VENN, the global network for gaming, streaming, esports, and entertainment audiences, has announced a strategic partnership with esports tournament organiser BLAST. 

The initiative marks VENN’s first major expansion into the esports market and will focus on distribution, unlocking brand partnerships, and developing new tournaments, with both companies looking to expand their global footprints through new content and enhanced engagement.

Kicking off with next week’s BLAST Premier Global Final, the partnership will see VENN produce multiple segments with a line-up of special guests from the esports world, music skits, and deep fan engagement, broadcast from the VENN Playa Vista, Los Angeles studio. 

Discussing the partnership VENN co-CEO, Ariel Horn, said:

“This partnership is exactly what we’ve been waiting for and we can’t wait to get started. Our team has a rich history in this space, having produced many of the most-watched esports events of all time, including League of Legends Worlds and the Fortnite World Cup. 

“We have been blown away by BLAST’s brand of dynamic, entertaining and professional events and its rapid expansion across the space. All of those elements combined with our studio infrastructure and programming capabilities make this a perfect match.”

While BLAST CEO, Robbie Douek, added:

“BLAST is the fastest growing esports tournament organizer in the world and has proven itself a highly valuable proposition for multiple brands. We are excited about what this collaboration will mean for both our fans and esports fans overall.”

As part of the relationship, VENN will own the North America (NA) qualifier series for BLAST Premier 2021, and VENN will co-create, execute, broadcast, and sell an expanded slate of shoulder programming across future BLAST events. Additionally, VENN will offer the full suite of future BLAST Premier tournaments across its extensive broadcast network. 

In 2020, BLAST racked up over 146 million views and 1.5 billion minutes of content consumed across its platforms, while expanding its offering to bring over 500 hours of esports to fans in multiple formats, covering titles including CS:GO, VALORANT, and DOTA 2. The company has more than 1 million subscribers and its content is available in over 105 territories globally. 

Staying with VENN, in October 2020, the company secured an additional $26M in a Series A funding round, led by BITKRAFT, and struck a major deal with Nexstar Media. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2019-2021.

California-based esports entertainment company Allied Esports has renewed its naming rights deal with HyperX for the Esports Arena Las Vegas. 

It means the venue will continue to be known as the HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas, the peripherals brand will still enjoy internal and external branding and signage, and will continue to gain exposure in all the venue’s promotions, content, and social media. Co-branded activations and events at the venue are also planned.

HyperX will also continue to supply peripherals, including gaming headsets, keyboards, mice, mouse pads, and USB microphones for esports events taking place at the arena. 

Discussing the news Director of Marketing at HyperX, Daniel Kelley, said:

“HyperX is excited to retain the naming rights sponsorship of the HyperX Esports Arena Las Vegas as a sign of our commitment and dedication to esports and the gaming community.

“Allied Esports is a key partner for us, proving their ability to be a best-in-class esports destination, and we look forward to continued success with them.”

While CEO of Allied Esports, Jud Hannigan, added:

“HyperX has been an incredible naming rights partner for our flagship property, bringing authenticity and credibility to the most recognised esports venue and production facility in the world.

“We are thrilled to extend this landmark alliance as we work together to continue delivering exciting experiences and content for customers and partners alike.”

Since opening in 2018, the arena has hosted many esports events and tournaments, including the League of Legends All-Star showcase, and the Capcom Cup. In 2019, the venue is said to have welcomed over 300,000 visitors. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Considering how badly physical esports venues have been hit by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, it’s fantastic to see HyperX is maintaining its support for the esports industry, and indeed, for Las Vegas, which has been harder hit than most cities due to its reliance on tourism and events.

‘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, 2019-2021.

Activision Blizzard has confirmed the regular season of its Call of Duty League 2021 will get underway on 11 February, following a special preseason event. 

As with 2020, 12 teams from the United States, Canada, and Europe will be participating in the league in 2021, with the season featuring home series events and 5 majors.

Prior to the regular season starting with the online Atlanta FaZe Home Series (11-14 Feb.), there will be a Call of Duty League Kickoff Classic pre-season event – for which fans will determine the matches played via online polling, on 23-24 January. 

In another interesting twist, teams will also be participating in a “unique snake draft to determine the first groups of the 2021 season.” Apparently, this format will “allow teams to select the team that will be placed in its next-ranked opponent’s group.”

The system will see Dallas Empire, the 2020 Call of Duty League Champions, at the top of Group Alpha, determining who 2020’s second-ranked Atlanta FaZe will have in its group, Bravo, before Atlanta then selects a team for Dallas’ group, and so on. 

If it sounds a little complicated, the league has put together a video to explain. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2019-2021.

Chinese esports organisation Suning Gaming (SN) has partnered with local smartphone brand OnePlus. 

The collaboration kicked off with the start of the League of Legends Pro League’s (LPL) 2021 Spring Split at the weekend, when Suning’s players debuted their new jersey featuring the OnePlus logo – next to that of existing sponsor Skyworth.

As Suning Gaming’s designated phone brand, the partnership will likely also include activations and content, and the phone company is already running promotions on social media. 

Suning Gaming is currently one of China’s leading League of Legends teams, and was runner-up at the 2020 League of Legends World Championship – during which it clinched several high-profile sponsorship deals, including with fast food giant KFC, car company Roewe, and food delivery company Eleme. 

The organisation also has partnerships with Suning.com, Logitech G, and Huya. 

OnePlus made its esports sponsorship debut in 2019, supporting UK-based Fnatic. 

AYO.NEWS says:

These days every esports organisation needs a smartphone partner, and OnePlus is clearly realising the benefit of connecting with esports and gaming audiences. Many more similar partnerships can be expected from smartphone brands through 2021. 

‘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, 2019-2021.

International esports organisation Gen.G has teamed up with fast food giant McDonald’s in Southern California. 

Gen. G, which is jointly based in California and South Korea, has partnered with McDonald’s franchises to organise a series of esports initiatives focused around Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs. Specific events will include a multi-week play-in tournament for employees, and a three-day NBA 2K21 All-Star tournament to try and find the best young players in SoCal. 

The six-week play-in McDonald’s Crew League gets underway today, with players able to compete in NBA 2K21, FIFA, Super Smash Bros, or Madden. The final will be streamed live on Twitch, and prizes awarded to the top players, while a trophy will be delivered to the franchise location of the winner. In total 38 franchise locations are participating.

The McDonald’s SoCal All-Stars starts on 30 January and will consist of a two-day play-in tournament with qualifying matches to find the top 12 players, who will then advance to the finals, which again will be streamed on Twitch. Each team will be captained by a Gen.G pro player or coach during the finals. 

Commenting on the initiative, Head of Revenue Operations at Gen.G, Jordan Sherman, said:

“Our initiative with McDonald’s really shows the power of gaming to connect communities in a whole new way.

“It’s become even more meaningful when you have a partner like McDonald’s who truly wants to innovate in this space to leverage gaming and esports to provide value and opportunity to their consumers and employees.”

While Chris Rowe, a McDonald’s Southern California franchisee and owner, added:

“We know many Southern California McDonald’s crew members are avid gamers at home, so we wanted to offer new ways for them to connect, have fun and show off their talents in what they’re passionate about.

“We’re doubling down on our commitment to enhancing the employee experience for our restaurant crew and couldn’t be more excited to partner with Gen.G on our first own esports initiative.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Anyone who’s ever done a stint at a major fast food chain as a teenager will know how lame ‘team building’ initiatives can be, so kudos to the McDonald’s franchises and Gen.G for cooking up this – we’re sure the staff and local gaming community will appreciate it, and it’s a fantastic way to empower staff while also promoting businesses. 

‘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, 2019-2021.

Reports suggest Riot Games and Bungie are joining forces to sue a cheating-software creator. 

Polygon says it has obtained a complaint, submitted to a US District Court in California, that shows lawyers for the publishers are accusing Cameron Santos of GatorCheats, and others, of trafficking in “a portfolio of malicious cheats and hacks” for video games including VALORANT and Destiny 2. 

Apparently, players can purchase products from GatorCheats through its website, email, Telegram, and Discord, with packages ranging from $90 per month to $500 for lifetime access to a cheat. The cheats include features like an “aimbot” to improve players’ aim, and various hacks that show details of the enemy. 

Although Bungie has already issued a cease and desist order to GatorCheats, and the company says it has stopped selling the cheats, Bungie says it has reason to believe cheats are still being sold covertly. 

Bungie and Riot Games are claiming the actions of GatorCheats have caused damage that possibly runs into the millions of dollars, and they want the operation shut down completely, plus punitive damages and court costs.  

AYO.NEWS says:

It’s not the first time developers and publishers have sued cheat creators, but this is an issue that is only going to get even more pressing as the legitimate ecosystem surrounding titles like VALORANT grows. Quite apart from the obvious esports implications, even when it comes to casual gaming, cheating undermines the trust and faith in communities, and can quickly create toxic atmospheres and push genuine players away. 

At the end of the day, the entire concept of cheats and hacks is fundamentally the antithesis of what gaming should be about, and anyone using them is really cheating themselves too.

Let’s hope the court takes this as seriously as it deserves to be.

‘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, 2019-2021.