BLAST, an esports entertainment company, has announced an expanded sponsorship with Progressive Insurance, making it the Presenting Sponsor for the entire Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2025 season.

Following its successful sponsorship of the Rocket League World Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, last year, Progressive is deepening its investment in Esports by extending its presence across all Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) events in 2025, including Qualifiers, RLCS Majors, and the Rocket League World Championship.

Progressive is the second largest personal auto insurer in the United States, a leading seller of commercial auto, motorcycle, and boat insurance, and one of the country’s top 15 homeowners insurance carriers. 

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The sponsorship will see Progressive featured both digitally and physically across the RLCS 2025 season and includes logo placement on the Rocket League ball in RLCS broadcasts, branded broadcast content and a number of in and out of game logo integrations. 

The RLCS is the official competitive league for Rocket League Esports, which features the world’s best teams and players competing across the year for a place in the much-anticipated arena events – fans can look forward to events such as the RLCS Major in Birmingham, UK and Raleigh Majors and the Rocket League World Championship in Lyon, France.  

Progressive first sponsored Rocket League Esports last September for the Rocket League World Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, USA, where Team BDS claimed the lion’s share of the $1,165,500 total prize pool and coveted world title. 

Alexander Lewin, SVP of Commercial Revenues for BLAST, said: “The expansion of our sponsorship with Progressive highlights the growing global reach of Rocket League Esports, along with its brilliant passionate fanbase and the exciting arena events on offer across the year. We are looking forward to further integrating Progressive into the Rocket League esports ecosystem in 2025.” 

Sean Freeman, Media Business Leader at Progressive, said: “We’re excited to help bring a fun and competitive Rocket League Championship Series season to the Esports community in 2025. We look forward to connecting with the passionate fans of Rocket League both in-game and in the arena all season long through this expanded sponsorship.” 

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ExitLag, created to help enhance internet connections and reduce latency through its multi-path technology, announced it has partnered with TALON, one of the most prominent esports organisations in the APAC region. As part of this collaboration, ExitLag will become an official sponsor of TALON Esports, supporting their teams competing in League of Legends (Taiwan), Valorant (South Korea), Dota 2 (Philippines) and ROV (Thailand).

With this partnership, ExitLag reinforces its commitment to supporting top-tier esports teams and players by optimising their connectivity and ensuring a smoother, lag-free competitive experience. Talon Esports has established a formidable reputation as a dominant force in competitive gaming across the APAC region. By sponsoring TALON, ExitLag strengthens its expansion into the Asian gaming market, ensuring that professional and amateur gamers alike have access to superior network performance.

“Esports is built on the foundation of precision, speed, skill, and seamless gameplay. At ExitLag, we are dedicated to providing competitive gamers with the best possible connection to compete at their highest level. Partnering with TALON Esports allows us to further our mission of eliminating connectivity barriers and enhancing the performance and experience of top esports players competing across multiple titles globally,” said Lucas Stolze, CEO of ExitLag.

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ExitLag’s proprietary multi-path technology optimises data routing in real-time, reducing lag, packet loss and jitter to deliver the most stable gaming experience possible. Through this partnership, ExitLag will work closely with TALON’s teams across various titles, ensuring that their players can focus entirely on performance without network limitations.

“We’re thrilled to welcome ExitLag as a partner. In professional esports, every millisecond matters. ExitLag’s cutting-edge technology will provide our players a crucial competitive edge, ensuring they can perform at their peak without worrying about connectivity issues,” said Sean Zhang, CEO of TALON Esports.

As ExitLag continues its rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific region, this partnership underscores its dedication to empowering esports athletes with world-class network solutions. Fans can look forward to exciting activations, exclusive content, and engagement opportunities as ExitLag and TALON Esports work together throughout the season.

“As we expand our footprint in Asia, partnering with TALON Esports is a testament to our dedication to providing the best connectivity solutions for competitive gamers in the region. We are excited to work closely with TALON’s teams and help elevate their performance to new heights,” said Josh Wong, Asia Market Lead of ExitLag.

The International Esports Federation (IESF) is proud to announce the expansion of its World Esports network with the addition of five new member nations, bringing its total membership to a record 151 members. This milestone underscores IESF’s commitment to uniting and developing the esports scene.

The newest additions, Botswana, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Tanzania, mark a significant step in the rapid growth of esports in Africa. Following the success of the African Esports Championship in Casablanca last year, the continent’s esports scene is more ambitious than ever, with increasing participation in regional and international tournaments, and the establishment of dedicated esports organizations. These new members will contribute to the ongoing development of African esports, bringing more opportunities for athletes, teams, and gaming communities across the region.

Each nation is represented by its official national esports organization:

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• Botswana – Botswana Electronic Sports Federation

• Central African Republic – Central African Association of Electronic Games

• Equatorial Guinea – Equatorial Guinean Association of Electronic Sports

• Gabon – Gabon Esports and Associated Disciplines

• Tanzania – eSports Federation of Tanzania

IESF General Secretary Boban Totovski stated: “Welcoming these five nations into the IESF family is a proud moment for us. It reflects the continued expansion of esports and the dedication of national federations to providing opportunities for athletes and communities. We remain committed to supporting our members and working together to drive esports forward.”

With 151 member nations, IESF continues its mission to promote esports as a recognized and sustainable sport while providing platforms for athletes worldwide. The federation looks forward to seeing its newest members participate in upcoming initiatives, including the IESF 2025 Season.