eSports
Minute Media, Spotify and SRI execs launch agency to help gaming and esports scaleups
Former execs from Minute Media, Spotify and SRI have joined forces to launch Reset, a specialist group that tackles business challenges in gaming and esports. The collective will provide consulting and agency services to rights holders, brands, and investors across the industry.
Responsible for operating teams such as London Spitfire, and having helped dozens of non-endemic brands activate in esports, Reset aims to provide C-Suite in a box solutions to help scaling gaming companies, brands, publishers, platforms and more.
Reset, the specialised agency group focused on the gaming industry, launched. Reset’s unique offering focuses on helping gaming companies turn their investments into stable businesses, provide organisational design and interim operational support, and helps brands activate in gaming with accurate data and measurable results. The Reset team already has a proven track record for its services having supported clients such as Samsung, Kia, BT and Duracell, esports teams London Spitfire and Ellevens, and tournament operators including BLAST and FACEIT in the last year.
Reset was Co-Founded by four executives from the worlds of gaming, sport, media & entertainment: Duncan McMonagle, who has spent two decades working with global brands and rights-holders across sports and gaming, most notably as CRO at Minute Media, where he launched the companies esports platform DBLTAP. He is joined by Ben Brown, veteran of Accenture, Universal Music and Spotify; as well as Chris Jordan and Charlie Stebbings, who together co-founded the leading esports executive search practice at SRI.
Reset has already made key hires starting with Mike Murphy O’Reilly, former Head of Gaming & Esports at Minute Media who joins as Reset’s new Commercial Director. Murphy O’ Reilly brings with him years of experience working on brand partnerships with clients including Kia, H&M, Warner-Bros, Activision-Blizzard and many others.
Taking their extensive gaming and esports credentials enhanced by broader sports and entertainment experience, it is the combination of Reset’s services that makes them a unique solution for companies looking to grow in the gaming industry.
Esports and gaming is flush with companies that are well funded but yet to find the right model to become a commercial success. Reset aims to turn investment into successful businesses by creating structures for growth including business model development, revenue strategy, investor market entry, and more.
For brands, Reset provides strategy, partner identification and creative services to cut through the noise. Leveraging years of experience helping brands activate in gaming with rights holders and content creators, the team believes traditional agencies have struggled to keep up with the pace of change, and understand opportunities in the industry to properly service clients and engage fans. Reset aims to steer clients away from narratives that set false expectations and instead offer transparency, education and proven execution.
Finally, Reset offers Leadership Advisory services to the entire industry, helping companies develop a long term ‘fit for purpose’ structure for their business, taking commercial and operational execution to the next level. The team will offer services such as interim leadership, organisational design and operational support, that will see the team step in to fill the gaps whilst providing advice around permanent needs to help companies grow.
“At Reset, we are fiercely pragmatic and dedicated to results, not just theory,” said Co-Founder & Director, Charlie Stebbings. “Whether you need strategy for new ventures or commercial growth in an existing business, we can support you with interim leadership, partnerships, capital investment management, creative concept development, marketing intelligence and much more.”
“Our vision is to elevate gaming as a commercial property and develop a sustainable ecosystem. One where fans are prioritised, endemic players have sustainable business models, advertisers reach and engage the right audiences, and investors can deploy capital with confidence,” added Duncan McMonagle.
For the past 9 Months Reset has been managing all operations for the Overwatch League Team, London Spitfire. David Harris, Managing Director of Guinevere Capital said:
“Having worked with individual members of Reset in their previous roles across the industry, it’s exciting to see this group come together to service the sector. Over the past year with limitations on travel, they have provided an amazing turn key service for both operational and commercial support on the ground in the UK. They know the industry and key stakeholders meaning they have been able to pick up and run with everything from London Spitfire watch parties & co-streams, to merchandise logistics and go to market sales collateral. They’ve assisted us launching training academies and liaised with University programs working up and down the chain from grassroots to elite level working directly with publishers. We have had no hesitation referring Reset on to work with other groups in the industry and look forward to continuing our relationship in 2021.”
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eSports
Esports World Cup Foundation Launches Global “Road to EWC” Program, Unveiling Qualification Pathways for the Esports World Cup 2025
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has unveiled the full scope of the qualification system for the Esports World Cup 2025 with the launch of the global “Road to EWC” program. Featuring over 200 tournaments spanning grassroots leagues to elite international circuits, the Road to EWC offers opportunities for players at every level to compete on the world’s biggest stage, the Esports World Cup, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24.
“Road to EWC is a platform for every player, Club, and community whose journey defines the spirit of competition,” said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer, of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “By connecting hundreds of tournaments across the world, we are creating life-changing opportunities for players at every level, bringing the world’s best talent to Riyadh. This is how we grow the sport – by growing our partnerships, investing in competitions and laying the foundation for sustainable growth across the industry.”
The Road to EWC qualification program marks a major milestone for the Esports World Cup and is a core component of EWCF’s commitment to the sustainable growth of esports, supporting the professional ecosystem and advancing the sport on a global scale. With 25 tournaments in 24 games, including four new games – Chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and VALORANT – the EWC 2025 will bring together more than 2,000 elite esports players and 200 top Clubs to compete for a prize pool of more than $70 million, the largest in esports history.
For League of Legends, Valorant, Overwatch 2, and Apex Legends, official publisher circuits such as the LEC, VCT, OWCS, and ALGS serve as the primary route to qualification. Other games, including Dota 2, Call of Duty: Warzone, PUBG, Teamfight Tactics, and StarCraft II, are holding open online qualifiers, while fighting games, including Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, and Fatal Fury are qualifying players through community-driven tournaments such as EVO Japan, Combo Breaker, and CEO.
In mobile titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Free Fire, PUBG MOBILE, and Honor of Kings, region-specific leagues across Southeast Asia, MENA, and LATAM are producing national champions who will represent their respective nations in Riyadh. Finally, for titles such as Chess, EA SPORTS FC 25, and Overwatch 2, a final wave of Last Chance Qualifiers will be staged in July, giving one last opportunity for breakout players and rising stars to earn their spot in Riyadh.
Additional information about the Road to EWC, including events and dates for specific titles, can be found at esportsworldcup.com.
As anticipation builds for the Esports World Cup, the Road to EWC also features a multi-channel marketing campaign with a calendar of original content from selected qualifier events and partner leagues around the world. Player interviews and behind-the-scenes access will bring to life the stakes, talent, dedication and human interest stories behind the competition, alongside tournament and game explainers to introduce EWC games to broader audiences and bring fans closer to the action.
The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Launches Global “Road to EWC” Program, Unveiling Qualification Pathways for the Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Danial “DaNiAL” Patel and Tejaskumar Hasmukhbhai Bhoi will represent Team India at the prestigious WAVES Esports Championship (WESC), organised by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), in Mumbai’s Jio Convention Centre from May 1. The duo will clash against players from five foreign countries in the International leg after emerging victorious in the fiercely contested India leg of WESC 2025, which saw the top Phase winners battle it out for national supremacy.
From a field of over 35,000 participants, the Indian leg brought together the top eight players in two titles—eFootball and World Cricket Championship 3—from the four WESC 2025 phases. In an intense showdown, DaNiAL clinched the top spot in eFootball while Tejas outperformed his peers in WCC3. In the international leg, DaNiAL will face opponents from Malaysia, Laos, and Thailand in eFootball, while Tejas will compete against representatives from Nepal and Sri Lanka in WCC3.
Speaking on the occasion, ESFI President, Mr Lokesh Suji, said: “I am incredibly proud of DaNiAL and Tejas for earning the honour of representing India at the inaugural WAVES Esports Summit. WAVES has been instrumental in unearthing talent from every corner of the country. Their qualification reflects the rising calibre of Indian esports, and I’m confident they’ll make the nation proud on the international stage.”
Esports holds a significant place within the AVGC-XR pillar of the WAVES Summit, recognising the burgeoning gaming and competitive video gaming scene in India. This dynamic segment benefits from the global Summit’s impressive scale, anticipating over 5,000 delegates from 100 countries and the participation of more than 750 creators.
Amidst this vibrant setting, DaNiAL and Tejas will be honored with the WAVES Trophy on May 4, celebrating their triumph in the Indian leg. Joining them in recognition will be Love Sharma and Pappu Kumar Priyedarshi—who secured second and third place in WCC3—along with Akash Rudro Dhar and Pawan Kampelli, who rounded out the podium in eFootball. The overall international champions will be honoured with WESC Medals at the Creatosphere Award Ceremony on May 4.
On his triumph in the Indian leg and his preparations ahead, DaNiAL said: “I’m incredibly proud of this victory—it’s a testament to the hard work, discipline, and support from everyone around me. Winning here is just the beginning, and I’m excited to take this momentum into the international stage. My preparation for the international leg will be even more intense. I’ll be analyzing top players, refining my strategies, and staying mentally and physically sharp. This next step is huge, and I’m committed to giving it everything I have.”
Speaking on his qualification and the chance to represent India, Tejas said: “I feel very proud about qualifying for the finals in the waves. I will try to accept the opportunity that I have got to bring glory to India, and I will try my best to bring the trophy to India. I am ready for the finals. The preparations are intense. I will come back after winning.”
As the governing body for esports in India, ESFI has been instrumental in shaping the country’s competitive gaming landscape. With a track record that includes the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Esports Championship, and affiliations with leading global bodies, ESFI now proudly hosts WESC as part of its commitment to putting India on the international esports map.
The post DaNiAL, Tejas to Represent India at Prestigious WAVES Esports Championship Starting May 1 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup Foundation Launches ‘Music of EWC’ Initiative with Recording at Legendary Abbey Road Studios to Connect Esports Fans Around the World Through the Power of Music
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the launch of ‘Music of EWC,’ a new initiative that will create an original musical identity for the Esports World Cup 2025, the world’s largest esports and gaming festival, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24. The multi-stage program kicked off on Sunday, April 27, with the recording of a four-track music suite at the legendary Abbey Road Studios featuring original compositions by acclaimed music development collectives 2WEI and Hollywood Scoring.
The EWCF now invites the global music community to take part in shaping the sound of the EWC 2025 through an open competition on Audiotool, a leading cloud-based music creation platform. Two winning tracks will be selected and added to the official EWC music suite, joining the professional works recorded at Abbey Road. The full soundtrack will be featured across tournament broadcasts, on-site events, and digital content during the seven-week event this summer. The inaugural EWC 2024 recorded over 250 million hours watched, reaching more than 500 million viewers and welcomed 2.6 million visitors to Riyadh’s Boulevard City.
“At its core, the Esports World Cup is about community – a global platform that connects people and elevates talent in all forms,” said Mike McCabe, Chief Operating Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Music of EWC is a natural extension of that purpose, built on the same passion, creativity, and collaboration that define gaming and competition. Music and esports both bring people together, they let us feel the same rhythm, the same energy, wherever we are. With Music of EWC, we’re creating our own voice, sharing a universal language that tells the story of our sport and defines the role of esports in global culture.”
Studio One at Abbey Road, the birthplace of iconic albums for Pink Floyd, Adele and more; films such as Star Wars, Avengers: Endgame, Across The Spiderverse, and games such as Halo, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft, and more, hosted the initial recording session, bringing together two of gaming’s most respected music collaborators. 2WEI, known for producing some of the most popular anthems in League of Legends, and campaigns for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Call of Duty, and Hollywood Scoring, recognized for its work on the Star Wars films, Riot Games’ Arcane, and Disney Parks, will each contribute two original tracks to anchor the suite.
“Music of EWC” marks the beginning of a long-term investment by EWCF in music as a universal language that elevates the storytelling, emotion, and drama of competition. By combining professionally recorded music at one of the most iconic studios in the world with community-created works, the EWCF is building a new platform that celebrates the evolving sound of esports and helps shape the cultural identity of the Esports World Cup.
In addition, to support emerging talent from across the globe, two winning tracks from the Audiotool competition will be selected by industry judges to join the suite and debut during the Esports World Cup this summer. The winners will also receive 25 limited-edition vinyls of their track and a one-year LANDR Studio subscription –an opportunity that could launch careers in gaming and entertainment. Submissions must be original, under a Creative Commons license, and are open until 8 June 2025 at ewc.audiotool.com.
“Partnering with the Esports World Cup, the world’s biggest esports and gaming festival, is a unique opportunity to spotlight new talent on a global stage,” said Andreas Jacobi, CEO of Audiotool. “Together with EWCF, we’re proud to help emerging artists bring their music into esports – a space that’s rapidly reshaping the future of entertainment – and share their work with a global audience as part of a cultural moment that connects creativity, community, and competition.”
The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Launches ‘Music of EWC’ Initiative with Recording at Legendary Abbey Road Studios to Connect Esports Fans Around the World Through the Power of Music appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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