Yesterday saw the launch of XSET, a new gaming organisation founded by industry veterans, aiming to be a movement and force for change. 

XSET, founded by veteran esports executives including former FaZe Clan president Greg Selkoe, Wil Eddins, and Clinton Sparks, along with Framerate founder Marco Mereu, says it will be diving right into the centre of gaming lifestyle and culture, and create the “world’s most diverse, inclusive, culturally-relevant, and purpose-driven gaming and esports brand, embodying what it truly means to #reptheset.”

Discussing the new venture XSET COO and co-founder Marco Mereu, said:

“Gaming is the new pop culture. We are creating an entirely new gaming organization — one with integrity, creativity, and, most of all, the courage to build out an impressive and diverse roster of individual gamers who reflect the actual landscape of the new generation of America. 

“XSET means excellence and inclusion. We will set the standard and be the kind of role models the community of hundreds of millions of gaming fans deserve. The way I look at it, the future is set.”

While XSET Chief Business Officer and co-founder, Clinton Sparks, added:

“I am so excited to create an organization that highlights, supports, and reflects the actual make-up of the new generation of America – young men and women of diverse backgrounds and personalities.

“As an artist myself and someone who has shaped and shifted culture, I’m making it my mission to ensure that XSET leans heavily into the intersection of pop culture and gaming, especially in music. XSET will be the ultimate culture club. Get familiar.”

While XSET Chief Merchandising and Licensing Officer and co-founder, Wil Eddins, explained:

“When you #reptheset, it means something. When I looked around at other orgs in gaming, there weren’t a lot of people that looked like me, even though the global gaming community is extremely diverse. Gamers are from all walks of lifestyles and communities. 

“Gamers can now be considered the first adopters of culture since we all live in a digital and online world. They now have the ability to set trends in streetwear, sneakers, content, platforms, and music- and this reality isn’t reflected in today’s gaming organizations. It became clear to me that we had the perfect opportunity to do something different with XSET.”

Initially, XSET says it will field pro esports squads in Valorant, Call of Duty: War Zone, and Fortnite. 

AYO.NEWS says:

XSET certainly looks slick, and is aspiring to some pretty high ideals, so we’ve got high hopes for the organisation. 

Of course, there’s a nagging feeling that the project is just jumping on the misguided ‘woke’ and ‘cancel culture’ revolution that is ripping apart communities and destroying real liberal values, freedoms, and tolerance. 

But hey, that’s just us being cynical, right? Let’s see what happens 🙂

‘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

Golf’s original major, The Open Championship, has launched an online edition, presented by Mastercard. 

‘The e-Open’ launched on 13 July and is set to span three months, with qualifying events and knock-out rounds running through July and August, culminating in a Grand Final showdown in September. 

The virtual stroke play tournament is set at the iconic links of Royal St George’s, and uses Topgolf’s World Golf Tour free online gaming platform. 

According to organisers, 28 million users will get the opportunity to compete for the chance to win an exclusive trip to The 149th Open in 2021.

Though this is a first for The Open, Topgolf is no stranger to esports, having previously partnered with TCL to add esports lounges to six Topgolf venues, and teaming up with Super League Gaming to house amateur esports events in February 2019. 

Topgolf Media also worked with the European Tour and DreamHack Sports Games to launch the European eTour series – to run parallel with the scheduled European Tour events in 2020. 

The LPGA eTour Live, launched by The American Ladies Professional Gold Association (LPGA) also used Topgolf’s World Golf Tour platform. 

AYO.NEWS says:

While golf is a long way behind sports like football, basketball and motor sports when it comes to embracing esports, perhaps because of its older average fan base, the COVID-19 crisis (which is rapidly worsening globally, despite a reprieve in Europe) seems to have been the wake-up call it needed. 

The Open Championship organisers have also shown some more digital initiative, creating ‘The Open for the Ages’ – a virtual Championship created using film archive that spans a 50-year period to create something totally new. 

‘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

SIS (Sports Information Services) has massively increased the content for its esports betting product in response to strong customer demand. 

The multi-channel supplier of 24/7 betting products says it has doubled the output of content available through its SIS Competitive Gaming product. 

Developed specifically for sportsbooks, SIS Competitive Gaming will now carry more live head-to-head competitions, including the NBA 2K20 SIS Blitz League, which takes place Monday to Friday, from 4pm to 11pm. 

SIS says it’s esports product, which allows bettors to watch and bet on popular events, has been well-received by its existing operator customers, including British gambling giant bet365. 

A complete end-to-end solution, SIS Competitive Gaming features live streaming, commentary, on-screen graphics with betting triggers, data, and an extensive range of markets and prices. 

The company says it delivers a high-integrity, high-margin product with a strong emphasis on fairness and transparency – which includes the provision of a deditated Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC)-trained referee to monitor every match. 

Discussing the news Head of Product Proposition at SIS, Rohini Sardana, said:

“Following the successful launch of SIS Competitive Gaming, we’re delighted to announce that the service will include even more matches during peak times for bettors to enjoy, with a 7 hour broadcast of back-to-back matches offering multiple betting opportunities.

“These high-quality betting opportunities have proven to be a valuable addition for sportsbooks in recent months, outperforming similar competitor products due to the robust integrity which has been welcomed by operators and players. Interest in SIS Competitive Gaming is high, and we’re excited to be rolling out the product with more operators in the coming months.”

AYO.NEWS says:

What can we say? Many in the industry expected the surge in esports betting to be a temporary blip, driven solely by punters looking for alternatives to cancelled traditional sports, but even though many sports have now resumed, the esports betting boom 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

UK-based esports organisation Demise has entered a three-year partnership with Italian sportswear brand Kappa. 

The deal makes Kappa the official kit supplier of London-based Demise, and an official range of branded products will be launched in August. 

Commenting on the partnership Founder and Co-Owner of Demise, Andy Manitara, said:

“Kappa have taken a huge step in supporting the UK esports scene and we’re very excited for them to be our official kit supplier. To be working with such a major sports brand is testament to how far Demise has come and we’re just getting started.”

While Sales Manager for Kappa UK, Dave Bandell, added:

“We are delighted to become the apparel partner for Demise. Having met the guys it was clear they share the same ambitions as us in the esport arena and we welcome them to our growing stable of teams. We look forward to a successful partnership.’’

In April Kappa also partnered with UK-based esports organisation Diabolus, and the brand also has commercial agreements with MAD Lions, Royal Never Give Up, and Vexed Gaming. 

Demise currently competes in League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Valorant, and FIFA. 

We are excited to reveal @Kappa_UK as our new Kit sponsor for the next 3 years! 🔥

We cannot wait to reveal our new jersey and range, but enjoy this little teaser 😏#FearTheReapers 💀 pic.twitter.com/wqzU1Pibue

— Demise (@DemiseGG) July 15, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

Most major sportswear brands, from Nike and Adidas to Champion, are now heavily invested in esports, so it’s not surprising to see Kappa expand its esports portfolio. And, from Demise’s point of view, such a long deal has to be a big morale boost as it looks to build its commercial partnerships ahead of the new competitive season.

‘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 League of Legends European Championship (LEC) has announced Erste Bank Group as its new Summer Finals Main Partner. 

The partnership will see Erste Bank Group produce various activations, social media content, and videos, aimed at bringing its #believeinyourself slogan to life for LEC fans.

Vienna-headquartered Erste Group is present in seven markets, and operates well-known brands like Sparkasse in Germany, and Caixa Bank in Spain.

Discussing the collaboration Head of Partnerships and Business Development EMEA for Riot Games, Alban Dechelotte, said:

“With Erste Group as the most innovative banking group in Austria and the CEE region, we have brought a great partner on board who wants to strengthen and anchor esports in the region together with us – not only through advertising, but also as a strong infrastructure partner.”

While Chief Retail Officer of Erste Group, Peter Bosek, added:

“We see esports as an ecosystem of a new generation and want to sustainably support its growth. Erste wants to encourage this young and growing community to believe in itself – and we want to do our part to help that community share its convictions and self-confidence with a broader public. 

“In doing so, we want to leverage esports’ supra-regional potential, assist its communities in networking even more closely across national borders especially in such challenging times, and help strengthen the framework in which this new movement can continue to grow.”

The partnership between Erste Group and Riot Games was originally intended to launch with the Spring Split of the LEC Playoffs, but the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a shift in sponsorship communications and activities.

AYO.NEWS says:

Esports’ stellar rise during the COVID-19 crisis is clearly making a whole lot of new businesses wake up to the sector’s potential to engage younger generations, but in this case it seems Erste Group had already decided esports was the future prior to the onset of the crisis. Its great to see the partnership can now finally see a proper launch. 

Staying with banks and League of Legends, in June we saw Taiwan-based CTBC Bank confirmed as an official partner of the Pacific Championship Series (PCS). 

‘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

Sony is doubling production of its upcoming PS5 console to meet an expected massive rise in demand triggered by the COVID-19 crisis. 

The company originally planned to manufacture around 5 million units ahead of its planned winter 2020 launch, but says it now intends to make 10 million.

Despite the anticipated huge increase in demand, with more countries and regions going back into lockdown and the pandemic worsening globally, Sony could well run into difficulties shipping PS5s. 

Bloomberg is reporting that Sony began full-scale production of its new console last month, and should have the first 5 million complete by the end of September, with the second batch of 5 million read by the end of December. 

The PS5 will be available in two versions, the standard PS5 and the PS5 Digital Edition (without a disc drive), and peripherals including a new haptic controller, HD camera, 3D wireless headset, media remote, and dual charging station have also been revealed. 

Sony has yet to announce the specific release date and pricing.

AYO.NEWS says:

It now looks almost certain that large parts of the world will be back in lockdown before winter, which will be very bad news for most of the economy, but could see the growth of video gaming and esports accelerate even further. 

Of course, if we do see the pandemic worsen and widespread lockdowns return in the autumn and winter, there is the real risk that the already severely weakened global economy and social fabric may start to completely collapse. In that case, we doubt people will be buying new consoles! 

‘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