Esports

Tobias Sherman, previously global head of esports at WME-IMG, has joined forces with a group of former senior colleagues at the agency to establish a new game studio, with the aim of creating a competitive esports-focused title.

US technology company Intel has today (Friday) revealed plans for two esports events in Korea ahead of the 2018 winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang.

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US video game developer Riot Games is set to introduce a franchise system for its European League of Legends Championship Series amid a raft of proposed changes that aim to bring it in line with its North American counterpart.

Fifa, football’s global governing body, has joined forces with EA Sports to launch a new esports competition based on the video game developer’s ‘Fifa 18’ title.

The New York Yankees Major League Baseball franchise has entered the esports sector through an investment partnership with Vision Esports, the parent company of the Echo Fox, Twin Galaxies and Vision Entertainment properties.

US video game developer Activision Blizzard has awarded the final three franchise spots for its new Overwatch League to the cities of Philadelphia, Dallas and Houston.

Half of the cities polled by event hosting consultancy firm, TSE, have said they plan to host an esports event with the next 12 months. Greg Pitcher looks at the reasons why cities want to get on the gaming bandwagon.

Game developer and publisher Blizzard Entertainment has opened a new esports-dedicated arena in the US city of Burbank, California.

Digital correspondent Richard Clarke takes in a live esports event for the first time as he attends the Gfinity Elite Series in Fulham, London.

In this issue we cover the following: QATAR CRISIS – BeIN hits out at 'scaremongering' VIRTUAL REALITY – Is the much hyped technology finally ready to make a difference? SPORTS

International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach has said he is open to the inclusion of esports at the Olympics, but only through games that promote “Olympic values” adding that the industry still faces challenges from an organisational perspective.

The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) in a move designed to promote and develop table tennis esports.

Performance management company Nielsen has launched an esports division.

Video game developer Electronic Arts has partnered with American football league the NFL to launch a new competitive gaming and esports event in what is claimed to be the biggest commitment to the sector by a US professional sports league.

The Formula One motor-racing championship has entered the competitive gaming arena with the launch of its own esports series.

Global performance management company Nielsen Sports has today (Thursday) launched a new division that will analyse and identify opportunities in the esports market.

US video game developer Activision Blizzard has announced the sale of a further two franchises for its new Overwatch League, with US esports organisation Cloud9 securing the rights to a London team and the Kroenke family landing a second franchise in Los Angeles.