GAMURS Group, the parent company of Dot Esports, has acquired gaming guides platform Pro Game Guides.

The Australia-based esports media network has not revealed the financial terms of the deal, but it is known that the acquisition was financed by its existing investors, which includes Aura Group. 

Launched in 2018, Pro Game Guides generated nearly 22M views last month, and will now be integrated into the GAMURS portfolio, which includes Dot Esports, Gamepur, CS:GO Stats, StatBanana, and Teamfind. 

The group’s flagship site, Dot Esports, was founded in December 2013, and now claims 6.4M monthly active users, and 15M monthly content views.  

GAMURS Group is now said to be looking to make further acquisitions over the coming year.

AYO.NEWS says:

With gaming and esports experiencing unprecedented growth during 2020, thanks in large part to the COVID-19 crisis, companies are now falling over themselves to bulk up through acquisitions, and we expect this to accelerate further into 2021, as monetisation becomes increasingly dependent on scaling. 

‘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, music and culture star Erin Ashely Simon has joined the ownership team of new gaming organisation XSET. 

One of the leading voices of her generation in video games, sports, music, and culture, New Jersey-born Erin Ashley has been at the forefront of the entertainment world for several years. 

In addition to hosting for VENN, Cheddar, REVOLT TV, and the popular Grass Routes podcast, Erin has also worked with major brands including AT&T, Nike, Columbia Records, and more. 

Discussing her hopes for XSET, Erin said:

“I am super excited to be producing content with XSET that focuses on diversity within esports, gaming, and culture.

“Even more so, as a Black Latina, this is a big deal for me considering I’m now a part of the ownership group. Real change comes from generational wealth. An important thing for women of color and people of color, and especially when we are in positions that we don’t typically see ourselves in often. 

“It’s important for me to show WoC and PoC in esports and gaming that the possibilities are endless. We can have great roles and influence in this industry in so many different forms. To change for good and for better, this is the first step. I hope this will inspire others to march in their own paths toward greatness and higher heights. 

“To see an org like XSET start fresh with diversity, inclusion and true representation of culture in mind is not something we’ve seen in its truest form before, making this something truly special. So, I’m excited to be tapped by this org to help with the diversity and content initiative.”

While XSET co-founder and CEO, Greg Selkoe, added:

“Erin is not only multi-talented, she is a great advocate for pushing gaming culture forward. We are thrilled to announce she is now officially part of XSET!

“Not only will she be in front of the camera gaming and hosting, she will be equally as important behind the scenes, helping us grow as a key member of our ownership and management team.”

Erin also recently teamed up with 300 Entertainment on Amplify, a streaming charity initiative in aid of the new HBCU Esports League, powered by Cxmmunity in partnership with Twitch. The initiative includes integrated hip hop, music, gaming events, and content, and focuses on ensuring the black and other underserved communities are an equal part of the esports and gaming industry. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite being just a few months old, XSET is already exploding with talent and ambition, and we’re sure this is just the start. As we reported only yesterday, BMX pro Nigel Sylvester has also joined the XSET crew, and at the end of October, rapper Swae Lee became the first hip hop artist to sign-up. 

‘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 Television (ESTV) has entered a global distribution agreement with ESE Entertainment (ESE), to help drive growth into Europe. 

The partnership will see Vancouver-based ESE lead distribution, management, and operation of ESTV programming across European markets, while Los Angeles-based ESTV will also carry ESE content, including material featuring its esports team, K1CK.

Discussing the deal ESTV Founder & CEO, Eric Yoon, said:

“We are excited to begin working with ESE and look forward to this opportunity for ESTV to further its business internationally. The synergy between ESE and ESTV is clear, and we believe this relationship will further develop. ESE is expected to execute above and beyond on their ability to guide us through a major addition to the ESTV brand.

“They are allowing us to tap into a new market and we look forward to expanding our business relationship with them in the future.”

While ESE Entertainment CEO, Konrad Wasiela, added:

“The distribution agreement with ESTV is a major milestone in expanding our distribution on a global scale. The deal will allow us to collaborate with ESTV’s partners and co-distributors, which include Roku, Amazon, Samsung, Vizio, Dish Sling TV and more, especially in the United States market.

“This directly supports our expansion plan and will further allow us to monetize our current assets and any new opportunities we add to our portfolio. One of our main growth drivers this year is direct sales of media rights. Our new deal with ESTV is just one example of how we can expand reach in this business line.”

Since launching in 2019, ESTV has become available across multiple digital, over-the-top, and cable TV platforms, including Roku Channel and apps, Amazon Fire TV, Dish Sling TV, VIZIO WatchFree, Samsung TV Plus, National Cable Television Cooperative (NCTC), Select TV, TikiLIVE, and SimulTV. 

AYO.NEWS says:

This is another major milestone in the expansion of esports into the mainstream broadcasting media space, and should significantly expand the reach and content offering of both parties. 

‘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.

Online casino and sportsbook Betsafe has announced its first esports sponsorship, supporting Swedish organisation GODSENT. 

The three-year deal makes Betsafe the exclusive betting partner of GODSENT, and the Headline Sponsor for its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) division. 

In addition to brand exposure and financial support, the partnership will focus on close collaboration and social media activation. 

Commenting on the news Head of Marketing Sweden at Betsson Group, Kim Ekelund, said:

“Esports has been gaining a lot of momentum in the past couple of years and the global pandemic has further cemented its place. With all major sporting competitions being postponed during spring, more attention was directed towards esports, adding to its mainstream appeal.

“For this sponsorship we chose Betsafe, one of our most adventurous and sportive brands. Going forward, I believe there’s still a lot of progress to be made in the esports arena and this sponsorship between ambitious GODSENT and Betsafe is a concrete example of our commitment towards the future of esports.”

While CEO of GODSENT, Ludwig Sandgren, added:

“We are very proud that Betsafe, with its long tradition of investing in extraordinary content and sponsorships, has signed this long-standing commitment with us. GODSENT is an extremely ambitious organisation and Betsafe matches that perfectly. They will become an important driver of our CS:GO division and will be a great strategic partner as we grow into a tier-one organisation.”

The agreement was facilitated through a partnership between GRID Esports and GODSENT, and will include data-rich and relevant content for GODSENT’s upcoming matches. 

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Canadian gaming and esports company Enthusiast Gaming is preparing to list in the United States on the NASDAQ stock exchange. 

The Canadian company, which is already listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, says it has applied to list its common shares on the NASDAQ Capital Market in the United States, with the aim of broadening its investor base and enabling further expansion.

When complete, Enthusiast Gaming will be the first publicly traded gaming and esports company on the NASDAQ. 

Regarding the planned listing CEO of Enthusiast Gaming, Adrian Montegomery, said:

“We continue to see strong interest from investors both in the U.S. and internationally. A U.S. listing has been on our radar as one of the many strategies to execute as part of our business plan.

“On the back of the transformative acquisition of Omnia Media in Q3, the timing is right to proceed with a listing. The U.S. is the largest capital market in the world and our most prominent territory in terms of both the Company’s audience and revenue. A NASDAQ listing is a natural next step for the company.”

Enthusiast Gaming’s portfolio includes Overwatch League franchise Vancouver Titans, Call of Duty League team Seattle Surge, and international esports organisation Luminosity Gaming. Other assets include Destructoid, The Escapist, and Canada’s biggest gaming expo, Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo (EGLX), and Europe’s largest mobile gaming event, Pocket Gamer Connects.

The company also has a veritable social media empire, featuring over 1,000 YouTube channels, and says its content now reaches over 300 million gamers per month, including around 65 million predominately Millennials and Gen Zs in the US alone.

In August, the company also announced it had entered an agreement to acquire Los Angeles-based Omnia Media for approximately $34.1M USD. It also agreed a $11.25M financing deal with a Canaccord Genuity Corp.-led syndicate of underwriters.

AYO.NEWS says:

Enthusiast Gaming is hardly what you’d call ‘small fry’ as things stand, so its US listing hints at some pretty ambitious expansion plans in the near future, likely involving some interesting acquisitions. 

‘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.

Italian coffee brand Lavazza has entered esports through a partnership with UK-based organisation Fnatic. 

The partnership will involve the “Icons of Italy” campaign, bringing a custom, co-branded map to Fortnite, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration.

Apparently, professional Fortnite player and streamer, POW3R, will tell the lifestyle journey of Lavazza and Fnatic through an interactive in-game experience, with players engaging through a custom map called “Icons of Italy.” 

Starting a POW3R’s mansion, players will compete to finish the course as fast as possible, journeying through Italian culture, symbolically represented by coffee-themed customisation and references to Lavazza A Modo Mio brand. Landmarks will include the Lavazza headquarters in Turin, and historical sites like the Colosseum. 

Two additional levels will be added to the map over time, and players will be submitting their best runs by posting video using the hashtag #IconsofItaly and tagging Lavazza, POW3R, and Fnatic on Instagram or Twitter.  The fastest competitor will win a digital meet and greet with POW3R via Zoom, and a stash of co-branded products, while second and third places will land co-branded products and Fnatic gear. 

The partnership will also involve the creation of a two-part documentary chronicling POW3R’s rise to stardom, and how he, with the help of Fnatic and Lavazza helped make gaming a part of mainstream Italian culture. 

Discussing the partnership Group Marketing Communication Director and Brand Home Director, Lavazza, Carlo Colpo, said:

“We are delighted to announce this collaboration with Fnatic because it represents an important debut for Lavazza in a sector that is experiencing considerable growth, and we could not have hoped for a better partner.

“Esports and gaming is an interesting, challenging world, perfectly in line with the brand’s desire to relate to young people through tools and languages that are more appropriate to them”.

While Partner Development Director at Fnatic, Craig Santicchia, added:

“Fnatic and Lavazza share the same values including a strong sense of heritage, a passion for work ethic and an unrelenting drive to be the best.

“This partnership is a taste of what’s to come from our two brands as we continue pushing boundaries and activating inside the most relevant platforms for Gen Z. Helping Lavazza enter the industry in a fun, disruptive way via these digital experiences shows that the only limitation is our imagination.”

AYO.NEWS says:

There’s obviously a natural vibe between coffee and video gaming, with players wanting that caffeine fix to stay alert, and we’ve seen plenty of partnerships between beverage brands and esports organisations. But, Lavazza and Fnatic have really pulled out the stops to take this collaboration to a new level, which is pretty dramatic for a brand’s first entry to esports. It will be interesting to see how well this engages fans. 

Staying with Fnatic, last week it became the first UK-based esports organisation to sign a British music artist, teaming up with rapper Lukman Odunaike, aka Not3s. 

‘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.