UK-based competitive gaming culture brand EXCEL ESPORTS has named Sony as its Official Smartphone Supplier for Fortnite. 

The agreement will see Sony work closely with Fortnite prodigy and EXCEL player Jayden “Wolfiez” Ashman to showcase the capabilities of its flagship Xperia smartphones via a range of content pieces. 

Wolfiez became the highest earner in UK esports history after finishing second at the Fortnite World Cup and winning over $1M, and was signed by EXCEL last year, marking the organisation’s entry into Fortnite. 

Patrick Collins, Head of Partnerships, EXCEL ESPORTS, said: “At EXCEL ESPORTS we are always looking to work with forward-thinking partners that are innovating tech within the competitive gaming space. Fortnite is a title in which we are looking to create a lasting legacy and it’s great to have partners like Sony who can help us. Jaden competes on controller-based PC, but he has been thrilled by the mobile experience Sony offers and sees it as the ideal way for him to keep playing at the highest level whether he’s at home, or on the go.”

Matt Beavis, UK Head of PR, Social and Partnerships of Sony’s mobile business, added: “We have a very targeted approach to marketing on the mobile side of the business at Sony, focusing our efforts on communicating with specific communities of interest; namely ‘Photographers’ or ‘Gamers’ as in this instance. 

“A partnership with Excel is aimed at demonstrating to hardcore gaming enthusiasts why Sony is a ‘no-brainer’ when it comes to smartphone selection. It’s about ensuring that the community realises that, as well as making pioneering gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5, Sony also puts an incredible amount of effort into ensuring that same gaming expertise and associated innovation translates to its Xperia smartphones. 

“With Battle Royale games such as Fortnite, that expertise goes one step further – we have a 21:9 screen ratio that essentially affords the user a wider field of vision than someone using another device like a PC or console, meaning you can also see enemies sneaking up on you earlier than perhaps they think you can!”

Staying with EXCEL ESPORTS, last month the organisation unveiled Beyond NRG as its Official Energy Drink Partner. 

Esports-first betting platform Luckbox has added support for VALORANT betting. 

The addition of VALORANT takes the total number of titles on offer at Luckbox to 14, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Dota 2, League of Legends, and Overwatch. 

Luckbox now offers wagering on the game, with markets on Match winner, Correct Score, Maps Handicap, Total Maps, Round Handicap and Total Rounds. Luckbox visitors can watch live streams of competitive VALORANT matches as well as get up-to-date stats and team rosters.

Luckbox Director of Sportsbook, Metodi Zaburtov, commented: “VALORANT has had an immediate impact as an esport, with Riot Games helping to foster a strong professional structure, with the first stage of the VALORANT Champions Tour boasting a prize pool of more than $400,000,.

“Esports fans have quickly grown to love VALORANT, with 291.26 million hours watched in the past six months, making it the eighth most popular category on Twitch – above FIFA and Call of Duty: Warzone. The addition of VALORANT betting is a continuation of our mission at Luckbox to offer the most comprehensive coverage of esports betting options for fans.”

Staying with Luckbox, last month its operating company, Real Luck Group Ltd, raised $17.8M in a heavily oversubscribed private placement deal. 

Czech Republic-based esports odds feed supplier, Oddin, has joined the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC). 

ESIC’s mission is to preserve the integrity of esports and to take responsibility for disruption, prevention, investigation, and prosecution of every form of cheating within the esports ecosystem. 

From now on, Oddin will work together with ESIC in the common goal of enjoying fair and exciting esports competitions over the world.

‘’We are happy to welcome Oddin into our global anti-fraud network. It is very important for us that key esports betting provider such as Oddin becomes a member. They will help us fight match-fixing practices over the multiple jurisdictions they operate in. We look forward to having long-term cooperation with them.’’ said Ian Smith, Commissioner of Esports Integrity Commission.

‘’As an esports betting provider, we can’t ignore the integrity issues within the esports sphere. Our goal is to provide an entertaining product that can engage esports fans and enhance their experience when watching esports matches. This whole experience can be ruined if someone alters the competition by cheating. Match-fixing is something we are fighting against thanks to our traders’ expertise and our risk management tools, and now as well collaborating with ESIC.’’ said Marek Suchar, Head of Partnerships at Oddin.

Staying with Oddin, last month the company announced a partnership with Polish sportsbook BetX.

Gamers Club and Riot Games’ Game Changers initiative are organising a new women’s Valorant circuit in Latin America. 

Gamers Club Circuit: Gêneses Protocol will be divided into four splits, each with a $20K BRL (approx. $3.6K USD) prize pool, and will qualify one team for the Valorant Game Changers Series. 

All Latin American women’s teams are able to apply to take part, and local organisations already confirmed for the series are Gamelanders, INTZ, and Vivo Keyd. 

Immortals Gaming Club-owned Gamers Club is one of the most popular competitive gaming platforms in Brazil and Latin America, and is also part of the Brailian CS:GO circuit.

VIE.bet, the esports betting platform operated by Esports Entertainment Group (EEG), has partnered with esports encyclopedia Liquipedia. 

The partnership between VIE.bet and Liquipedia, which is the world’s largest esports wiki and is affiliated with esports organisation Team Liquid, will see the betting platform integrated into the encyclopedia’s Dota 2 and CS:GO pages. 

Set to launch on 3 May, the collaboration is being billed as “the most community-centric and responsible betting integration in esports,” with betting content only being shown to Liquipedia users of legal age in the 150 jurisdictions globally where VIE operates. 

Gambling safety information, along with the option to disable betting content, will also be included. 

Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, said: “Esports communities have incredible passion and competitive drive, which makes for an exciting betting landscape. Unfortunately, that passion and drive are often taken advantage of, and there’s significant distrust towards betting platforms in the space.

“We believe there’s a better way forward in esports betting that comes from collaboration with trusted institutions. We’re proud to work with Liquipedia and VIE.bet on this new initiative, and we’re confident in VIE.bet’s ability to foster an active esports betting community by building a safe, trusted experience.”

Bux Syed, Director of VIE, added: “Liquipedia has been part of my daily life for at least 10 years. I use them to check the latest tournaments, upcoming matches and results. Me and 700 million other esports fans like me visit their platform each year. As a new esports betting brand, we’re aiming to grow our brand through community-based projects. 

“It’s a no brainer for us to partner with Liquipedia and its community to educate esports fans about safe and regulated gambling. My team and I are extremely excited to work with the Liquipedia team, and we’re looking forward to introducing VIE and engaging with its community.”

AYO.NEWS says:

While this seems like a promising opportunity in many ways, the words “red rag to a bull” also come to mind. Is a platform like Liquipedia, which has earned a certain special, trusted place in the esports community, really right for integrating a betting platform? We’d say this is a big gamble. 

Here at AYO.NEWS we appreciate it is possible to offer responsible gambling, but we are also very aware of the powerful anti-gambling movement, and how if operators put a foot wrong it can backfire spectacularly. If it goes well, it could be a commercial dream, but it’s easy to see how sizeable elements of the community could take a real dislike to this – in fact, a quick glance at the responses on reddit seems to confirm it’s already upset a lot of people. Here are just a few of the most popular comments so far:

“Hahahahahahhaha holy shit. Their solution is partnering with a gambling website. Actually fuck off.” – AnAnonymousAnomaly_

“The fucking GALL to post such a bald-faced ad and claim it’s for some great good LMAO. Fuck outta here with that horse shit. I genuinely cannot believe that this made it through however many people at Liquid and nobody went “Hey, this is a terrible idea”. – Fen_

“Just say that you got a new sponsor you need to promote and don’t sugarcoat it. I get it, you need money but only thing more morally despicable than getting betting money would be getting money from your local meth dealer.” – UninstructedPuppy

“We’re going to stop predatory gambling by shoving betting odds into peoples faces who are likely to succumb to predatory gambling” – Zaliacks

US-based gaming and esports brand XSET has unveiled its latest merch drop in collaboration with one of the world’s biggest recording artists, and newest XSET Managing Partner – Ozuna. 

The XSET Ozuna Presents: Built 4 Play clothing capsule follows just weeks after XSET welcomed Ozuna as its newest member and owner. The collection features mixed media puff prints, including the XSET and Ozuna logos, in electric neon shades. Ozuna’s iconic Ozuna Bear character sits on top of XSET’s brand new Lil’ Lit X character in some of the pieces.

XSET’s latest merch collection was designed by XSET Creative Director and legendary streetwear fashion icon Dennis Calvero of Crooks & Castles, and curated by Wil Eddins, XSET co-founder Chief Merchandise & Licensing Officer.

“I am hyped to bring the world this first taste of all the amazing things I am going to do with XSET,” said Ozuna.

“With this collection, and especially with Ozuna involved, we know we had to step our game up even higher. The details, the quality, production — all are items we know Ozuna, his fans, and our fans would appreciate and love,” said Wil Eddins, XSET Chief Merchandising and Licensing Officer. 

XSET CEO, Greg Selkoe, added, “Wil, Dennis Calvero, and Ozuna crushed this every element was thought through to ensure this was truly reflective of Ozuna and the broader gaming lifestyle culture.”

Built 4 Play collection available exclusively at XSET.com