Esports & Video Games
WHY ESPORTS IS THE FUTURE: RAHUL SOOD, CEO & FOUNDER OF UNIKRN
eSports
WHY ESPORTS IS THE FUTURE: RAHUL SOOD, CEO & FOUNDER OF UNIKRN
With esports betting witnessing dramatic growth due to the COVID-19 crisis shutting down most traditional sports, we thought it would be a great time to catch up with Rahul Sood, CEO and Founder of Unikrn – the esports betting operator that counts Mark Cuban and Ashton Kutcher among its investors.
We’ve put together a shortened video, but if you have time check out the full uncut version for some real insights from one of today’s most successful esports entrepreneurs.
Here’s a short overview of our chat:
For those who aren’t familiar with Unikrn, can you tell us what differentiates it from other esports betting operators?
Unikrn was awarded EGR’s Esports Betting Operator of the Year in 2019 because we’re different. Not only does Unikrn esports betting provide endemic odds for dozens of titles with thousands of markets, but we have also developed new tech to underpin a wide variety of betting opportunities. At Unikrn you can bet in real time on Twitch streamers, powered by proprietary technology. We developed 24/7 virtual matches featuring real, exclusive gameplay with all-star quality players including Justin Wong. You can even bet on yourself in public matchmaking games or private lobbies, a skill-based betting experience which is available even in the United States.
Unikrn offers a much wider range of betting than most bookmakers, including betting on your own gameplay, which obviously drives engagement to an unprecedented degree. Do you think this is key to the future, and are there other exciting innovations coming?
Variety is what keeps games fresh, but also what keeps a betting platform interesting. Not only do I think betting on yourself in video games is going to revolutionize the way we see today’s young adults engage with betting, but I also think it will revolutionize the way today’s gamers play. The first publishers to openly participate in skill-based gaming is going to have unprecedented tools for amping up adrenaline, focus, variety and interest in their games. A lot of gamers who review our platform or contact us in Discord have mentioned how betting on something like Fortnite has totally reinvigorated their interest in playing the game. Gamers have more fun watching, playing or streaming with something on the line, which creates increased user retention for the games themselves, ultimately leading to bigger esports audiences and more interest in esports betting.
Unikrn UMode is a full-circle strategy which helps everybody in the industry: publishers, fans, gamers, and of course us.
And, yes, we’re working on other exciting innovations in this space, but I’m not ready to make any announcements for upcoming expansions right now!
Unikrn’s UnikoinGold cryptocurrency was the world’s first gaming utility token and is now well established, but when were you first introduced to the world of blockchain and cryptos, and where do you see it developing in the future?
UnikoinGold was a big push in the right direction for crypto, which desperately needs more utility before it can really go mainstream. For us, UnikoinGold has been a tremendous success in allowing us to provide betting, rewards and other activities without needing to worry about process slowdowns such as cross-national banking transfers. This ultimately makes it less expensive to run our books and allows us to push the limits, offering better odds than our competitors and a more streamlined experience for our crypto-savvy users.
We’re in the process of securing the next stage of partner development for the UnikoinGold ecosystem, which is going to come with another batch of utility and widen UKG’s appeal beyond just our active, crypto-savvy bettors.
Can you tell us about Unikrn Casino and partnerships with casinos, and how you see esports relating to the traditional gaming space?
Esports is either an unprecedented threat or an unprecedented opportunity for land-based casinos. Which is really up to them.
We’ve worked with several Vegas casinos on gaming-related partnerships, initiatives or consulting, and we’ve seen some success bringing younger audiences into places like the MGM Grand using gamer appeal.
Right now, casinos are still trying to figure out how reliable esports performance is and how big the audience is. With COVID-19 shutting down real sports, I think we’re going to see a lot of casinos and sports media companies come back to operation with a greater understanding of esports’ significance. In the coming years and decades, the casinos that lean into gaming and work with strong partners like Unikrn are going to be the ones that have an enormous advantage for the lifetime of Millenials and Gen Z.
The COVID-19 crisis has significantly boosted the profile of esports around the world, as people look for digital entertainment alternatives. Is Unikrn managing to attract new customers from the traditional sports betting space, and do you see this effect lasting beyond the crisis?
We’re seeing an enormous uptick as people look for safe, fun ways to keep themselves engaged without sports or traditional betting options. I think COVID-19 accelerated esports betting, both because operators are being forced to take a serious look at what esports offers and bettors are starting to rediscover video games as a hobby. Gaming and esports are there to support these new fans through the most difficult period of our lives, and I think it’s unlikely that they lose interest once COVID-19 is defeated.
We’ve heard you’re a League of Legends fan and player, but what title are you most excited about in terms of the future, especially from a betting point of view?
Valorant, a tactical shooter from the makers of League of Legends, is the hot new thing in the esports world. I’m extremely interested to see what we can do with a Riot Games title with a third-party esports ecosystem. CS:GO is one of the most successful esports betting cultures, and Valorant attracts many of that same audience, so I think there will be a lot of interest. The complexity of the game makes for very interesting exotic markets and the format makes it much easier for bettors to enjoy than Battle Royal titles like Fortnite.
Unikrn has invested in and acquired several other companies over the last few years – which has been the most interesting for you, and are there any more moves on the horizon?
I don’t pick favorites, every company we’ve bought has integrated into Unikrn and allowed major innovations behind the scenes. Lots of our tech, offerings and patent applications have been made possible by the people or groundwork provided by the companies we’ve acquired.
As a college dropout who has gone on to phenomenal success, what do you think is wrong with the education system, and what would your advice be to young entrepreneurs?
Everybody needs to be educated to run a successful business. My education came through successes and failures in the real world. There’s no academic replacement for that, but that doesn’t mean academics are useless. Like any other decision in business, getting a degree or an apprenticeship is a cost/benefit analysis.
Look, for me, college wasn’t a fit, that doesn’t mean I would unilaterally prescribe dropping out to other people. My businesses are operated by people of mixed educational backgrounds, which means they come in with a variety of strengths and weaknesses.
If you’re a young entrepreneur, you really need to assess what kind of business you want to make and what kind of education is a fit for those goals. If you want to create a new medical technology, you’re unlikely to do that without a background in medicine, right? If you want to start a new entertainment business, it’s probably more important for you to understand entertainment, network and innovate a product or service that fills a gap.
Either way, the most important thing is to know what your own blind spots are and hire accordingly. If you didn’t go to college, chances are good you’ll want to hire some people who did. You’ll each help cover each other’s weaknesses.
Times certainly are a changin’ and Unikrn is definitely out there in front, driving progress on both the esports betting and tokenisation fronts.
We’ll be sure to keep you up-to-speed with developments at Unikrn, and in the meantime it’s a massive “thank you” to Rahul for taking the time to talk with us.
Image credit: Virtuverse
In-game advertising platform Anzu.io has announced a partnership with the developers of massive multiplayer online role-playing game Virtuverse.
The deal will enable advertisers to display non-intrusive blended banner and video ads inside the PC-based animated fantasy MMORPG – which is currently most popular with gamers in North and South America, Europe, and Russia.
With an average play session lasting an impressive six and a half hours, according to the developer, there will be plenty of opportunities for players to encounter video and banner ads displayed on immersive billboards and interior screens.
Built on the Unreal Engine, Virtuverse allows players to venture into many different fantasy lands, defeat monsters and collect spoils of war, which can be traded for in-game items or exchanged for real money.
Virtuverse’s teams says that adopting blended in-game advertisements will help keep the game free-to-play, and the game’s community has voiced its support for the move.
Commenting on the news Anzu’s CEO and Co-founder, Itamar Benedy, said:
“Gamers won’t tolerate disruption anymore so we created a solution that works for them, game developers, and advertisers. Many people were unsure of how video and banner ads could be harmoniously blended into an animated game, but we are happy to prove them wrong through our partnership with Virtuverse.”
Anzu’s advertising partners include major brands like Samsung and Vodafone, while its gaming partners include Ubisoft, Unfinished Pixel, and Vivid Games.
As previously reported, earlier this month former Activision Blizzard executive, Ruben Dehouck, joined Anzu as a strategic advisor.
AYO.NEWS says:
With many developers finding it harder to monetise games in today’s ‘free-to-play’ culture, and many advertisers struggling to engage generations that have become almost immune to traditional advertising, in-game ads offer an intriguing avenue for both. Of course, it’s still too early to gauge their effectiveness, but there are some promising signs.
Want to find out more about in-game advertising? Don’t miss AYO.NEWS’ very own Simona Pinterova catching up with Niklas Bakos, CEO and Co-founder of another in-game advertising startup, Adverty.
‘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.
Image credit: FACEIT & Ubisoft
Competitive online gaming platform and tournament organiser FACEIT, and Ubisoft, have announced the FPL NA Rainbow Six.
With the first qualifier set for November, the FPL will give the North American Rainbow Six Siege community a clear path to pro, while challenging the pro talent pool in a highly competitive environment. The North American launch follows a successful debut in Europe in August, and will significantly enhance the global Rainbow Six Siege esports ecosystem.
FPL is a highly competitive and moderated solo-queue environment for players to socialize, practice and improve. Whilst supporting new players with a clear infrastructure to progress, NA Rainbow Six FPL will also distribute prize pools that support talent development and incentivise practice.
As well as providing opportunities to new players, the FPL will encourage professional Rainbow Six Siege players to interact more with each other, building new storylines and encouraging live streaming and content creation around Rainbow Six Siege, expanding the community around playing competitively. The starting player pool will be made up of pro players from NAL, Challenger League, and other top teams and free-agents.
All Rainbow Six Siege PC players on the FACEIT platform in North America will have the opportunity to begin their journey to FPL, by earning Elo (the measure representing a players skills on FACEIT) by competing in Elo-eligible competitions, including Daily and Weekly Cups.
In the last week of every month, FACEIT will invite the top 100 players from the FACEIT Elo rankings to the FPL Qualifier Hub where they will compete in a private matchmaking. The two players who top the FPL Qualifier leaderboard will be invited to the FPL for the chance to play amongst pros.
To level the playing field and offer all players an equal opportunity, FACEIT Elo will be soft-reset on the platform for a fair race towards the top 100 slots. Demotions and new invites will be managed by general consensus of the players competing in FPL.
Discussing the news FPL Project Lead, FACEIT, Milos Nedeljkovic, said:
“The response from the Rainbow Six Siege community in Europe to the FPL has been fantastic and we’re really excited to expand into North America. In Europe we’re already seeing some impressive new talent rising through the ranks, and some fantastic content and storylines being generated by the pro community, and we can’t wait to see the North American scene shine.”
The expansion of FPL Rainbow Six to North America marks the latest announcement in the partnership between FACEIT and Ubisoft to deliver the European esports ecosystem for Rainbow Six Siege. The multi-year partnership spans the whole North American and European Rainbow Six esports structure from pro to amateur, including Ubisoft Collegiate Esports, its first ever proprietary collegiate esports league.
AYO.NEWS says:
With Rainbow Six still lurking in the shadows of the esports world, it’s great to see FACEIT and Ubisoft continuing to invest in developing the global Rainbow Six competitive ecosystem.
Staying with FACEIT, earlier this month the company announced a partnership with Gaming in Turkey, covering the launch of a collegiate CS:GO league in the country.
‘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.
Image credit: Team Vitality
French esports organisation Team Vitality has made a first move in its planned expansion to India, launching dedicated social media channels.
In November 2019, Team Vitality secured a $15.7M USD investment from Rewired.GG – Indian investor Tej Kohli’s gaming fund. It was the second major investment from the fund, the first being worth $22.7M 12 months earlier, and it coincided with suggestions the organisation was looking to expand into both China and India.
Though there was some speculation Team Vitality might enter the thriving Indian PUBG Mobile scene, the Indian government’s recent banning of the title, amid escalating tensions with China, has ruled that out.
For now, all we know is that the French organisation has launched a dedicated Instagram page, featuring a short video saying “Bonjour India,” and seems to be in the process of launching a social media campaign targeted at getting themselves known in the vast country.
Over the past year or so, Team Vitality has entered several significant commercial partnerships, including with AFFLELOU, Corsair, Newzoo, Orange, and RhinoShield. Earlier this month the organisation also opened a new training centre, in partnership with Renault, at the Stade de France.
Team Vitality currently fields rosters in several titles, including CS:GO, Rocket League, Fortnite, FIFA, F1, and Rainbow Six.
AYO.NEWS says:
The Indian esports space is one of the world’s most exciting – being mobile dominated, potentially huge, and growing rapidly. However, it is still quite chaotic, lacking large-scale structures, and it has its own peculiarities, so it’s anyone’s guess how a European organisation like Team Vitality will fare in the country.
‘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.
Image credit: Helix eSports
Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) is set to acquire venue company Helix eSports and B2B software provider ggCircuit, in a $43M USD deal.
ggCircuit
Providing a cloud-based management system, tournament platform, and integrated point-of-sale enterprise solution, ggCircuit’s network covers more than 1,000 locations, and its clients include Best Buy, Dell, GameStop, Lenovo, and a number of US universities.
The company says its ggLeap software management solution for physical gaming facilities supports over 60M hours of usage by over 2M users.
Discussing the news ggCircuit Founder, Zack Johnson, said:
“We are excited to join forces with Esports Entertainment Group and believe with our combined resources we can rapidly scale growth in the quarters ahead.”
Helix eSports
Operating five gaming centres in the United States, including the Massachusetts venue that serves as the training facility for Overwatch League’s Boston Uprising, Helix eSports’ centres provide access to high-end gaming equipment for both casual and competitive play.
In May, New Jersey-based Helix eSports merged with esports analytics company Team Genji – which worked with major publishers and leagues including FIFA and the NBA 2K League.
Discussing the planned acquisition by EEG, Helix eSports Founder, Murphy Vandervelde, said:
“Esports is already a billion-dollar opportunity and expanding at a CAGR of 24 percent. With growing mass-market appeal and a wealth of untapped opportunities, I am eager for Helix to become part of Esports Entertainment Group, where I believe we can truly capitalise on the significant macro trends that can catapult us to global leadership in this dynamic industry.”
The most diversified US-listed esports entertainment asset
According to EEG, its acquisition of ggCircuit and Helix eSports will give it the “most diversified US-listed esports entertainment asset in the industry,” accelerate its path to becoming a global esports entertainment leader, add 2 million unique gamers to its platform, add over 1,000 connected locations, add a state-of-the-art analytics platform, give it ownership of two of the five largest esports entertainment centres in the US, add safe and regulated player-vs-player wagering opportunities with Helix’s LANduel platform, and give it best-in-class enterprise software solutions.
Regarding the deal CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, Grant Johnson, commented:
“Together with what we’ve already built and further near-term acquisition opportunities, Esports Entertainment Group is well on its way to becoming a global industry leader.”
Although EEG, which operates online esports betting platform VIE.gg, is listed in the United States, it maintains operations in the Mediterranean gaming hub of Malta.
AYO.NEWS says:
EEG isn’t wasting any time when it comes to scaling – which is probably a smart move given the unprecedented boom in all things esports and video gaming. Earlier this month, EEG announced partnerships with the NHL’s LA Kings, and MLS’ LA Galaxy.
‘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.
Image credit: VSPN
Versus Programming Network (VSPN) has secured almost $100M USD in its latest Series B funding round.
The total esports solutions provider says the funding round was led by Chinese conglomerate Tencent Holdings, and also saw participation from Tiantu Capital, SIG (Susquehanna International Group), and Kuaishou, while Lighthouse Capital served as exclusive Financial Advisor.
Founded in 2016, Shanghai-based VSPN creates content and organises esports tournaments, in addition to operating a commercial division and offline venues. Illustrating the scope of its business, the company says it has partnered with more than 70% of Chinese esports tournaments, and now has over 1,000 employees.
The company says it will use the new capital to continue to develop its esports products, and create new and innovative experiences.
Commenting on the news General Manager of Tencent Esports, Mars Hou, said:
“VSPN’s long-term company vision and leading position in esports production is vital for Tencent to optimise the layout of the esports industry’s development.”
While CEO of VSPN, Dino Ying, added:
“Thanks to policies supporting Shanghai as the global centre for esports, and with Beijing, Chengdu, and Xi’an expressing confidence in the development of esports, VSPN has grown rapidly in recent years.
“After this funding round, we look forward to building an esports research institute, an esports culture park, and further expanding globally. VSPN has a long-term vision and is dedicated to the sustainable development of the global esports ecosystem.”
VSPN’s 2016 Series A funding round was led by Focus Media Network, and also saw participation from China Jiansheng Sports Industry Fund, Guangdian Capital, and Averest Capital.
AYO.NEWS says:
It’s hard to describe this as anything other than very impressive for VSPN, and once again shows the level of confidence giant businesses like Tencent have in esports as an industry right now. Obviously, not everyone is a fan of Tencent these days (especially US politicians), but its extensive network of video gaming and esports properties and massive reservoir of talent is undoubtedly going to help VSPN scale quicker.
Despite the ongoing, and in many places worsening, COVID-19 pandemic, the esports and wider video gaming industry is still attracting incredible investment. Just last week VENN, the Video Game Entertainment and News Network, announced it had secured $26M in a Series A round, new independent game development studio, Frost Giant Studios, raised $4.7M in a Seed round, and EVOS Esports’ parent company raised $12M in a Series B round.
‘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.
Image credit: Riot Games
Video games industry veteran Jason Bunge has joined Riot Games as its new CMO.
Riot Games, the publisher behind some of the world’s biggest esports titles, including League of Legends and VALORANT, has appointed the former Electronic Arts (EA) executive as its new Chief Marketing Officer.
During his five years with EA, where he most recently held the position of Senior Vice President of Global Brand Management and Marketing, Bunge played a critical part in the launch of games including Apex Legends.
Although Bunge wasn’t specifically focused on esports alone, EA’s Apex Legends, just like Riot’s flagship title League of Legends, and the recently released VALORANT and Legends of Runeterra, all have growing esports scenes.
Discussing the appointment, President of Worldwide Publishing at Riot Games, Jin Oh, said:
“Jason’s proven track record of deploying and sustaining games and his deep understanding of players are exactly the combination we were looking for in a CMO. We knew we needed to find someone who connects with players and has demonstrated success in executing innovative and creative campaigns.
“On behalf of everyone at Riot, we’re excited to have Jason join the team as we continue to engage players across all our titles in deeply resonant ways.”
While Bunge himself added:
“I’m thrilled to join Riot, a company with an unwavering commitment to players. Through our growing portfolio of games and immersive storytelling, I’m looking forward to working with all of the passionate and creative Rioters around the world. Together, we’ll deliver truly holistic brand experiences that constantly strive to raise player expectations.”
AYO.NEWS says:
Though his role will not be specifically esports-focused, as CMO, Bunge will play a key part in determining if Riot can create the same kind of long-term popularity for new titles like VALORANT, as has been enjoyed by League of Legends.
While we’re talking about VALORANT, earlier today we reported that North American esports organisation Cloud9 has signed a new all-female VALORANT team to complement its existing roster.
‘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.
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