eSports
ZywOo holograms appear around Paris as Team Vitality signs landmark five-year contract extension
A historic first for the organisation as they cement their commitment to working alongside the undisputed best player in the world, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, to build their CS:GO legacy.
Holograms of ZywOo were spotted across Paris as the announcement was marked with an evening of celebration and illumination
Leading global esports organisation, Team Vitality is pleased to announce that it has signed a five-year contract extension with CS:GO superstar Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. The contract was signed at the beginning of 2020 and will end on December 31st 2024 signifying a five-year commitment. At only 20-years-old, ZywOo is unrivalled as the best player in the world having been ranked the number one player on HLTV at the end of 2019. The long term partnership represents Team Vitality’s commitment to nurturing the best talent in esports and fostering a culture of exceptional performance.
In celebration of the ground breaking announcement, Paris was illuminated with holograms of ZywOo across the city. ZywOo was spotted on monuments and buildings including the Pantheon, Trocadero, Near Arc de Triomphe and Montmartre. The stunt showcases Team Vitality growing cultural impact within France and how its players have become national icons.
At only 17-year-old, ZywOo first joined Vitality in 2018 where he made his instant emergence on the CS:GO scene and was quickly labelled as a player destined for greatness. Since ZywOo’s signing, Team Vitality has been crowned winners at the ECS Season 7 finals and EPICENTER 2019, as well as runners-up at both ESL One: Cologne and DreamHack Master Malmö.
During this first year of professional play, ZywOo also became a record holder by earning the most MVP titles. ZywOo was awarded a staggering five awards in 2019 including cs_summit MVP, ESL One Cologne MVP, ECS S7 Finals MVP, DreamHack Masters Malmö MVP and EPICENTER MVP. He also made history when he was announced as the youngest and only French player to be crowned 2019 HLTV Player of The Year.
Team Vitality’s CS:GO team has seen massive growth in 2020 with the signing of 17-year-old prodigy Kévin “misutaaa” Rabier and the introduction of a six-man roster with superstar Nabil “Nivera” Benrlitom. The team’s most recent accolades include a win at Intel Extreme Masters Beijing where they became the first team to win a major tournament with a six-man competing roster and back-to-back BLAST Premier championships. The team currently sits at number one on the coveted HLTV World Rankings.
“We are delighted that ZywOo has chosen to commit to being a member of Team Vitality for the next five years. A player like ZywOo comes along once in a generation and we couldn’t be happier to have him competing with us. Together with our performance team, we are committed to ensuring that ZywOo has the tools and infrastructure to continue reaching his full potential” said Fabien “Neo” Devide, President & Co-Founder, Team Vitality
“Being a member of Team Vitality has always been such a natural fit for me. 2020 was a crazy year and I know that having Team Vitality and my teammates support me was one of the main reasons I excelled. I am really excited to make this commitment and wear the Team Vitality shirt for another five years.” said Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
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1000 Dreams Fund
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.
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:
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Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
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Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
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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.
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2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
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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, 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:
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Enhanced Stability: Hardening the software for 24/7 live environments.
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Improved Infrastructure: Faster development cycles and dedicated customer support.
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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.
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