North American gaming organisation XSET has named HyperX as their official peripheral and memory partner. 

The new partnership will see XSET’s diverse roster of pro gamers and content creators kitted out with HyperX products, including headsets, keyboards, mice, mousepads, microphones, eyewear, power, and memory. 

According to the organisation, the initiative will be supporting the shared missions of XSET and HyperX in creating cultural moments, and will support XSET’s full roster of talent, which includes personalities like Swae Lee, Erin Ashley Simon, Proofy, teen skateboarding phenom Minna Stess and many more.

Commenting on the partnership XSET COO and co-founder, Marco Mereu, said:

“At XSET we are building a gaming organization, culture, and community for the next generation of gamers. We couldn’t ask for a better partner to move gaming forward and to fully realize the power of XSET”.

While Strategic Marketing Manager for HyperX, Stephanie Winkler, added:

“We could not be more excited to bring XSET’s athletes and creators into the HyperX family. Similar to HyperX’s goal of empowering all gamers to achieve their best, XSET’s progressive perspective to a gaming org’s identity galvanizes diversity and inclusion into action.

“We look forward to locking arms with XSET on unique activations and events to offer fans new ways to engage with their favorite games.”

The partnership will see fans treated to activations including exclusive streaming events, custom video and social media content, meet and greets with XSET talent, product giveaways, and more. 

Staying with XSET, last week the organisation announced it was entering the 2021 Coca-Cola eNASCAR iRacing series, with Ryan Luza and Casey Kirwan driving Ford Mustangs. NASCAR driver Anthony Alfredo has also joined XSET’s roster of talent as a content creator.

Turning to HyperX, at the end of January the company confirmed a 2-year sponsorship deal with UK-based organisation Guild Esports. 

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

Yamaha has entered Southeast Asian esports through a partnership with EVOS Esports in Indonesia. 

Yamaha’s ‘Generation 125’ – the company’s range of 125cc motorbikes including FreeGo, Fino, X-Ride, Mio series, and its latest GEAR 125 – is now an official sponsor of the esports organisation, in a collaboration focused on the Indonesian market. 

Discussing the partnership Deputy Director of Marketing of PT. Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing (PT YIMM), Takeyama Hiroshi, said:

“The high enthusiasm of the younger generation in the esports industry is the motivating factor for Generation 125 in collaborating with EVOS Esports; in supporting the achievements of Indonesia’s younger generation. 

“Yamaha’s ‘Generation 125’ product has now become the choice of the younger generation as a companion in their daily routine, thus this collaboration is expected to further increase the enthusiasm and optimism of Indonesia’s younger generation to continue to advance and move forward. With EVOS Esports, let’s: Let’s GEAR UP, GAME UP, and Win More! ”

While Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of EVOS Esports, Hartman Haris, added:

“We are excited to partner with Yamaha as they enter the esports industry for the first time in Southeast Asia. Through the “125 Generation Wins Many” campaign, EVOS Esports and Yamaha hope to reflect the spirit of the younger generation to be advanced and fast, especially in the esports and transportation industry.”

AYO.NEWS says:

This seems like a pretty smart move by Yamaha in its efforts to connect with the vast moped market in Indonesia. Staying with EVOS Esports, in October 2020, the organisation’s parent company, Attention Holdings Pte. Ltd (ATTN), secured $12B USD in a Series B funding round led by Korea Investment Partners.

‘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.

WISE Ventures Esports, parent company of Call of Duty League’s Minnesota Røkkr, has rebranded as Version1, and signed a VALORANT roster.  

Version1 was the branding already used by the organisation’s Rocket League team, and it will now be extended to all future teams also, except for those in Activision Blizzard’s franchise ecosystem.

The moves come as the company, which has built a following of almost 160,000 across its social media platforms, and now has more than 20 staff, continues to pursue growth and diversification. Specifically, Version1 will be looking to sign more content creators and expand production capabilities.

Discussing the rebrand Chief Operating Officer at Version1, Brett Diamond, said:

“The timing is right to align our organizational initiatives under the Version1 brand. With three competitive esports teams and plans ahead for continued growth and diversification of our content, we’ve reached an important milestone.

“Support from fans of Røkkr and Version1 has been amazing, and we look forward to continuing to build our fan community nationally and here in Minnesota.”

Version1 is based in Eagan, Minnesota, and is owned by the Wilf family and Gary Vaynerchuck.

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

TSXV-listed ESE Entertainment, through its K1CK esports team, has formed a partnership with Portuguese Premier League football team Rio Ave FC. 

The deal will see ESE manage and create esports-related content, while ESE’s esports team, K1CK, will help the club develop an esports and gaming infrastructure, in a collaboration that is beneficial to both parties.

This will include the organisation and management of esports events at Rio Ave FC’s stadium, and management of certain esports operations. K1CK players will also be representing Rio Ave FC in FIFA competitions, as they attempt to qualify for the eChampions League. 

Commenting on the deal Rio Ave’s Director of Marketing, Nuno Santos, said:

“This partnership between Rio Ave FC and K1CK is indeed a great opportunity for both of these ambitious organisations to work together and achieve excellent results.

“K1CK brings us the experience in the esports world that we have been struggling for years to reach, so it’s with the utmost pleasure that we will work together with an esports brand such as K1CK, that has attained so much international prestige.”

While CEO of ESE, Konrad Wasiela, added:

“It is with great pleasure that we announce a partnership between K1CK and Rio Ave FC, a Premier League football club in Portugal. Premier League soccer in Europe is one of the most prestigious levels of sport globally.

“We are absolutely thrilled at the opportunity to build out the gaming and esports business with Rio Ave FC. We look forward to many fruitful collaborations throughout 2021 and beyond with Rio Ave FC.”

As previously reported, in November 2020, ESE entered into an asset purchase agreement with the owner of K1CK Esports Club, Pedro Fernandes. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Entering esports successfully requires a lot of expertise and significant resources, so even major football clubs, it makes a lot of sense to partner with existing esports companies and organisations. Other footballing giants that have gone down a similar route include AC Milan with QLASH, Leeds United with Ninjas in Pyjamas, and Olympique de Marseille with Grizi Esport. 

‘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.

Greentube, the NOVOMATIC Interactive division, has acquired Austria-based blockchain-powered esports betting platform HERO. 

HERO’s herosphere.gg platform allows players to create their own contests and compete against each other on the outcome of games, cutting out the bookmaker middleman altogether. 

The company’s proprietary HEROcoin serves as the currency for the platform, and guarantees all transactions are transparent and secure. 

Herosphere.gg already has over 300,000 players, and the HEROnetwork can also also be used to enable any type of pooling, betting, fantasy, or poker systems. 

Discussing the acquisition CFO/CGO at Greentube, Michael Bauer, said:

“At Greentube, we aim to hold a leading position when it comes to adopting new trends and technology, and with HERO’s unique products, we have acquired an innovative and exciting business that will see us move into uncharted territory. 

“The esports and blockchain space offers a lot of possibility for the gaming sector and will open up new doors for us as a company. We are excited to explore the possibilities that lie ahead together with HERO.”

While CEO at HERO, Paul Polterauer, added:

“Our objective has always been to change the nature of online betting and bring innovation and new technology into the sector by offering something completely different. Our products challenge the old concept that the house always wins and instead let users build a community that better benefits them. 

“Being acquired by such a renowned company as Greentube is a huge testament to the hard work we have put into developing and evolving our products. Together with Greentube, we will be able to reach new heights.”

And, CTO at HERO, Philip Peinsold, said:

“Our HEROnetwork was created to challenge the conditions and lack of transparency and trust that we see with traditional betting systems today. Through our blockchain technology, we have succeeded in our objective to revolutionise the betting market and to bring back the social element with the peer-to-peer approach. 

“Greentube shares our vision to innovate the industry, and we are thrilled to now join forces. Together, we will continue to evolve our products and offer players something different.”

AYO.NEWS says:

The entry into esports and blockchain by one of the iGaming world’s biggest players is sure to cause a bit of a stir, and very much signals that even those entrenched in the traditional online casino sphere are now waking up and smelling the coffee. 

‘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.

Simona catches up with Quentin Martin, CEO of Real Luck Group Ltd, operator of esports-first betting platform Luckbox, to find out whats been happening since the company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange in Toronto.

AYO.NEWS first interviewed Quentin back in August 2020, when Luckbox was seeing business boom and preparing for its TSX listing. Since then, the platform has added even more features, seen the growth of esports betting continue, and launched traditional sports betting too.

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