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Valhallan Acquires NXT Up Esports
Growing esports franchise Valhallan announced its acquisition of NXT UP Esports, the largest provider of virtual youth esports camps and leagues across the US. The move enables Valhallan to provide an inclusive environment for esports competition, regardless of skill, for kids anywhere in the world, even if there isn’t a Valhallan arena close by.
With the acquisition of NXT UP Esports and the recent acquisitions of the United Federation of Esports Athletes (UFEA) league and the North American Esports League (NAEL), Valhallan now boasts thousands of teams and players, solidifying the brand further as the largest youth esports franchise. Together with Valhallan’s exclusive training programme, the company offers the best training and competition – whether virtual or in Valhallan’s arenas – for youth esports players.
Like Valhallan, NXT UP Esports prides itself on its youth development that teaches players essential life skills through video games, with the belief that the lessons kids learn from being a part of a team can extend to all aspects of their lives, now and in the future. Integrating with Valhallan’s curriculum helps develop each player’s self-confidence, communication skills, social development, leadership ability and in-game skills in a fun and safe environment.
“NXT UP Esports is the perfect addition to add virtual programs in areas where we don’t have Valhallan arenas – youth players and teams everywhere will be able to join, train and compete with us. It also opens doors to further Valhallan’s global expansion, enabling us to serve significantly more gamers anywhere they might be. It’s exciting news for our players, franchise owners and youth esports as a whole,” Matt Phillips, brand president of Valhallan, said.
The acquisition also brings NXT UP Esports founder Luke Zelon to the Valhallan team as the new vice president of media and partnerships. Under Zelon, NXT UP Esports has established partnerships and connections with influential esports and youth programmes such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Team Liquid and traditional sports company U.S. Sports Camps.
“By combining the training and curriculum of Valhallan with the virtual capabilities of NXT UP Esports, Valhallan can offer the experience of a lifetime for young gamers from almost anywhere in the world. With the new addition, Valhallan can now reach a larger audience while bringing exciting new opportunities to the world of esports,” Zelon said.
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Eagerly anticipated release now confirmed following a highly successful exclusivity period with Rush Street Interactive
Play’n GO has today announced the official US release of its hit title Colt Lightning Firestorm, following a three-week period of exclusivity with Rush Street Interactive brands BetRivers and SugarHouse.
Colt Lightning Firestorm was released in Europe and other jurisdictions in May 2024, and its release in the US comes with much fanfare following the game’s rave reviews in its short exclusivity period. The game is a sequel to the wildly popular Colt Lightning game which was released early last year, and indications at this stage suggest that this sequel may prove even more successful.
This announcement sees Colt Lightning Firestorm available to players in each state and operator with whom Play’n GO is licensed. Play’n GO first entered the online casino market in the US in 2022, and has reiterated its commitment to becoming active in every regulated market around the world.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO said: “We’re excited to unveil Colt Lightning Firestorm to the wider online casino gaming community in the US, and have been very pleased to see its strong performance during its exclusivity period with Rush Street Interactive. We had high hopes for the game following the success of its predecessor, and we’re confident that these robust results will continue now that the game is available to an even bigger audience.”
Esports entertainment company BLAST has announced plans to host two popular esports events in Singapore in 2024 and 2025.
BLAST will bring both world-class Counter-Strike and Dota 2 tournaments to the heart of Southeast Asia, marking a major step in Singapore’s emergence as an esports and gaming hub. Supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), these high-profile events will bring the world’s best esports teams and players from all across the world to compete in Singapore.
BLAST has teamed up with AEG Presents Asia, one of the world’s largest live entertainment entities to bring these events to Singapore. The partnership forms part of BLAST’s ambition to create the best esports experiences by working closely with premier destinations and the biggest and best live entertainment partners.
More than half of global esports views (57%) are estimated to come from the Asia Pacific region, 47% more than any other region in the world with the global market valued at $1.6 billion.
By bringing the top-tier Counter-Strike and Dota 2 tournaments to Singapore, BLAST aims
to attract global esports talent, foster local growth, and elevate Singapore’s status as a destination for world-class esports entertainment.
James Woollard, Director of Market Development at BLAST, said: “We are incredibly excited to bring two of the biggest esports titles to this vibrant destination. Over the coming 18 months, Singapore will become a major hub for esports in Southeast Asia, and with the support of the Singapore Tourism Board, we look forward to delivering unforgettable experiences for fans while helping to build a thriving esports ecosystem in the region. Bringing the first BLAST arena event to Singapore is an exciting first step in this journey. The World Final will see the world’s best Counter-Strike players and teams fighting for a $1,000,000 total prize pool.”
Ms Ong Ling Lee, Executive Director, Sports and Wellness, Singapore Tourism Board, said, “We are excited to host the BLAST Premier World Final and the BLAST Dota Slam in Singapore. The Counter-Strike event marks the first BLAST-branded event in Southeast Asia and the inaugural Counter-Strike tournament series in the region, solidifying Singapore’s position as a world-class esports destination. We are confident that the international participants and their legions of fans will have a memorable experience in Singapore, immersing themselves in the diverse and dynamic offerings of our city.”
The World Final 2024 will take place from 30th October – 3rd November and will be the first BLAST event to take place in Singapore, followed by the BLAST Dota Slam in 2025. The World Final will be the biggest Counter-Strike event to take place in Singapore, where the world’s best eight Counter-Strike teams will compete for a massive prize pool of $1,000,000 and the chance to claim bragging rights as the best team around.
Qualified World Final teams: NAVI, Team Spirit, Team Vitality, FaZe Clan and G2 Esports.
Fans can sign-up for the pre-sale window by registering with BLAST.tv, where they will also receive updates and information on tickets.
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