footballing legend David Beckham, has entered a consulting agreement with Thorin to tap his expertise on CS:GO. Thorin has been covering esports as a journalist for almost two decades, and is a well known analyst and content creator, often seen presenting CS:GO competitions. 

Announcing his collaboration with Guild on Twitter, Thorin said:

“Guild Esports made a splash with their initial announcement and I’m pleased to announce that as they look to enter the Counter-Strike space, where I have been deeply embedded for decades, I have agreed to a consulting partnership with them.”

Guild Esports initially launched in summer with a European Rocket League squad, and FIFA player Niklas ‘NRaseck’ Raseck. It has since added a European VALORANT squad to its lineup, and entry into CS:GO is the next logical move.

Excited to sit under the learning tree of the CS Sensei 🥋 https://t.co/Vhae8uHdJr

— Guild (@guildesports) November 5, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

After its high-profile £41.2M London Stock Exchange Listing in October, the pressure is on Guild Esports to live up to expectations, both in terms of on-screen victories and commercial deals. On the latter, Guild has already made progress, landing its first major sponsorship deal with an as yet undisclosed European fintech firm. 

‘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.

USA Basketball is creating an E-National Team ahead of FIBA Esports Open II, inviting 30 of the top NBA 2K players for try-outs. 

The hopefuls will prove their skills this weekend in online virtual try-outs, where they will be divided into six different teams, competing in a round-robin tournament. 

Selecting the players will be USA Basketball E-National Team selection panelists, including NBA 2K League Community Ambassador Graham Borden; Wizards District Gaming Team Manager Patrick Crossan; Utah Jazz Gaming Coach Jelani Mitchell; Aerial Powers, 2015 World University Games gold medal winner and forward with WNBA Washington Mystics; and USA Basketball Youth & Sport Development Assistant Director Andrea Travelstead.

Seven players will be chosen to form a national team that will represent the United States at the FIBA Esports Open II, in the North and Central American Conference on 19-20 December, where they will compete against teams from Canada, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, and Puerto Rico. 

The 30 players who have accepted try-out invitations are:

• Amber  Sammons – “ABPureblood20”/HeartCrushers
• Wendi  Fleming – “ALittleLady87”/BallHerAlert
• Aaron  Rookwood – “Arooks”/Bucks Gaming
• Michael  Key – “BearDaBeast”/T-Wolves Gaming 
• Charles  Bostwick – “CB13”/Warriors Gaming Squad
• Chiquita  Evans – “Chiquitae126”/BallHerAlert 
• Rafel Davis – “Crush”Kings/Guard Gaming 
• Ryan Conger – “Dayfr”/Wizards District Gaming
• Artreyo Boyd – ”Dimez”/Mavs Gaming 
• Alaina Haney – “DjLayyy”/HeartCrushers
• Mihad Feratovic – “FEAST”/T-Wolves Gaming
• Dayvon Curry – “G O O F Y 7 5 7”/Grizz Gaming
• Samuel Salyers – “Gradient”/Warriors Gaming Squad
• Hazel Childress – “HazelChildress”/BallHerAler 
• Juan Gonzalez – “Hotshot”/Heat Check Gaming
• Brianna Novin – “icygrl”/BallHerAlert
• Ziah Minor – “iKilledZiah”/HeartCrushers
• John Mascone – “JBM”/Wizards District Gaming
• Kenneth Hailey – “Kenny Got Work”/Raptors Uprising GC
• Jake Knapp – “Legit 973”/Raptors Uprising GC
• Nidal Nasser – “Mama Im Dat Man”/Kings Guard Gaming
• Dayne Downey – “OneWildWalnut”/Blazer5 Gaming
• Malik Hobson – “OriginalMalik”/Knicks Gaming
• Ethan White – “Radiant”/76ers GC
• Ramo Radoncic – “Ramo”/Pistons GT
• Reginald Nash Jr. – “Regg”/Bucks Gaming
• Spencer Wyman – “Ria”/Jazz Gaming
• Gerald Knapp – “Sick One”/Raptors Uprising GC
• Eric Donald – “Timelycook513”/Raptors Uprising GC
• Zaeya Ishak – “Zae”/Hornets Venom GT

Though it will be the second FIBA Esports Open, the event marks USA Basketball’s entry into esports. The first round, which took place in June, involved five conferences with 114 players from 17 nations. For this round the event has been expanded to 38 national teams and seven regional conferences. Games will be played remotely on NBA 2K21, using the Pro-AM mode.

AYO.NEWS says:

It’s great to see USA Basketball get involved with the rapidly growing NBA 2K scene. Considering the first FIBA Esports Open, in June 2020, was such a big hit – attracting over 5 million social media views on the FIBA and National Federations’ social channels alone – we’re sure the second, expanded round will be an even bigger success, and demonstrate just how exciting basketball esports can be. 

‘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.

Esports and influencer-focused data-driven payments platform Edge, has secured $1.5M USD in a funding round.

Blake Picquiet, co-owner of Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers, led the investment round, which also attracted participation from Green Egg Ventures, Game Tech Partners, and Robert Reeg, former President of Mastercard Global Technologies.

London-based Edge uses blockchain-based smart contracts to automate the entire payment process, including contracting, payments, data tracking, management and analysis, and KYC and identity verification.

The solution integrates directly with games including Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch, Call of Duty, CS:GO, DOTA2, League of Legends, and Fortnite, along with social platforms, including Instagram, Twitch, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Discord.  

The company says it will use the new capital to improve marketing and business development, and further develop its technology – including its new Edge Sandbox, designed to enable smart contracts to be created easily and quickly. 

Discussing the news co-founder and CEO of Edge, Adam Whyte, said:

“When we started Edge we were very focused on the value of smart contracts for both businesses and the individual. The esports and video games industry is young and fast-paced, and unfortunately certain processes and regulations often fall by the wayside.

“Our ambition initially was to create something that would make the industry safer, and over time we’ve found our Edge technology has multiple purposes. We see huge value in connecting data, contracts and payments. If you’re running an influencer campaign and the required content isn’t posted, the contract isn’t fulfilled and payment won’t be made. We can monitor in-game and social performance and only pay when content is delivered. It’s as simple as that.”

While lead investor Picquet added:

“We invested in Edge because we believe in their vision. Using data to power and automate business makes sense in a global economy that is increasingly measured in reach, clicks, likes and engagements.

“We love the intersection of sports, tech, and media investments. Edge is enabling the growth of the influencer, streaming, and gaming industries by providing a purpose-built solution. Edge uses new world solutions for new world industries. 

“Their executive team couldn’t be better assembled to tackle this complicated problem with a simple solution. We are excited to give Edge lift-off internationally and look forward to supporting their growth in the US initially.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Even for the most experienced, the complexities of handling payment processes and remaining compliant can be tedious, time-consuming, and frustrating, so smart contract-based platforms like Edge offer a fantastic solution, and it’s great to see the company get the backing it deserves. 

‘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.