eSports
Torque Esports’ UMG teams with Activision Blizzard to create Overwatch Collegiate Series
Torque Esports Corp.’s esports tournament and broadcast operations group, UMG Media Ltd. has signed an official contract with Activision Blizzard to host an eight-week Overwatch Collegiate Series.
The series will be titled the “UMG Overwatch Collegiate Clash” with a planned start for late March 2020.
The schools taking part in the series will compete for $40,000 in total prize money – all to be given as scholarships to further esports at each of the winning schools.
Hundreds of colleges around the nation now field a competitive Overwatch team. Each week, UMG will bring in eight of those teams to compete. The eight-week series will culminate with a final winner’s round.
This is the next step in Torque and UMG’s mission to support and grow the esports space and help create a clear path to professional competition for these players currently on collegiate teams.
“Esports observers have highlighted colleges in the USA as a big opportunity for publishers and brands alike and Torque will use this huge opportunity with Overwatch to prove the value to all parties,” Torque Esports President and CEO, Darren Cox said.
“Like stick and ball sports, college competition is becoming the development league where young esports stars of the future are honing their skills and preparing to become professional gamers. It is a clear step to the “big leagues.”
“The UMG acquisition was an important step in Torques’ growth strategy. Already we are seeing this being rewarded with deals like this, and the previously announced Microsoft Gears of War tournament.
“Within the group we will be able to measure the success through our in-house data group at Stream Hatchet – once again showing our ability to deliver a full service to our partners.”
Launched in May, 2016, Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer combat game available on the PlayStation and Xbox consoles, PC and the Nintendo Switch portable platform.
UMG is the leading platform for online tournament play and esports entertainment events. The platform has generated more than 20 million views and has paid out more than US$3 million in prize money.
The Overwatch Collegiate Series will be streamed at Twitch.tv/UMGGaming.
About Torque Esports
The company focuses on three areas – esports business intelligence, esports tournament & series streaming and esports racing. Torque aims to revolutionize esports racing and the racing gaming genre via its industry-leading gaming studio Eden Games which focuses on mobile racing games and its unique motorsport IP, including World’s Fastest Gamer (created and managed by wholly-owned subsidiary IDEAS+CARS, Silverstone UK). With simulator company AiS – Torque will offer gamers everything from Free to Play mobile games to the highest end simulation experiences. Building on the leading position of Stream Hatchet, a wholly-owned subsidiary, Torque also provides robust esports data analytics and performance information reports to brands, sponsors, and industry leaders. Through its tournament organizing and streaming arm, UMG, Torque has recently added a digital tournament platform and OTT platform to its portfolio of assets in an ever-growing ecosystem.
For more information, visit www.torqueesport.com.
About UMG
UMG Media Ltd. (“UMG”) is a premier esports company in North America, offering live gaming entertainment events and online play. UMG provides online and live tournaments as well as the creation and distribution of original esports content.
For more information about UMG visit www.umggaming.com.
About Activision Blizzard Esports
Activision Blizzard Esports (ABE) is responsible for the development, operation, and commercialization of Activision Blizzard’s professional gaming properties including the Overwatch League™, the Call of Duty® League™, Call of Duty® Challengers™, Hearthstone® Masters, StarCraft® II esports, Warcraft® III: Reforged™, and the World of Warcraft® Arena World Championship and Mythic Dungeon International, among others. ABE also operates Tespa®, the leader in collegiate esports. It is ABE’s vision to be the most innovative, scalable, and valuable developer of global competitive entertainment.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft®, Hearthstone®, Overwatch®, Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® franchises, and the multifranchise Heroes of the Storm®, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes twenty-two #1 games* and numerous Game of the Year awards. The company’s online gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active players.
*Sales and/or downloads. Based on internal company records and reports from key distributors.
SOURCE: Torque Esports Corp.
BETBY
BETBY EXPANDS E-SIM PORTFOLIO WITH TWO INDUSTRY-FIRST TITLES: eTABLE TENNIS and eFOOTVOLLEY
Reading Time: 2 minutes
BETBY, the leading sportsbook supplier, has expanded its proprietary esports feed, Betby.Games, with the launch of two brand-new e-sim titles: eTable Tennis and eFootVolley. Both releases mark a major milestone in BETBY’s commitment to delivering fair, authentic, and localised esports content that enhances 24/7 engagement for operators and players worldwide.
Representing a world-first for the industry, the eTableTennis title, entitled TTX CUP, introduces a completely new vertical to esports betting, with an authentic, fully fair, and transparent experience. The game features realistic physics, true-to-life gameplay, and zero-second betting delay, offering instant bet placement for one of the fastest-paced sports.
Each match follows the classic table tennis format of five sets to 11 points, with over 20 betting markets and high betting limits comparable to elite-level competitions such as the Champions League. Launched initially with two tournaments, TTX CUP delivers more than 1,500 matches per month, running 24/7 with no streaming delay, ensuring full transparency and player trust.
Aligned with the WTT Finals Hong Kong, one of the sport’s premier real-world events, the release allows operators to engage users during off-hours through a seamless, always-on e-sim.
BETBY’s second new title, eFootVolley, further strengthens its “go-local” approach by focusing on Brazil’s fast-growing futevôlei scene, one of the country’s most culturally resonant sports. The game replicates the official Liga Nacional de Futevôlei, following a five-set format (up to 11 points) and an average match duration of around 20 minutes, with 20+ available betting markets.
Launching in sync with the final stage of the real-world Liga Nacional de Futevôlei, eFootVolley provides an ultra-localised, 24/7 betting experience, reflecting BETBY’s strategy of blending authenticity with constant engagement. Following the success of eVaquejada, this release reinforces the company’s dedication to creating content that speaks directly to local audiences and their sporting passions.
Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY, commented: “With TTX CUP and eFootVolley, we’re breaking new ground in esports simulations. TTX CUP sets a new benchmark for integrity and realism in table tennis betting, while eFootVolley demonstrates our ongoing commitment to localised, culturally relevant content. Both titles reflect the Betby.Games vision to provide operators with high-frequency, fair, and engaging titles.”
The Betby.Games portfolio now features 25 proprietary titles, covering 80+ tournaments and over 400,000 monthly matches across multiple sports.
The post BETBY EXPANDS E-SIM PORTFOLIO WITH TWO INDUSTRY-FIRST TITLES: eTABLE TENNIS and eFOOTVOLLEY appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
How esports betting became a sportsbook essential
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Short-form esports betting has transitioned from niche product to an established cornerstone of the sportsbook offering that drives consistent engagement. Peter Camden, Head of Competitive Gaming Product at SIS, shares how its growth was built on integrity, structure and the simple power of consistent play.
Previously used to fill the void left by the absence of live sporting events, esports is now firmly part of the sportsbook offering and valued by operators for delivering quick, dependable and consistently engaging betting entertainment.
Take a look at the homepages of major brands globally – a common theme sees the vertical feature prominently, illustrating its importance in grabbing bettor interest. The potential of esports betting has been discussed at length in recent years, and now the product’s importance is a reality because of its ability to drive business growth.
The question is: what turned the tide for esports betting? And how did a vertical that began as supporting content become one of betting’s most reliable formats?
The answer lies in how the industry, and its players have adapted. Confidence in the product has reshaped where it stands today, and that shift is clear to see in sportsbooks. What was once tucked away at the bottom of the sports menu now sits alongside the biggest sports, showing how visibility shapes perception, which is, after all, the true marker of progress. In the United States, for example, eBasketball often appears directly below the Big Four sports in the homepage menu. That speaks volumes as to how far the vertical has grown.
Its success comes from how naturally it fits the pace of modern betting. Sports simulated matches are quick, familiar and structured, offering a constant flow of action that is fair and transparent. Every game that we offer is properly refereed and monitored, which gives bettors confidence that what they see is fair and has integrity at its core. It is an experience that shows speed does not come at the cost of quality, proving that even the briefest contests can leave a lasting mark.
The format has also evolved with the audience. Popular sportsbook features such as player props, bet builders and live statistics have been incorporated to make the overall experience more interactive, giving bettors new ways to follow and engage with the action. They can now track rebounds, corners and assists just as they would with their favourite teams, blurring the boundaries between traditional sports betting events and simulated content. It is clear that the line between the sports sims and the familiar has never felt thinner.
Trust, once earned, is what turns a product into a permanent presence, and integrity has always been the key foundation on which we built and continue to build our product. Strong oversight and transparency have created lasting confidence among operators and bettors, helping transform short-form esports from an emerging concept into one of the sportsbook’s most stable and respected products.
SIS Competitive Gaming has been instrumental in defining the journey of esports betting to becoming an established fixture, delivering more than 140,000 eSoccer and 85,000 eBasketball events each year to the world’s biggest sportsbook brands within a framework designed for precision and control. It shows how scale, when managed with care, can sustain the highest levels of quality and engagement across every match.
The story of short-form esports betting is one of steady progress. It may have found its place, but its evolution is far from over. The next chapter will introduce new sports, richer markets and even greater scale, reinforcing its position as a permanent fixture within the sportsbook.
As technology continues to advance and data insights deepen, the product will only grow more sophisticated – giving operators innovative ways to engage their audiences and bettors even more reasons to return.
Its future, like the matches it delivers, promises to move fast and stay exciting.
The post How esports betting became a sportsbook essential appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
2025 Esports Innovation and Communication Seminar Held in Mudanjiang, China
Reading Time: 2 minutes
The 2025 Esports Innovation and Communication Seminar, supported by the China Media Group (CMG) National Institute for Esports Development and hosted by CCTV Animation Group Co., Ltd., was held on October 17, 2025, in Mudanjiang, China. The event gathered experts, academics and industry leaders from China’s esports community, as well as participants from Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.
Through roundtable discussions and keynote addresses, the seminar explored key topics such as:
• “Breaking Barriers, Thriving Together: How Gen Z is Shaping and Growing Within Esports Culture”
• “Digital Bridges, Global Synergy: Esports as a New Platform for Cross-Cultural Exchange and Collaboration”
• “AI-Driven Innovation, Gear Revolution: Unlocking New Opportunities for the Sports Industry Through Esports”
Discussions at the event connected with concrete developments in China’s esports sector over the past year. China has hosted a growing slate of international tournaments, with three major esports competitions for League of Legends, Honor of Kings and CS2 scheduled to take place in the country in November.
The League of Legends 2025 World Championship traveled through Beijing and Shanghai before concluding in Chengdu on November 9. Global audiences saw a broadcast package featuring iconic sites such as the Great Wall alongside Shanghai’s city lights and Chengdu’s local culture, offering esports fans worldwide a multifaceted look at contemporary China.
Inspired, jungler for the LTA region’s top-seeded team FLY, shared in an interview, “My experience in China has been great, and I’m eager to see which teams we will compete against at Worlds.”
Such enthusiasm from international players is matched by the energy of Chinese fans. After a match at the League of Legends 2025 World Championship, South Korean competitor Chovy noted, “There were many Chinese fans in the arena cheering us on—we are truly thankful.”
This spirit of support, focused on performance rather than outcome, reflects the openness and professionalism of local esports audiences—an expression of cultural confidence. That confidence leaves a strong impression on global participants.
Brazilian player lux remarked in a June media interview, “Whenever I’m asked which city is my favorite, I always say Shanghai. It’s incredible. The fans are amazing, and so are the events.”
China’s capacity for hosting high-caliber esports events has also drawn international recognition. After attending this year’s KPL Grand Finals, German commentator Danny Engels said, “The production level is world-class. The stage screens are unique, and attention to detail is evident throughout.”
As esports continues to grow in global influence, these events convey not only competition, but also culture, image and values.
The post 2025 Esports Innovation and Communication Seminar Held in Mudanjiang, China appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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