eSports

WePlay Esports invests in One True King company

Published

4 years ago

June 8, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

WePlay Esports, the flagship company of WePlay Holding, has invested in the OTK (One True King) influencer network and media company. Per the agreement, WePlay Esports becomes OTK’s strategic partner. By combining WePlay Esports’ expertise in esportainment production and OTK’s content creation experience, the two organizations will create more engaging material for gaming fans and develop the industry further.

On June 7, 2022, WePlay Esports and OTK announced their partnership during a stream from the WePlay Esports Arena L.A. This is the first-ever external event held in the U.S. WePlay venue that marks the start of the arena’s vigorous activity.

OTK is known for the amusing shows made by the team, which consists of eleven content creators, each a dedicated gaming enthusiast focused on developing the media production direction within the OTK activities. Founded in 2020, the organization has already become one of the most popular live-streaming brands in the world, according to Dexerto. And recently, on March 12, 2022, OTK won the Best Content Organization Award during The Streamer Awards.

WePlay Esports’ experience in the esports event industry should boost OTK’s initiatives aimed at communicating with the gaming audience in a new, unconventional format. Using AR and VR capabilities integrated with the WePlay Esports Arena L.A. and the technical expertise of the WePlay team will help reach a new level of content production. As for WePlay, this partnership will accelerate its expansion in the U.S. market — a strategic goal of the company.

“We at WePlay Esports have always focused on expanding horizons and partnering with ambitious gaming market members. And we believe that OTK is exactly that.

The whole [OTK] team makes a great contribution to the development of gaming by bringing their original approach to content creation. And since WePlay Esports is known for its unique esports event production techniques, we thought that this partnership would bring about more thrilling projects, launched collaboratively by our teams.

More events, initiatives, and projects are ahead!” shared Yura Lazebnikov, co-founder of WePlay Esports, a flagship company of WePlay Holding, managing partner of the WePlay Holding and TECHIIA Holding.

“The WePlay Esports x OTK partnership is a collaboration between one of the world’s best esports production companies and one of the top experts within the streaming industry. We believe it will open us new and exciting opportunities for co-development and leveling up media content creation in the gaming industry.

We’ve been working for quite some time before finally launching our WePlay Esports Arena L.A. and are happy it was with our OTK partners that we did it. Hopefully, the stream of June 7, 2022, is just the beginning of a series of our joint initiatives held in and out of our U.S. arena”, said Maksym Bilonogov, chief visionary officer and general producer at WePlay Esports.

“The augmented and virtual reality capabilities at WePlay Esports add a whole new dimension to collaborative content creation,” said OTK Сo-founder and Chief Operating Officer Tipsout. “Content that would’ve normally required participants to be in the same physical space is now remotely accessible.”

“We are excited to open the doors of our new home to the OTK community, with plans in store to utilize the space for esports events, live shows, and mixed-reality content”, OTK streamer and professional esports host Rich Campbell stated.

On June 8, 2022, the WePlay Esports Arena L.A. is welcoming the OTK Games Expo, with a demonstration of unreleased games and exclusive interviews with industry professionals. Studios that manage to impress One True King, and the viewers at that, will get $50,000 in developmental grants.

Astana

Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027

Published

2 days ago

July 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

astana-to-host-iesf-world-esports-championship-2027

IESF signs host agreement with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation in Astana.

Astana has been confirmed as the host city for the IESF World Esports Championship 2027 (WEC27), following a host agreement signing ceremony involving the International Esports Federation (IESF), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation.

IESF said the event is expected to draw participation across more than 150 IESF Member Federations through the qualifiers, with national teams competing via IESF-recognized national member structures.

“WEC27 will be more than a championship. It will be a global celebration of nations, athletes, and the future of esports,” said Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF. “For every player, there is no greater honor than competing under their national flag and officially representing their nation on the world stage. That is what makes the World Esports Championship so powerful and so unique. In 2027, Astana will welcome the world and proudly stand as the Esports Capital in the World of Esports, uniting our Member Federations, athletes, fans, and communities. Kazakhstan has shown remarkable vision, ambition, and commitment, and we are confident that WEC27 will deliver an unforgettable championship and a lasting legacy for the global esports family.”

Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: “We are honored that the International Esports Federation has entrusted Kazakhstan with hosting the World Esports Championship 2027. This reflects the confidence in our country’s ability to deliver an event of the highest international standard. Hosting WEC27 reinforces our commitment to advancing esports and creating new opportunities for young people through sport, technology, education, and international cooperation. We look forward to welcoming the World of Esports to Astana and showcasing Kazakhstan as a destination capable of delivering world-class international events.”

Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation, added: “We sincerely thank the International Esports Federation for the trust and confidence placed in Kazakhstan to host the World Esports Championship 2027. This is a historic milestone for our esports community and a testament to the progress we have achieved together with our partners. Alongside IESF, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and our national stakeholders, we are committed to delivering an outstanding championship for athletes, fans, and the World of Esports. WEC27 will inspire future generations, accelerate the growth of esports in Kazakhstan, and strengthen our country’s position as a leading esports and digital innovation hub.”

IESF said more details, including schedule, qualification pathway, venues, official titles, ticketing, and the event program, will be announced in the coming months via its official channels.

The post Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BLAST

BLAST opens New York HQ as 2025 revenue tops $133m on 40%+ growth

Published

3 days ago

July 1, 2026

Wladimir P.

blast-opens-new-york-hq-as-2025-revenue-tops-$133m-on-40%+-growth

Esports and live events operator says it stayed profitable in 2025 and plans 15 arena events across 13 cities in 2026.

BLAST has opened a New York City headquarters in Brooklyn as the company reported record growth and profitability in 2025, including more than $133 million in revenue and over 40% year-over-year growth.

The new U.S. headquarters is located at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space. BLAST said the hub will support partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America as it expands its U.S. operations.

The North American push is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, alongside Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.

BLAST said it has staged seven tier-one esports events in North America over the past 16 months, across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The company cited “more than $102 million” in economic impact from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. It also recently announced the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.

In 2025, BLAST said its broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched, spanning live events in 22 cities worldwide. The company also said it distributes content via 29 broadcast partners, including SuperSport, France TV and RTBF, reaching audiences in more than 150 territories and 30+ languages.

“Competitive entertainment has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in global media because it combines community, technology and live experiences in entirely new ways,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “The next generation of fans want entertainment that feels participatory, social and global by default. That shift is creating enormous opportunities for brands, publishers, creators and host cities, and we believe BLAST is uniquely positioned to help lead that evolution after a landmark year in 2025.” BLAST said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.

The post BLAST opens New York HQ as 2025 revenue tops $133m on 40%+ growth appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BLAST

BLAST reports 40% revenue growth in 2025, opens New York headquarters

Published

3 days ago

July 1, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

blast-reports-40%-revenue-growth-in-2025,-opens-new-york-headquarters

BLAST, the Denmark-founded competitive entertainment and esports events company, reported record growth and continued profitability in 2025 and said it has opened a New York headquarters as it expands across North America.

The company said it delivered more than 40% year-over-year growth and generated more than $133 million in revenue in 2025, while remaining profitable and continuing to invest in global expansion. BLAST said its U.S. headquarters at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn sits within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space and will serve as its central base for partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America.

The expansion is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, and Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.

BLAST pointed to recent North American activity, saying it has hosted seven tier-one esports events across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City over the past 16 months. The company said these events have generated economic impact for host destinations, including more than $102 million from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. BLAST also said the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.

On content reach, BLAST said its 2025 broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched across live events in 22 cities, distributed through 29 broadcast partners across online platforms and linear broadcasters. “We’re seeing tremendous momentum globally and all across North America, not just in esports fandom, but in how brands, game publishers, cities and entertainment companies are thinking about gaming culture, engaging competitions and digital-first audiences,” said Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST. The company said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.

The post BLAST reports 40% revenue growth in 2025, opens New York headquarters appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.