Tag: Esports

The gaming industry is going from strength to strength with continuous growth on a global scale. With investments of over $60 billion in the first half of 2021, it has already almost doubled the total amount in 2020. With innovation taking center stage, many will be looking towards further opportunities in commerce to secure future growth as the industry once again prepares to level up. 

Over the last 18 months, events quickly transformed how the global community communicated with friends, shopped, and interacted online. People of all ages were responsible for a spike in digital gaming activity in a world where we all became players. But global audiences are not just playing games; they are increasingly consuming more gaming-related content via live and recorded streams of games across multiple platforms.

As the world begins to open back up, interest in gaming and esports continues to dominate headlines. The arrival of 5G is creating more opportunities for esports companies to scale as mobile-first nations such as China and Southeast Asia continue to thrive with millions of new fans entering virtual arenas. But how can esports companies scale quickly enough to meet the demands of their audience? 

Have the right people

Gaming is one of the fastest-growing industries and market environments. But it’s people who drive the heart of every business in this space. The most successful esports companies attract the best talent and investors to help realize their vision. But, identifying and developing this talent and creating a working culture that empowers every individual to be the best version of themselves is the easy part. Then, just like in video games, it’s keeping the momentum going and grinding through tasks where many fail.

Every esports player knows that if you don’t selflessly help others, look out for your teammates, or work together, you won’t get very far. Video games have taught us that although you might move forward faster alone, you can achieve much more in a group. There is no room for egos in business either, and the right people by your side combined with a growth mindset will result in many successful joint missions where objectives and goals are achieved.

In our virtual, physical, and digital lives, everybody is faced with grinding through cumbersome work that at the time feels unrewarding. But you need to dig deep and pull together to unlock hypergrowth. There is a strong argument that convincing brave, driven, and entrepreneurial-minded people to join your winning tribe requires leadership, communication, teamwork, and negotiation skills learned through playing video games. Once again, it’s people and teams that learn from each other that create the magic, whether online or offline.

Pivoting until you find your path 

No start-up journey is clear-cut from the start, and nobody could have predicted that Zoom would be worth more than the world’s seven biggest airlines or that videogames would generate more revenue than movies and music combined. Elsewhere, many traditional companies are attempting to pivot to esports, which can be both a blessing and a curse. 

For example, large traditional sporting events realized that their global fanbase of millions could never fit inside a sporting arena. So how do they keep their fans engaged? NASCAR was one of the first to pivot to esports, with its iRacing series attracting one million viewers per event. As the lines between traditional sport and esports begin to get blurry, it can create tremendous opportunities and challenges in equal measure for the industry. 

It’s important to remember that YouTube would have become a video dating website without the pivot, and Instagram would have become a location-based game. In the same way that multiple lives in video games give you another chance to try a different approach, opportunities will always come your way on your mission to locate hypergrowth in your esports company

The universe will provide us with many opportunities to change and try something new. So, don’t waste these chances and always take advantage of the opportunities on the continuously evolving path that lies ahead. Most important of all, remember that the game is never over.

Explore the map

Don’t be afraid to go on side-missions if an exciting opportunity lands in front of you as long as you stay on track. By contrast, if you remain in the same place, you will quickly run low on resources or discover new ways to broaden your horizons.

By exploring one’s map, one can navigate unchartered digital waters to help design a plan. Blueprints involve finding esports teams with a strong community and solid foundation in each of the markets it operates in. With this foundation in place, they can be accelerated to become household names and compete among the region’s top teams. Additionally, partnering with brand ambassadors and content creators can take them to the next level with strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and content distribution across multiple channels. 

The gaming industry has come a long way since its days of being on the fringes of popular culture. However, both gaming and esports are right at the heart of mainstream entertainment. By bridging the gap between the gaming world and the brands challenged with creating awe-inspiring content, it is hoped that we can take engaging experiences for esports and gaming fans to the next level. 

One of the most significant growth opportunities in the industry is driving commerce by delivering physical and digital products. Having a clear game plan to navigate these challenging times has resulted in the hypergrowth of many industries, and gaming is no exception. But at the heart of everything is people. From every employee to every member of a gaming audience, it’s about how we all use technology to create powerful and authentic ways to connect with people. 

This article is written by Tim Roemer, COO of Ampverse.

Singapore – With cryptocurrencies being well-known across mainstream sectors and industries, many organizations and brands across the world are slowly favoring these virtual currencies as part of the new economy. 

This is evident with the latest endeavor from SG-based cryptocurrency platform Coinhako as it made its first ever cryptocurrency sponsorship to esports team ALMGHTY using Ethereum, one of the well-known cryptocurrencies globally.

Ethereum is the world’s second largest cryptocurrency by means of market capitalization, following Bitcoin. Said sponsorship, which is also the first-ever cryptocurrency-funded esports sponsorship in Singapore, will run from July 2021 until the next esports cycle in July 2022.

The sponsorship will see ALMGHTY leverage the large regional fanbases of their players on social media to drive Coinhako’s presence throughout Southeast Asia. This will cover Twitch streams, Facebook and Instagram content by the ALMGHTY team and players. The official FY 21/22 ALMGHTY jersey for the players will also sport the Coinhako logo.

ALMGHTY, an esports team primarily playing Mobile Legends, is managed by global digital talent and marketing group Gushcloud International and its gaming talent management unit, Nixgen Entertainment.

The team is composed of 17-year old Gerrard Ng Zheng Wei(Nexqt); 18-year old Javier Tan (Sky); 19-year old Chai Mun Jun (Jun); 22-year old Foo Jieyu (Risen); and 17-year old Randall Tay Guan Pin (Bush). They enjoy a dedicated regional social media and live streaming following as a group, with more than 11 million fans in Southeast Asia alone.

For Yusho Liu, co-founder and CEO at Coinhako, the sponsorship will provide a boost in reaching a younger, mobile-first generation, and raising awareness through talented players in Singapore’s gaming industry. He added that this is part of the platform’s focus to move forward in making cryptocurrencies accessible throughout Asia.

“The decision to embark on the first cryptocurrency funded sponsorship in esports, and the first by a crypto firm in Singapore, wasn’t a difficult one to make as it merges two of the hottest topics of 2021, i.e. cryptocurrencies and e-sports. Furthermore, as a homegrown company, we believe in supporting local talents which make Singapore proud on the regional stage. The multi-talented ALMGHTY squad certainly embodies these elements and Coinhako is excited to embark on this sponsorship with ALMGHTY,” Liu stated.

Joanne Liew, chief studios and entertainment officer at Gushcloud, also commented, “ALMGHTY is proud to welcome Coinhako onboard as our first cryptocurrency sponsor in Singapore. Gaming and cryptocurrency share a lot of similarities, with a heavily tech-driven user base. In line with Coinhako’s position as the Lion City’s leading crypto trading platform, the ALMGHTY team is equally driven to emerge as winners, together reaching a younger audience base.” 

Collaborations between cryptocurrency giants and the sports industry have risen in popularity over the past few months, including Coinbase and first-player shooter (FPS) game CS:GO, mixed martial arts (MMA) company UFC and Crypto.com, to name a few.

Sydney, Australia – Gametech marketing company Livewire has announced that it is entering a global partnership with esports company GAMURS Group, encompassing the markets of Europe, Middle East and the Asia-Pacific.

Said partnership follows after Livewire recently expanded to APAC this year.

Riad Chikhani, founder and CEO at GAMURS, says the company is excited to launch the partnership with Livewire off the back of formidable growth over the past 18 months which saw GAMURS’ collective audience grow to nearly 40 million readers.

“Growth remains our highest priority in the GAMURS Group as we continue to expand into new verticals and expand our reach. The growth offered through our partnership with Livewire is exciting as we look to work with more brands to help them reach such a dedicated audience,” Chikhani stated.

The new partnership enables Livewire clients to leverage the GAMURS Group’s audience of over 100 million unique fans across its portfolio of websites and social media profiles which separately command more than 80 million consumers per month.

For Indy Khabra, co-founder and CEO at Livewire, gaming and esports has been a priority on the marketer’s agenda as brands progress to find new ways to add value to the next generation of consumers. He also added that GAMURS Group has quickly become one of the largest online esports and gaming destinations, connecting millions of users every day.

“By partnering with GAMURS Group, we continue to execute on our gametech vision. Global esports viewership is expected to grow at a 9% CAGR, hitting 646 million viewers in 2023. The partnership gives marketers the ability to easily target esports enthusiasts programmatically, while providing our clients gametech solutions that deliver effective marketing outcomes,” Khabra stated.

Manila, Philippines – Tier One Entertainment, Philippine-based esports entertainment company for SEA, has partnered with global in-game advertising channel Admazing Co., to launch its in-game advertising service.

Admazing Co.’s proposition is offering retention of the brand to its target audience segments, citing its high games inventory and a strong penetration from the Gen Z’s and millennials as well as from Gen A’s, which is the demographic said to come after the Gen Z’s and those born in the 21st century.

The partnership will enable Tier One Entertainment to access Admazing Co.’s games inventory for its brand partners. It has also earned the right to cater Admazing Co. within the SEA region.

According to global technology research and advisory company Technavio, the in-game advertising market is expected to grow by US$11b in 2024. This growth is driven by the increasing popularity of mobile gaming, the growing adoption of smartphones, and the increasing availability of high-speed internet. 

With this, Tier One Entertainment believes that adding in-game advertising to its core advertising services is essential to strengthen its gaming ecosystem, as well as push further its dominance in the mobile gaming industry with its esports team, Blacklist International.

Tier One Entertainment’s Chief Commercial Officer Joanne Llavore commented that this partnership with Admazing Co. enables Tier One Entertainment to close the loop in terms of serving the advertising needs of brands, and their ultimate goal is to provide clients with solutions to efficiently penetrate the hard to reach Millennials and Gen Z audiences.

“Admazing Co. is a superior platform because it is the only one that has a direct connection to game developers hence, providing premium inventory. We are fortunate and glad to have a truly top-tier partner like Admazing Co.,” said Llavore.

Meanwhile, Edward Castillo, the managing director at Admazing Co., said that they recognized Tier One’s expertise in the gaming industry and they are especially proud of this collaboration because it highlights how they are working together to change the advertising era through mobile game advertising, and help build the next generation audience experience in a brand-safe environment. 

“This partnership also represents a major milestone in the growth of Mobile Gaming as an effective territory in the region,” added Castillo.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Global esports organization Galaxy Racer (GXR) has appointed Allan Phang, former regional head of marketing and PR of professional esports company EVOS Esports, to now assume the role of chief marketing officer. 

Galaxy Racer holds a roster of eleven esports teams in various online battle games such as Legends, Dota 2, CS: GO, and Fortnite, as well as PUBG Mobile, and Free Fire. It has over 60 male and female esports athletes from 22 countries, with over 20 content creators across the Middle East North Africa (MENA) and Southeast Asia (SEA).

The organization said that Phang’s leadership appointment aims to lead the development of best-in-class strategic marketing plans to establish GXR’s brand presence on a global scale. She will be handling the organization’s marketing initiatives from social media and digital campaigns to advertising, partnerships, and creative projects.

Aside from previously working at EVOS Esports, Phang also worked at AirAsia for close to seven years and his roles included being the head of esports, leading as well in the areas regional marketing, ancillary income, employee engagement, as well as internal branding, corporate culture, partnerships, and business development. Most recently, he led the airline’s esports strategic initiatives including the AirAsia Allstars Esports Club, sponsorship activation for Mineski Dota 2 Esports Team, and the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) by Alisports, the sports arm of Alibaba Group. 

“I believe Galaxy Racer is on the right path to be a market leader in this space with their integrated 360 approaches focusing on content and lifestyle, as brands and marketers begin to understand the true value of esports and gaming in connecting with the hard-to-reach demographics of Millennials, Gen Z Digital Natives and Gen Alphas,” said Phang.

Meanwhile, Galaxy Racer’s CEO Paul Roy commented that Phang is a highly experienced business leader with a proven track record, including his vast knowledge and network in the esports ecosystem, which they value immensely. 

“As Galaxy Racer evolves into a lifestyle brand, I am confident with his cross-cultural leadership qualities, passion for innovative marketing, and forward-thinking mindset, he will be able to take us to the next level as we aggressively continue our global expansion across continents,” said Roy.

Galaxy Racer has also announced that it has recently brought onboard Guenther Hake, the senior vice president and general manager of Disney Consumer Products in Greater China and CEO at Oriental DreamWorks. Hake will be assisting in an advisory role with GXR’s brand partnerships, consumer products, apparel, and merchandising endeavors.

Manila, Philippines – While the esports scene industry in the Philippines has been thriving, thanks to a combination of local area network (LAN) gaming centers or more known as ‘computer shops’ and mobile gaming accessibility, the industry has seen its fair share of struggles maintaining mainstream focus, a new report from strategic advisory firm YCP Solidiance shows.

According to the report, the local industry has yet to prove that esports titles hold a lifespan long enough to support professional players’ careers, unlike traditional sports that have a long-proven history of consistent returns and established fan support. In contrast, international leagues such as The Overwatch League and League of Legends: League Championship Series have successfully proven their success in other countries, paving ways for a profitable future for the Philippine esports market.

On the other hand, while these esports tournaments have yet to see themselves ‘ripen’ in the local scene, the esports industry in the Philippines currently has over 43 million active gamers, a number growing steadily by 12.9% yearly since 2017. The country’s most played game, Mobile Legends, reached a whopping peak of 2.65 million active users daily (from data by the Google Play store in April 2019), and has shown consistent growth at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9%.

The report also suggests that in order for the esports industry to thrive in the country, they need to combine three elements: content, packaging, and accessibility. In the case of establishing an esports league tournament in the country, for instance, the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) in the Philippines, they have one of the highest levels of Mobile Legends competitive play that is accessible today in the country.

“Even better is that it shows a marked improvement, exponentially growing the viewership number from the previous seasons, and a growing loyalty amongst its viewers as seen with the returning support after multiple editions of the tournament. Though more outside investments and direct sponsorship support is not yet prevalent, it stands to reason that future editions of the tournament will very likely catch the eye of many non-endemic sponsors,” the report stated.

They added that at the end of the day, it is a ‘delicate balancing act’ that requires concrete efforts on all ends to make sure all bases are covered. Such efforts require considerable investments, but when these are done right, successes such as the one Mobile Legends has shown is a definite possibility. 

“Especially now that Mobile Legends’ success along the way is converting many nonparticipants of esports into potential audiences of tomorrow, the esports industry in the Philippines has never looked more approachable and primed to succeed in the coming years,” the report concluded.

Manila, Philippines – As more and more gamers around the world come to Twitter to discuss all of the latest happenings and trends, Twitter Philippines has released its gaming and esports insights on how local gamers have leveled up their voices and excitement on the platform’s gaming scene in the first half of 2021.

According to the data collected, Filipino gamers went from 9th place in 2020 to 6th place this year, surpassing India, France, and the United Kingdom. The open-world game Genshin Impact has reigned the rankings as the most talked about game among Filipino gamers on Twitter. This was followed by shooter video game VALORANT, and virtual universe game Roblox landing in the third spot.

Meanwhile, video game Minecraft came out in the fourth spot, while Among Us, a multiplayer social deduction game, capped the top five.

Twitter has also recorded that Filipino gamers on the platform showed their support for their favorite teams and players and connected with the source themselves. The most talked about esports teams among Filipinos on Twitter are T1, Sentinels, OGesports, Team Secret, Cloud 9, FNATIC, G2esports, and 100 Thieves, as well as TNC Predator, and TSM, which ranked one to ten respectively.

“Even though the year is almost halfway over, there’s still plenty to look forward to in the second half of the year. Be sure to stay tuned for even more gaming events like Gamescom & The Game Awards, along with plenty of esports content from Call of Duty League, League of Legends Esports, Overwatch League, and the VALORANT Champions Tour, among others,” said Twitter.

Manila, Philippines – Tier One Entertainment, Philippine-headquartered esports talent agency for SEA, has landed a major partnership with media investment company GroupM with an aim to make advertising more inclusive in the esports industry, specifically to open up esports and gaming content to more mainstream brands. 

GroupM owns some of the top agencies internationally, such as Mindshare, Mediacom, and Essence, and holds global FMCG brand accounts like P&G, Unilever, Nestle, and Colgate-Palmolive, and Pepsico. Through this partnership, both GroupM and Tier One look to lead the way in extending advertising opportunities to more brands, and not just those that are esports-dedicated. 

Despite its rise as a phenomenon, esports and gaming largely remain an endemic sponsor-dominated industry, especially in Southeast Asia. Tier One hopes that with GroupM’s considerable network and resources, they can work to change this and bring more eyes to the industry and their talents.

Tier One is the first and only esports and gaming company GroupM has partnered with in the Philippines, and with this, the company will be onboarded into GroupM’s content platform INCA which streamlines the selling and buying of Tier One’s commercial inventory.

When Tier One launched in the country, one of its core goals is to bridge the gap between gaming and mainstream. The company said that GroupM is the perfect partner to enable them to pursue that goal more actively than ever. 

“It’s been a long-term goal of Tier One Entertainment to partner with GroupM. We are glad to have reached a point wherein our backend team can experience working with the best and brightest in the advertising industry. We look forward to a productive and meaningful working relationship as we bring esports and gaming to the forefront of mainstream advertising,” said Joanne Llavore, CCO of Tier One Entertainment. 

Meanwhile, Laurent Goirand, head of digital at GroupM, commented, “Seeing the growing interest for e-sports in the Philippines, it is naturally becoming a new venue for our clients to reach out to new customers. With our partnership with Tier One, we are able to have access to premium content and a team of experts, which will be highly beneficial to our overall proposition. We are already starting to offer this new content to all our clients through INCA, our Content Performance solution.”

Tier One shared that the partnership comes at an opportune time, as it looks to expand to more countries in 2021 and in the future. GroupM is believed to be instrumental in mirroring the model of success that Tier One pioneered in the Philippines to other countries across the region, with the partnership expected to allow Tier One to scale up at an unprecedented rate.

Tier One’s CEO Tryke Gutierrez said, “While we have made great strides towards bringing gaming and esports to more mainstream audiences, the fact that a company like GroupM chose us as a partner is a real game-changer. This shows that the advertising industry is finally confident and believes in the power of esports in Southeast Asia.”

Singapore – Luxury travel and lifestyle brand TUMI has announced a new lineup of its esports-themed collection of bags and accessories, and first debuted on the Asia Pacific-centric reality show ‘The Apprentice:ONE Championship’.

‘The Apprentice: ONE Championship’ is a reality show first aired on the AXN Network which centers on 16 candidates from around the world competing in both business and physical challenges. The winner will receive a US$250,000 job offer to work directly under ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong.

TUMI appeared in one of the episodes of the reality show, where Adam Hershman, vice president at TUMI Asia Pacific and Middle East, challenged the show’s contestants to work on a 360 degree global marketing rollout plan to launch the TUMI Alpha Bravo Esports Pro collection as the ultimate luxury esports collection. 

The collection is called the ‘TUMI Alpha Bravo Esports Pro’, which according to TUMI is aimed at esports athletes and hobbyists who aim to not only survive every journey, but help themselves excel whether that’s on the road, behind the desk or being cheered on by fans.

‘Esports Pro Large Backpack’ is the flagship product of the collection, which features many compartments such as collapsible shelves that optimize organization and protection. In addition, the backpack also features a padded, expandable back pocket to hold multiple keyboards, a mouse, and other valuable tech essentials, while an additional padded laptop sleeve is located in the interior. 

Added features include a designated molded pocket on the top that gives protection and quick access to headphones. Lastly, drives and other similarly sized accessories can be secured in the rigid, molded side pockets while the integrated USB port will help keep gamers powered on the go.

TUMI offers compact accessory designs including the Pro Sling, Pro Accessories Case, and Pro Crossbody, with dimensions perfect for a handheld gaming console and peripherals. Additionally, there is a designated pocket that holds wireless earbuds. Even for gaming at home, the ample pocket space and purposeful design allow for staying organized when off the road.

For Victor Sanz, creative director at TUMI, the vision behind TUMI’s latest collection was all about looking towards those whose passion is gaming — just as innovation is theirs. In addition, they have channeled that vigor to create the ultimate collection for every gamer, as they consulted with numerous industry experts from game developers to professional esports athletes to help design top-of-the-line bags that meet, if not exceed, the needs of today’s gamers like none before. 

“Now more than ever, we see gaming as an outlet to escape our realities, striving to be the champions we all want to be. So, with guidance from those who know the industry best, we immersed ourselves into the gaming community and created innovative products they haven’t experienced yet. Each element was obsessed over and engineered to deliver optimized utility and enhance every champion’s journey,” Sanz explained.

TUMI has launched in the past its virtual experiential store which aims to give customers an immersive and enhanced omnichannel experience through augmented reality (AR)and 360-degree view rendering.

Manila, Philippines – Philippine telco Smart Communications (Smart) has partnered anew with event and tournament organizer Eplayment Entertainment, to launch the third season of Liga Adarna, the country’s biggest all-female esports league.

The Liga Adarna Season 3 has already kicked off last 8 April and will be running until 7 June 2021, with the theme ‘Women Rising’. The event aims to showcase the prowess of the country’s top female esports players in four different games, including Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Valorant, and Call of Duty: Mobile, as well as League of Legends: Wild Rift. 

Furthermore, the event is also in line with Smart’s long standing support for the fast-growing Philippine esports scene to cultivate the passion, skill, and talent of Filipino gamers. The winners of Liga Adarna Season 3 will enjoy a total prize pool of ₱215K.

The Liga Adarna will stream the matches live on its Facebook page.

Last 24 November 2020 to 17 January 2021, the second season of Liga Adarna was launched. Smart and Eplayment Entertainment have partnered with non-governmental organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in the Philippines for the season’s ‘Now Loading: Gamers for Nature’ campaign, which aims to raise funds for the organization’s environmental education initiatives.

Most recently, the telco has also partnered with game developer Moonton for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Season 7, which is the largest mobile esports league in the Philippines. The event has seen 10 of the country’s top Mobile Legends esports teams compete.