Esports Technologies has entered an exclusive alliance with British global sports jackpot operator and provider Colossus Bets. 

The deal gives Esports Technologies a license for most of Colossus Bets’ cash-out patent portfolio for esports applications. In addition to US patents, the agreement also covers Australian, Japanese, South Korean, Singaporean, Philippine, South African, and Nigerian patents. 

Discussing the agreement, Bart Barden, Esports Technologies Chief Operating Officer, said: “We believe our alliance with Colossus will herald the arrival of industry-leading cash-out technology, both in free-to-play and real-money formats in one platform, helping us grow to become a broader ‘best in class’ esports offering. 

“The exclusive patent licence bolsters our offerings with strong IP protection and customisation, resulting in a potent package that spans across data, technology and product, particularly in the context of our North American business-to-business ambitions. We look forward to our continuing alliance with Colossus to provide our customers with the best possible experiences on our platforms.”

Eva Karagianni-Goel, Chief Operating Officer of Colossus, added: “We are excited to join forces with Esports Technologies to unlock the value of our patents for esports audiences. Their IP-led approach mirrors ours and presents us with an exciting opportunity to marry our know-how with what is probably the most forward-looking content area — esports. By marrying our two technologies, we believe we are able to create truly best-in-class experiences for bettors, and we look forward to our continued alliance.”

Its been a busy few months for Esports Technologies; in addition to the company’s recent NASDAQ listing, earlier this week it welcomed NBA star Jordan Clarkson as a brand ambassador, and last month its Gogawi esports wagering platform debuted in Thailand, following a successful relaunch in Japan. 

AYO.NEWS says:

This deal more than hints at the global ambitions of Esports Technologies, and we’re looking forward to seeing how this manifests itself in the company’s offering. 

Recently, AYO.NEW’s Simona Pinterova caught up with CEO of Esports Technologies, Aaron Speach, to find out more about where the company is heading, and we’ll be posting the interview soon, so stay tuned.

Riot Games has announced the launch of League of Legends: Wild Rift: Origin Series, the title’s first esports tournament for Europe and MENA. 

Teams from across Europe, CIS, Turkey, the Middle East, and North Africa, will face off in a set of monthly, best-of-three double elimination competitions, running through June, July, and August, leading to an offline finals in September 2021. 

In addition to going home as the first-ever League of Legends: Wild Rift: Origin Series champions for Europe & MENA, the winning teams will also get a piece of a €300,000 prize pool. 

The first Open Qualifier Weekend will take place on 5-6 June, with the second phase on 12-13 June. The month will then round out with a Qualifier Playoffs on 21-24 June, which will be broadcast live. Details for July, August, and other stages will be confirmed at a later date.

Sign-ups for the first monthly qualifier are open until 1 June at originseries.com 

Gaming agency Fantasyexpo has been named strategic partner of PGL, ahead of the PGL Major Stockholm 2021. 

The agreement will see Poland-based Fantasyexpo act as the official marketing and business agency of PGL, as it prepares for the PGL Major Stockholm 2021.

Slated for October/November 2021, the event will see twenty-four teams from around the world slug it out for the title and a share of a $2M USD prize pool – the biggest in CS:GO history. 

Commenting on the news, Krzysztof Stypułkowski, Co-founder of Fantasyexpo, said: “Collaboration of this caliber is the best recognition for many years of our contribution to the esports scene. We have known each other with PGL for a long time, so we are very pleased that we can take our partnership to the next level. As their business partner, we will try to ensure that the cooperation will result in the acquisition of the most attractive partners.”

Silviu Stroie, CEO PGL, added: “PGL MAJOR STOCKHOLM 2021 is going to be the biggest CS:GO event ever, and we must deliver an incredible show for the viewers and the clients. We decided to partner with Fantasyexpo, an agency that we trust with a solid history in esports, to materialize our ideas and activations. We cannot wait to show the world what we have prepared  for this fantastic event.”

Fantasyexpo has previously completed a number of activations in the gaming space for major global brands including Old Spice and KFC. The agency’s extensive portfolio includes many regional tournaments, a growing number of tier two international events, and broadcasts from several past Majors.

The agency says it has prepared “many creative solutions” for brands advertising at the PGL Major, including the ADitional Major Show, inspired by the Super Bowl halftime show.

Florida-based global esports and entertainment company, Misfits Gaming Group (MGG), has announced the launch of The Misfits Agency. 

The new agency will be specialising in helping brands enter the gaming and esports sector, and will be aiming to “bridge the gap between generational audiences” through content creation. 

Taking the reins as president of The Misfits Agency is Emmy-nominated and award-winning content creator, Amy Palmer. At launch, the agency is teaming-up with several high-profile clients, including SoFi, and Hasbro. 

Regarding the launch, Palmer said: “Working with The Misfits Gaming Group and Ben Spoont to build a next-generation agency for the esports and Gen-Z audiences that will dominate every sector of business in the next decade is an incredible opportunity. I’m looking forward to creating high-level content that resonates with our audience, as well as helping to build and identify next-level content creators and influencers.”

Ben Spoont, CEO of Misfits Gaming Group, added: “Creating our own agency within Misfits Gaming Group marks the evolution of where our industry is heading. Offering brands and companies the opportunity to reach the most loyal audience in the world through authentic content and campaigns creates value for the esports and content creator ecosystem and brands who want the next-generation messaging.”

Misfits Gaming Group is partially owned by the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Haslam Sports Group (owners of the Cleveland Browns and Columbus SC).

The group now fields esports rosters in League of Legends, Call of Duty, and Overwatch, and has partnerships in place with SoFi, ASUS Republic of Gamers, Mountain, Zaxby’s, Tokyo Time, Intel, Gift of Life, RESPAWN, KIOXIA, SCUF, ICONIQ, Primeview, AVI-SPL, Liquid Death, and Nature’s Bounty® Brain HP. 

AYO.NEWS says:

We love the Misfits, and their partners (check out Liquid Death – its next level shit), so we’re sure The Misfits Agency will give some stuffy old brands the kick up the ass they need to thrive in the bizarre, COVID plagued, post-logic clown world that is the 2020’s. 

Blackhawk Network-owned online gaming shop Boost Gaming has been confirmed as the latest official partner of Celebrity Esports Superstar League. 

Boost Gaming will provide activations and exclusive promotional deals for viewers of Superstar League, which is set to kick off its inaugural season on 28 May. 

Leo Skagerlind, Celebrity Esports CEO, commented: “It’s a great feeling to be able to announce Boost Gaming as a partner of ours. Boosts Gaming’s broad variety of gaming top-up products and easy to navigate platform makes for the perfect fit as we strive to engage with gamers and entertainment buffs across the whole community.”

Dean Douglas, Boost Gaming Channel Director, added: “We’re really excited to be welcoming Celebrity Esports into the Boost Gaming community. As Gaming continues to become more mainstream it is vital for organisations to open the door to a wider market of casual fans and CES are leading the charge here.”

The league is aiming to “bring esports to a mainstream audience” through its celebrity-packed format, with big brands like NOW, Primark, and Grenade, sponsoring teams. 

Celebrities confirmed for the league so far include Jimmy Carr, Joel Dommett, Kem Cetinay, Chelcee Grimes, Ashley Banjo, Jordan Banjo, Perri Kiely, Tony Bellew, Nas Majeed, James McVey, Jack Bean, and Chris Hudges. 

CES Superstar League is set to debut on 28 May, with filming taking place at the Red Bull Gaming Sphere in London, and episodes streamed on the official Celebrity Esports YouTube channel.

FACEIT, the competitive platform for online multiplayer games, has announced a partnership with Death Wish Coffee, a brand known for making the “World’s Strongest Coffee.” 

The partnership represents the coffee brand’s entry into the world of competitive gaming, and will see US-based CS:GO players offered new missions, community events, and opportunities to win Death Wish Coffee. 

With 20 million users, ranging from amateur to pro players, and 40 million hours spent on the platform each month, FACEIT says it now houses the world’s largest competitive gaming community. The platform hosts some of the most popular games including; Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Dota 2, Rainbow Six Siege and more.

Established in the basement of a coffee shop, Death Wish Coffee has grown massively, winning an ad placement in the Super Bowl 50, and sending coffee to the International Space Station in 2018 and 2019. The brand is now sold online and at 15,000 stores across North America, and is consistently ranked in the top coffee and grocery products on Amazon.

The company says its products vitalise body and mind, and can help gamers improve their performance and fuel their aspirations. The brand’s ready-to-drink range includes a slightly sweetened cold brew, black cold brew, and the World’s Strongest Latte, which launched last month. All Death Wish Coffee canned Ready-to-Drink products are USDA organic and pack 300mg of caffeine per 8oz can.

Jeff Ayers, Digital Media and Broadcasting at Death Wish Coffee, commented: “At Death Wish Coffee, we are not just the makers of ‘the World’s Strongest Coffee’, we are a lifestyle brand. We want to fuel people’s passions from the moment they wake up and throughout the day, which is why we have chosen to partner with FACEIT, who have a strong community keen to improve their gaming performance.

“As esports and gaming are becoming larger and more visible, we realise that gamers need two things: the fuel to keep gaming and a brand that is as bold as they are. Death Wish Coffee provides all of FACEIT’s community of gamers and esports players with both a great product and brand they can get behind.”

Michele Attisani, Co-Founder and CBO of FACEIT, added: “Death Wish Coffee has a fantastic brand identity and mission that we feel aligns with our own values. Their approach naturally resonates with competitive gaming which can be high octane, energetic and fun. Most importantly their products don’t include chemicals. Our community competes together for hours at a time so it’s important that whatever they are picking up to eat or drink is as natural as possible.”