eSports

TalentX Gaming (TXG) Names Amber Howard As Head of Talent Division

Published

6 years ago

June 25, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Pioneer in esports and gaming talent management joins TalentX Gaming, a joint venture of ReKTGlobal and TalentX

Former Abrams Artists Agency talent agent Amber Howard has been named Head of Talent at TalentX Gaming (TXG), a talent management company specifically built for gaming and esports athletes and streamers. TXG is the brainchild of esports leader ReKTGlobal, the owner and operator of Team Rogue and Call of Duty League’s London Royal Ravens, and creator management phenom TalentX Entertainment, best known for its “creator-first” mentality and meteoric and unprecedented success with TikTok’s top creators. As leader of TalentX Gaming’s Talent division, Howard will serve as a driving force in attracting and growing a diverse, A-list roster of esports athletes and gaming influencers, creators and streamers, helping to develop talent and take their careers to new heights.

“TXG’s commitment to always put its creators first really struck a chord with me and made it an easy decision to join the company. Gamers have been underrepresented for too long even though the talent and esports industries are booming. We have an amazing opportunity to bring more visibility, monetization and growth to this community of creators,” Howard said. “My recruiting strategy has always been to keep it open and diverse, and to look for and work with creators and brands that break the mold. I envision a deep and balanced roster of creators who represent the diversity of the entire gaming community in gender, accessibility, and culture.”

Howard brings a stellar roster of diverse talent to TXG including Harris Heller of Alpha Gaming, P2istheName, and female powerhouses like Latina gamer Natalie “ZombiUnicorn” Casanova, pro ballerina turned gamer Mari “AtomicMari” Takahashi, and Soleil “Ewok” Wheeler, the inspiring 14-year-old deaf Fortnite pro gamer who Howard signed on as the first female gamer to join FaZe Clan.

Howard is also bringing GAMEMASTER, the ultimate gaming reality competition set to air on Prime Video and Twitch, to TXG. Created by an Emmy, Telly, Global Media and Addy award-winning production team, the show pits 12 amateur gamers, handpicked from thousands of applicants, against each other. The gamers live together in one house to compete for $100,000, a gaming contract and the title of the next gaming super star. The nine-episode Amazon Prime Video Series will stream in the U.S., UK, Austria, Germany and Japan.

At Abrams, Howard led the charge in expanding the agency’s focus on esports and gaming by creating its own dedicated department for talent. Prior to joining Abrams, Howard worked in the esports and gaming department at Warner Brother’s digital gaming arm, Machinima, where she brought the industry into more traditional verticals

of content branding and entertainment by overseeing talent development and engagement, while launching a variety of new gaming opportunities.

Howard is known for developing A-list client rosters and spearheading a slew of talent and brand partnership opportunities for branded content and digital-traditional crossover. Some of her most notable deals include traditional crossover projects like FOX’s Kicking & Screaming and casting for Machinima’s property Transformers: Combiner Wars, and brand deals with Apple, Epic Games, Paramount and HyperX’s Heroes ambassador program.

“We founded TalentX with a ‘Creator First’ philosophy, and as such, we work hard to ensure that each division is helmed by leaders with a long record of success in their respective fields,” said TalentX Co-Founder and CEO of TXG Jason Wilhelm. “We’re excited to have Amber on board to help take our creators – and TalentX Gaming – to

the next level.”

In May, digital-driven entertainment phenom TalentX Entertainment expanded into the gaming world when it partnered with esports leader ReKTGlobal to launch a new joint venture – TalentX Gaming. TXG combines the “creator first” talent development and social media monetization prowess of TalentX – a company that took the influencer management industry by storm by growing a roster of the top one percent of TikTokkers in just six months, including members of the company’s recently created Sway House, which racked up 1 million followers on their group TikTok account in the first month – with ReKTGlobal’s position as a global esports leader that bridges the gap between the multi-billion-dollar esports industry and the worlds of music, entertainment and traditional sports. The ReKTGlobal ownership team includes musical artists Steve Aoki, Imagine Dragons and Nicky Romero, pro athletes Rudy Gobert, Landon Collins and Taylor Fritz, and lead investor Nick Gross. As owner and operator of the championshipwinning esports powerhouse Team Rogue and the London Royal Ravens Call of Duty franchise, ReKTGlobal is a groundbreaker in esports, content creation and marketing.

1000 Dreams Fund

Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program

Published

1 day ago

January 16, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

riot-games-and-1000-dreams-fund-expand-talent-pipeline-in-esports-broadcasting,-accepting-two-new-cadets-to-their-specialized-2026-program

1000 Dreams Fund (1DF), a nonprofit that empowers talented women and students in need with scholarships, mentorship and other critical resources to help them reach their dream careers, has announced that two new cadets have been selected to its 2026 Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship at Riot Games’ Remote Broadcast Center (RBC) powered by AWS in Seattle.

The cadets selected for the three-month, paid cadetship position are:

• Marissa M. – Indiana University Bloomington

• Kevin D. – University of North Florida

The cadetship program runs in partnership with Riot Games—a leading video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organizer—and their global partner, AWS. Together with 1DF, the partners are committed to expanding access and creating pathways for individuals aspiring toward a career in esports broadcasting and production.

“We’re excited to host the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship in our Seattle Remote Broadcast Center for the first time. This facility has revolutionized how we produce esports at scale, and the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship brings that innovation to life by connecting emerging talent directly to the future of the industry. Through our partnership with 1000 Dreams Fund, we’re not only investing in today’s talent but also building a pipeline of leaders equipped to shape what comes next in global esports production,” said Allyson Gormley, Global Operations Director, Esports Broadcast & Production for Riot Games.

As Gen Z and early-career professionals increasingly rethink traditional career tracks, demand continues to grow for hands-on, skills-driven roles that offer clear pathways into competitive industries. In response, innovative workforce programs are materializing to bridge the gap between aspiration and opportunity, prioritizing real-world experience over linear career models.

The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship exemplifies this new model of workforce development in emerging fields. Launched in 2023 as part of 1000 Dreams Fund’s broader commitment to workforce access and equity, the program was built to meet this moment — long before non-traditional career pathways became a mainstream conversation. By placing early-career students inside a global esports operation, the Cadetship provides a proven pathway, offering the training, mentorship and live production experience needed to launch careers in esports broadcasting.

“This year marks 10 years of 1000 Dreams Fund building programs that create real access to opportunity for students and early-career talent. The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship reflects the kind of long-term, impact-driven work we’ve been committed to since day one, and in a time of deep transition in the workforce, these programs are more important than ever. We’re proud to continue expanding pathways, especially within emerging industries, that help students turn ambition into lasting careers,” said Christie Garton, founder and CEO of 1000 Dreams Fund.

For the selected cadets, this investment creates immediate momentum and removes common barriers to entry while positioning participants for long-term growth in a highly competitive field.

The post Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Berlin Gaming Industry

Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications

Published

1 week ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

tom-achsel-joins-factory-c-to-spearhead-“home-of-indies”-communications

FACTORY-C, the Berlin-based communications powerhouse specializing in gaming and esports, has announced the appointment of Tom Achsel as Event Communications Manager. Achsel will join the “Home of Indies” team alongside project initiator Christiane Gehrke, focusing on the platform’s global expansion and upcoming presence at Gamescom 2026.

With over a decade of experience in the tech and gaming sectors, Achsel brings a massive professional network and deep operational expertise to the agency.

A Veteran of the Berlin Gaming Scene

Tom Achsel is a well-known figure in the German development community. His career highlights include:

Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
IGDA Berlin: Serves as Vice-Chairman, strengthening ties between local developers and the global gaming ecosystem.

Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at Factory-C

“Tom knows the indie scene from multiple perspectives and has a sharp understanding of the needs of indie developers,” said Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at FACTORY-C. “He brings everything needed to support the continued development of Home of Indies.”

Scaling the “Home of Indies” Platform

Since its debut in 2022, Home of Indies has grown into a central pillar of the Gamescom Indie Area. The platform provides a shared booth for independent developers, lowering the barrier to entry for international studios.

2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
New Features: The project recently added a dedicated Spotlight Stage, streaming booths, and professional networking areas via MeetToMatch.

As Event Communications Manager, Achsel will lead the outreach strategy for Gamescom 2026, ensuring that the creative diversity of the global indie scene receives maximum visibility among press, influencers, and players.

The post Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BlueBottle

BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production

Published

1 week ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

bluebottle-launches-“league-broadcast”-saas-for-streamlined-esports-production

BlueBottle, the Munich-based esports technology innovator, has officially launched League Broadcast, its professional-grade production software, via a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model.

Announced on January 7, 2026, this B2C release moves the platform from selective partner deployments and its long-standing beta phase into a publicly accessible tool for leagues, tournament organizers, and individual content creators worldwide.

Professional Broadcast Tools for All Tiers

League Broadcast is designed to automate and elevate the visual storytelling of competitive gaming, specifically targeting the League of Legends ecosystem. The software bypasses traditional API limitations by using low-level game data collection to provide real-time, high-fidelity visualizations.

At launch, BlueBottle has introduced a tiered pricing structure to suit different operational scales:

Tier	Status	Key Features	Target Audience
Free	Available	Core overlays, essential team/player data, basic game stats.	Grassroots creators & amateur streamers.
Basic	Available	Commercial usage rights, customizable pre-game elements, professional draft tools.	Semi-pro leagues & small event organizers.
Pro	Coming Soon	Advanced analytics, event-driven automation, premium production tools.	Professional leagues & high-scale live operations.

Supported by Creative Europe Media

The transition to a scalable SaaS model was significantly bolstered by funding from Creative Europe Media, the European Union’s flagship program for the audiovisual and creative sectors. This backing allowed BlueBottle to invest in:

Enhanced Stability: Hardening the software for 24/7 live environments.
Improved Infrastructure: Faster development cycles and dedicated customer support.
Accessibility: Lowering the barrier for European creators to produce “broadcast-quality” content that competes with high-budget international productions.

“This launch represents more than a new pricing model — it’s the moment League Broadcast becomes accessible to the wider esports community,” said Lars Eble, CTO at BlueBottle. “We were able to invest in long-term product quality… ensuring that our B2C customers receive the same level of reliability previously reserved for large partners.”

Strengthening the European Esports Ecosystem

By providing affordable, automated tools for real-time data visualization—such as dynamic gold graphs, inhibitor timers, and 3D in-world branding—BlueBottle is positioning itself as a core infrastructure provider for the digital media age. The platform allows smaller organizations to monetize their formats more effectively through professional-looking sponsor placements and deeper viewer engagement.

The post BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.