Several new esports teams are being added to Rocket League’s revenue-sharing in-game store program today. 

Psyonix has confirmed that in-game items, including car decals, accessories, and banners, will be available from Team Liquid, Envy, and Guild. The latest update will also include official branded items from Alpine Esports, Endpoint, Oxygen Esports, Solary, the Susquehanna Soniqs, and Team BDS. 

The Rocket League shop is also getting a makeover, with the entire collection of items from every team being made available at all times, instead of the six selected items per team previously offered. 

Launched in April 2019, Rocket League’s in-game store program offers teams a valuable new revenue stream, paying them a 30% share of revenue generated from sales of their items. Psyonix also pays an undisclosed share of sales revenue directly to North American and European pro players, even if their organisation doesn’t yet offer in-game items. 

A total of 18 teams now offer items through the program, with Dignitas, G2 Esports, eUnited, Ghost Gaming, NRG Esports, Pittsburgh Knights, Rogue, Spacestation Gaming, and Team Vitality joining those previously mentioned.

AYO.NEWS says:

Across the entire video gaming ecosystem in-game purchases are becoming ever more important as sources of revenue for publishers and developers, so it seems only natural that esports organisations and players also get a slice of the pie. Given the success of the initiative in Rocket League, we’re sure it will become commonplace across other titles too. 

‘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.

United Arab Emirates-based YAS HEAT ESPORTS has entered a partnership with Microsoft. 

The companies will be collaborating on a series of activities aimed at promoting virtual racing, and developing new talent in the region. These will include activations featuring pro esports drivers at YAS HEAT ESPORTS’ global racing hub at the Yas Marina Circuit. 

The organisation will also be adopting Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud services, and will be promoting the tech giant with branding across team kits and car liveries. 

Regarding the partnership Acting CEO, ADMM (Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management – operator of YAS HEAT), Saif Al Noami, said:

“We have great ambitions for our esports programme across YAS HEAT as well as the Global Racing Series. Partnering with Microsoft is a testament to the collective vision and best in class partnerships and talent principles that are making this project such a success.”

While Public Sector Director at Microsoft UAE, Leila Serhan, added:

“Esports has rapidly developed into a billion-dollar industry and is continuing is expand. This advanced form of immersive virtual sport has now entered the mainstream in the UAE.

“The Microsoft Intelligent Cloud will provide an infrastructure that will enhance virtual gaming and enable fans to collaborate with improved performance, speed and agility – empowering them to achieve more.”

YAS HEAT ESPORTS was established in August, through a partnership between Abu Dhabi Motorsport Management and London-based Veloce Esports. The organisation is also partnered with major airline Etihad, and luxury watchmaker Richard Mille. 

🔥 YAS Heat x Microsoft 🔥

Hold on tight. Things just got upgraded 💨

We are super excited to welcome @MicrosoftUAE onboard as our official technology partner 🤝

Together we aim to develop the next generation of virtual racing talent in the rapidly expanding Esports world 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/CsLiBorFDM

— YAS HEAT (@yas_heat) December 8, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

With the UAE already a high profile real-world motorsport hub, it seems only natural that sim racing should also do well there, and having a partner with the resources of Microsoft can only help YAS HEAT accelerate its efforts. 

‘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.

ESL has announced the US Air Force as the first official Armed Forces Partner of the North American ESL CS:GO Pro Tour. 

The tournament operator previously partnered with the USAF for the ESL Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) New York and ESL Pro League Season 11 in February 2020. 

Now the collaboration will extend to the DreamHack Masters, DreamHack Showdown, ESL Pro League Season 13, DreamHack Open Online, ESL Pro League Season 14, and IEM North America, along with the US arm of ESEA and CSGO HUB. 

Discussing the partnership Director of Strategic Marketing for the Air Force Recruiting Service, Barry Dickey, said:

“The Air Force is excited to continue our partnership with ESL, which serves as the perfect platform to reach a key demographic for us. We feel this collaboration is a great fit because we are able to showcase the shared interests of teamwork, problem solving skills, and intellectual challenges with both the audience ESL has grown and the Air Force.”

The partnership will also see the integration of the Aim High broadcast and Wingman Wednesday, the new tournament series on CS:GO matchmaking platform ESEA, while the USAF will also be the Report Card partner on CSGO HUB.

AYO.NEWS says:

The armed forces of several countries are taking a keen interest in esports and video gaming as a way to engage potential recruits, but the United States is way out ahead. Along with the US Air Force, the US Navy, US Army, and US Marine Corps are all investing resources in esports sponsorships, esports competitions and competitive teams. 

In addition to serving as an effective recruiting tool, esports and video gaming are also helping serving personnel and veterans to socialise and cope with the stresses and pressures they face. At the end of November, World of Warships hosted an exhibition tournament featuring veterans and service members of the US military branches, including the Army, Army National Guard, Air Force, Space Force, Air National Guard, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. 

‘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.

Simona catches up with Oleh Humeniuk, CEO at WePlay Esports, to find out more about how the company has grown from a tournament organiser to a fully rounded esports media empire.

2020 has been a challenging year for esports events organisers, so how did WePlay Esports respond to the COVID crisis, and what makes the company one of the leaders, especially in the CIS region?

Find out more about WePlay Esports at weplay.tv

The Brazilian Championship of Counter-Strike has changed its name and dropped its franchising model in favour of an open circuit. 

In 2021, the competition will be known as the Brazilian Circuit of Counter-Strike (CBCS), and its existing production team of DC Set and Grupo Globo, will be joined by entertainment group Omelette, promotion company Gamers Club, and streamer Alexandre “Gaules” Borba.

The changes mean that from next year, no team will have a guaranteed place in the league, and the league will be opened up to new teams trying to break into the pro circuit. Throughout the year there will be seven different competitions, with the first taking place in March. 

Tournaments will award points to allow for a ranking of teams, with the best participating in finals. The total prize pool is slated at $500K BRL (approx. $98K USD). 

O maior Circuito de CS:GO está chegando… pic.twitter.com/MNAg5tRJNK

— CBCS (@CBCS) December 4, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

Moving to an open format can only be good for encouraging the growth of the Latin American CS:GO scene, and bringing more partners onboard can only help improve production values and reach more fans – so, all things considered, we’d say this is a very positive move. 

‘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 E-sports Federation of Turkmenistan (TMeSF) has become the latest member of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF). 

Commenting on the news Assistant to the Minister of Foregin Affairs of Turkmenistan, A. Eyeberdiyev, said:

“TMeSF is constantly looking for new opportunities for the growth of eSports in the country, and joining the AESF will take this process to a new stage. Therefore, we are ready to go hand in hand with AESF and make every effort to help and develop Asian eSports.”

While President of the AESF, Kenneth Fok, added:

“We are excited to finally see the inclusion of TMeSF into the AESF family. They have been one of our strongest supporters in incorporating esports into major sporting events – since AIMAG 2017 so it goes without saying, that we look forward to more collaborations moving forward. I am excited to see what the future holds for the Turkmenistan esports scene.”

AYO.NEWS says:

It can be easy to overlook Central Asian countries like Turkemenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. But, with sizable populations, developing economies, and a desire to reform and modernise, they represent significant long-term opportunities for esports and video gaming, along with igaming and sports betting. 

‘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.