eSports

F1 ESPORTS PRO SERIES EVENT 2 LIVE THIS WEEK, FEATURING BRAND NEW CIRCUIT, & NEW F1 TRACKS TAKEOVER

Published

4 years ago

November 4, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 5 minutes

TIMING DETAILS, WHERE TO WATCH INFO, AND DRIVER QUOTES FOR F1 ESPORTS PRO SERIES PRESENTED BY ARAMCO

The F1 Esports Pro Series presented by Aramco started in style last month as Alfa Romeo’s Jarno Opmeer dominated in Event 1, securing two victories, and reigning champion David Tonizza also picked up a crucial win for Ferrari, as fans were treated to three fantastic races. You can view the ‘Top 5 moments’ from Event 1 on YouTube here, and are free to embed this in editorial if you wish.

Event 2 gets underway on Wednesday afternoon with a trip to Zandvoort, a brand new circuit for the F1 Esports Pro Series, before battling out it on a fan favourite – the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal. Thursday’s action will see drivers go wheel to wheel at the Red Bull Ring, to round off the first half of the series.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The live shows will be streamed online via F1’s official channels on Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Huya, as well as broadcast on television by international partners such as ESPN (US), Sky (UK) and Ziggo (Netherlands), whilst Qualifying show content will be streamed exclusively on Twitch, YouTube and Huya (China). For full information about the Pro Series visit: https://www.f1esports.com/

Please see the table below for the full breakdown of the platform splits so you don’t miss a moment of the action:

Day	Session	Time (GMT)	Coverage
Wednesday 4 November	Qualifying Show 1 (featuring Quali. 1 highlights and Quali. 2 live)	15:30 – 16:45	Twitch / YouTube / Huya (China)
Wednesday 4 November	Evening Show 1 (featuring Quali. 1 and Quali. 2 highlights, Race 1 re-run and Race 2 live)	19:30 – 21:00	TV & Online
Thursday 5 November	Qualifying Show 2 (featuring Qualifying 3 live)	15:30 – 16:45	Twitch / YouTube / Huya (China)
Thursday 5 November	Evening Show 2 (featuring Quali/Race 1 and Quali/Race 2 highlights, Quali. 3 highlights and Race 3 live)	19:30 – 21:00	TV & Online

Drivers competing in this year’s Pro Series have combined to build the ultimate gaming playlist for F1 Tracks, featuring songs that get them in the zone and the tunes they blast when they’ve secured a win! The playlist caters for all tastes, and features massive tracks from KAM-BU, Nothing But Thieves, You Me At Six, The Weeknd, Queen, Kings of Leon and even Elvis Presley! You can find links to the playlist below:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2YmjQL3 / Deezer: https://bit.ly/3hBqsgc / Apple: https://apple.co/3jkgArh

Ahead of the second round of races for this year’s Pro Series, we also caught up with three of the competition’s stars to get their thoughts about the upcoming season. Please feel free to use these comments in editorial around the build-up to Event 2.

Marcel Kiefer

On visiting the Red Bull Performance Centre in October

Marcel: “I’ve been to the Red Bull Performance Centre with the team. It was a really great experience, because we got to know more stuff about all the other areas that we don’t usually cover in our Esports training, like the physical activities, scheduling and how important it is to sleep and get physical exercises that can really increase your performance. It helped us a lot, and I think it already shows we’re in a good position for the season.”

Who to watch out for in terms of competitors

Marcel: “I think Alfa Romeo definitely. I mean we already knew that Alfa Romeo would be good this year. I expected Mercedes to be stronger, but maybe they will bounce back from the first event because it didn’t go that well for them. Alpha Tauri were also pretty solid. Renault looks really strong this year. I think we are in a really close season and Ferrari probably people expected them to be a bit stronger. But they also had technical difficulties during the first event, so we don’t know. I think Alfa is the big surprise. They made a huge step from last year.”

On their chances to win the title

Marcel: “I think we can win both the Drivers and Team championship. We have a solid pair with me and Freddie. And I’ve already proven I can fight up there. And we all know Freddie can do it. So yeah, I believe we have what it takes for both titles. Obviously, the focus is on the Team championship, because we are already Team Champions from last year and we want to keep that title. But if it doesn’t work out, we will just reapproach next year, just try to improve other areas. I mean, it’s so tight that you cannot even be mad if you lose, you obviously want to win. But everyone’s so good. They all work incredibly hard all teams. So if they win, they deserve it.”

Dani Bereznay

On preparing for Event 2 of the season

Dani: “We’ve had a lot less time to prepare compared to what we had ahead of the first event. I don’t think the field will be as tight as it was [last time] as people who adapt faster to the new circuits can have a bigger advantage. I’m pretty confident that we are the ones to beat ahead of the second event but Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, even the Williams guys, look pretty strong. Alpha Tauri and Renault included. To get in the top 10 will be really difficult.”

On main competitors for the title

Dani: “I think it’s good to be the team to beat but Alpha Tauri with Joni Tormala and Red Bull with Marcel Kiefer and Frederik Rasmussen are an insanely fast pair. Also, Ferrari with Enzo Bonito and the former champion, David Tonizza, are really big threats. If you see the timings and not just the results, there is maximum one tenth of a second that separates us from most of the field. It’s basically one apex, one little mistake, and the championship can turn upside down pretty quickly. That’s why esports is so good! We definitely don’t treat it like we’ve already won and we definitely won’t let off as the others are super motivated.”

On esports drivers making mistakes

Dani: “The gaps are pretty small in esports and it’s crazy to watch because we as drivers remember every single mistake of our laps. There are some mistakes that are inevitable, but there are some minor inaccuracies in our driving that we get frustrated about. What separates Jarno [Opmeer] from other drivers is that what he can do in a practice session he can pretty much replicate in the real life thing which is really hard as the pressure is so high.”

On his relationship with teammate Jarno

Dani: “It’s really important for me [to have a partner like Jarno]. I think we can push each other and the thing is with f1 esports is that we don’t know any of the other teams lap times. So to have a competitive teammate sets a good benchmark because if you have a slower teammate and you are beating him by one or two tenth of a second per lap you don’t know what kind of level you’re at. But with Jarno, if you’re beating him, you’re basically beating all the top guys. I think we push each other forward and set a pretty great benchmark on what could be the actual lap times. I want him to perform well and I want to perform well myself. Of course I want to finish in front but if I finish second then I want it to be my teammate rather than someone from another team.”

Cedric Thome

On what he learnt from former teammate Jarno Opmeer

Cedric: “Jarno is rapid, he’s amazing. He was really quick last year as well but he had some moments where he was really unlucky. He’s doing an amazing job [this year], he’s first in the championship and he deserves to be where he is.”

On his passion for darts

Cedric: “Yes, I love darts and obviously with us racing from home this year I have a board in my room so if I can throw a few [darts]. I feel like it’s a good chance to free your mind and just throw some darts. It doesn’t really help my concentration for F1.”

Asia

8Bit Creatives partners with NODWIN Gaming as the exclusive talent partner for DreamHack India

Published

1 week ago

November 7, 2024

George Miller

8bit-creatives-partners-with-nodwin-gaming-as-the-exclusive-talent-partner-for-dreamhack-india

Reading Time: 2 minutes

8Bit Creatives, India’s leading esports consulting and talent management agency, has announced its partnership with NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, as the exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024.

With this partnership, 8Bit Creatives will leverage its significant reach in the Indian gaming, esports and youth communities through its prominent and talented roster of creators. These creators will create content leading up to the festival and also host meet-and-greet sessions.

India’s biggest gaming festival, DreamHack India, is set to take place from 15th to 17th November at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, marking its fifth edition. For half a decade, the India edition of the global festival has become one of the most anticipated events of the Indian gaming ecosystem. Bringing together a plethora of events, including esports tournaments, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) events, cosplay competitions, music concerts, and stand-up comedy, DreamHack India is the celebration of gaming, esports, pop-culture, and entertainment.

8Bit Creatives, CEO and founder Animesh Agarwal said “DreamHack India is one of the most prominent events in the Indian gaming and esports calendar and we’re proud to be the exclusive talent partners for it. This is further recognition of 8Bit Creatives’ ability to meaningfully engage the gaming and youth audiences across the country. Our belief in working with the right creators who create experiences that resonate with the youth audiences distinguishes our offerings and we can’t wait to share what we have in store for DreamHack India 2024 with our audiences!”

This is not the first time that 8Bit Creatives will partner with DreamHack India. The organisation was also the talent partner for the event in 2022.

Commenting on the partnership, NODWIN Gaming, Co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee said “Our vision at NODWIN Gaming is to create unforgettable experiences for the youth, and DreamHack has proven to be the ultimate platform to realise that vision, bringing together gaming, entertainment, and community in an immersive celebration. We’re thrilled to have 8Bit Creatives as our exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024. It’s especially exciting to welcome iconic creators like Mortal, who joined us in our very first edition, back for this landmark fifth year, alongside fan favourites like Snax, Kaashvi, Thug, and Payal. These creators bring a unique energy that connects deeply with our fans and elevates every moment. Their presence underscores our commitment to crafting electrifying experiences year after year, building on the momentum of events like BGMS and past DreamHack editions. Together with 8Bit and this powerhouse lineup, we’re setting the stage for an unforgettable event that will bring fans and creators closer than ever before!”

8Bit Creatives’s content and esports division S8UL became the only organisation in the year to win ‘Content Group of the Year’ award for the third consecutive year at the Esports Awards 2024. Additionally, they are the only organisation from India to ever win an Esports Award in any category. Earlier this year, gaming content creators from 8Bit Creatives including Naman Mathur, Payal Dhare and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal were invited for a meet and greet session with the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The organisation has been at the forefront of India’s gaming and content ecosystem with its extensive range of services, including talent management, campaign curation and execution, brand activations and more.

The post 8Bit Creatives partners with NODWIN Gaming as the exclusive talent partner for DreamHack India appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Doubles Esports Turnover in Q3 2024

Published

2 weeks ago

November 4, 2024

Wladimir P.

softswiss-sportsbook-doubles-esports-turnover-in-q3-2024

Reading Time: 2 minutes

1 November 2024 – Esports has experienced explosive growth in Q3 2024, doubling turnover compared to the previous quarter. The average bet on cybersports increased by 17.6% quarter-on-quarter. SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience providing innovative iGaming solutions, shares the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Q3 2024 report.

The top five sports by Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) remain consistent: Football, Tennis, Basketball, Table Tennis, and eFootball. For the second consecutive quarter, eFootball has outperformed Counter-Strike 2, indicating a shifting interest within the esports sector. Nevertheless, football continues to dominate, contributing nearly half of the total GGR.

The average live bet grew by 10% quarter-on-quarter, a positive development for operators as live bets hold 78.6% of turnover. The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook team is actively enhancing the live betting experience, aiming to capitalise on this trend and provide operators with even greater revenue opportunities.

The average bet grew by 9.7% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 2024, and the number of bets increased by 18.7%. GGR saw a modest growth of 1.5% quarter-on-quarter.

Despite the large number of projects launched for the UEFA Euro 2024, month-on-month statistics show that with the right promotional strategies, projects continue to operate successfully even after such massive events.

Alexander Kamenetskyi, Head of SOFTSWISS Sportsbook, adds: “Aligning a launch with a major sporting event can be a successful strategy, but football is not the only sport that can be leveraged in this way. The growth of cybersports presents new opportunities; for specialised projects targeting specific audiences, esports events can also serve as an effective starting point.

We continuously focus on product growth and development, enhancing features and user experience to drive further engagement and profitability for our partners.”

The SOFTSWISS Sportsbook is expanding its global presence. The product team is on track to secure certification in Brazil, conducted by an authorised testing laboratory. Furthermore, for the South African market, the SOFTSWISS Sportsbook has recently integrated a Horse Racing Module. This addition offers operators new business opportunities by covering over 2,400 international and local races monthly. The solution engages players with race cards, silks, and multiple bet types while providing operators unique skins and configurations to align with various brand identities.

The SOFTSWISS team is working on The iGaming Trends Report 2025, which offers a deep dive into key industry developments based on over 50,000 media headlines and insights from industry experts. Covering areas like regulation, marketing, technology, and business growth, this report provides a data-driven perspective on the trends shaping the upcoming year. The SOFTSWISS team shares the possibility of joining the waiting list.

All SOFTSWISS products will be showcased at the final major industry event, SiGMA Europe, at stand 2145.

The post SOFTSWISS Sportsbook Doubles Esports Turnover in Q3 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

BLAST Announces Landmark Expanded Partnership as Blacklyte Becomes Global Chair & Desk Partner Across Five Esports Titles in 2025

Published

3 weeks ago

October 30, 2024

George Miller

blast-announces-landmark-expanded-partnership-as-blacklyte-becomes-global-chair-&-desk-partner-across-five-esports-titles-in-2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Esport entertainment company BLAST has announced an expanded Global Partnership with Blacklyte for 2025. The landmark partnership marks a significant milestone in esports history, being the first of its kind to encompass five leading esports titles.

As a Global Chair & Desk Partner, Blacklyte will play a pivotal role in supporting the world’s best esports players by providing custom-made esports desks and chairs for the competitive landscape across these five popular esports titles: Rainbow Six Esports (Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege), BLAST Premier (Counter-Strike), BLAST Slam (Dota), RLCS (Rocket League Championship Series), and FNCS (Fortnite Championship Series).

This partnership not only showcases Blacklyte’s commitment to the esports community but also emphasises its dedication to elevating the industry by providing players with the best equipment possible to compete at the elite level.

Last month, BLAST announced Blacklyte as the first commercial partner for Fortnite Competitive for the FNCS Global Championship 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas, United States.

The expansion of the partnership means Blacklyte will cover all esports titles BLAST operates in 2025. The partnership will focus on delivering unique and immersive experiences for fans and players alike. Alongside Blacklyte’s products being used by streamers and players across more than ten arena events and many more studio events in 2025. Blacklyte will also be integrated physically into these events and within broadcasts.

Blacklyte produces desks that set a new standard for quality and durability. These state-of-the-art desks are designed to withstand everything. They will be showcased at the BLAST Premier World Final in Singapore for the first time.

Alexander Lewin, SVP of Commercial Revenue for BLAST, said: “We are proud to expand our partnership with Blacklyte to encompass all five of our esports titles heading into 2025. This marks a landmark moment for BLAST. We work across a number of leading esports ecosystems, which gives us the ability to leverage these different communities and tournaments. This partnership is testament to harnessing that network to create best-in-class partnerships.”

Alexander Liu, CEO at Blacklyte, said: “We are excited to enter into this unprecedented partnership with BLAST, which will enable us to reach a broader audience and create a lasting impact across multiple titles. This collaboration signifies a new era for esports, where we can unify diverse gaming communities under one strategic initiative, providing equipment to help esports players compete at the top level.”

The post BLAST Announces Landmark Expanded Partnership as Blacklyte Becomes Global Chair & Desk Partner Across Five Esports Titles in 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.