eSports
Tickets are available now for Red Bull Home Ground 2022: Talent and the first round of teams announced for the pro VALORANT invitational!
- Red Bull Home Ground will see eight of the best VALORANT teams go head to head in December for the finals, broadcast from Victoria Warehouse, Manchester.
- The first round of teams for the pro invitational has been announced including Team Liquid, Team Vitality, FOKUS Clan, the Turkish Qualifier winners FUT Esports & EMEA Qualifier winner Team BIG – with the full lineup set to be released via Red Bull Gaming socials.
- Yinsu Collins returns to host the third iteration of Red Bull Home Ground, alongside Mitch “Mitchman” McBride, Tom “Tombizz” Bissmire, Ryan “RyanCentral” Horton, Beatriz “kaquka” Alonso and Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne.
- Special appearances from G2 Gozen and “Legends Never Die” singer Chrissy Costanza.
- AGON by AOC is the official Monitor Partner for the event, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. AMD joins Red Bull Home Ground as Technology Provider, ensuring the high-performance computing that will push the boundaries of the tournament. Supporting Red Bull Home Ground as a peripheral sponsor, HyperX ensures that players will be able to reach their full potential on the stage.
Tickets are now available for the one-of-a-kind pro-VALORANT competition, Red Bull Home Ground. As an official part of the VALORANT Champions Offseason Tournaments and returning to the vibrant city of Manchester for its third iteration, eight of the world’s elite teams will battle it out to be crowned champions in a unique ‘Home and Away’ format from December 9th-11th.
- 9th December: Best-of-three group stages begin; two teams will immediately pass to the semi finals, four will pass to the quarter-finals, and two will be eliminated.
- 10th December: Kicking off at 16:00 CET, the quarter-finals will switch to a best-of-five format, eliminating two more teams.
- 11th December: Fans can catch the four teams battling it out in the semi finals from 13:00 CET, with the losing teams from each match-up facing an immediate knockout. Leaving two teams to battle it out in the finals for the Red Bull Home Ground 2022 trophy.
For the first time, Red Bull Home Ground has opened its doors to teams outside of Europe who are set to make waves going up against the EMEA’s best teams, taking their best shot at the $100,000 prize pool. These invitations promise fierce competition as Red Bull Home Ground will witness rivalries reignite for the first time outside the VALORANT Champions Tournament. Before, we’ve seen EMEA battle it out on the Red Bull Home Ground Stage, but now it’s time for the Americas teams to prove their skills.
Fans will get the chance to see eight world-class international VALORANT teams, including last year’s Red Bull Home Ground champions Team Liquid go head-to-head as the first round of teams has been announced, with more set to be revealed soon:
- Team Liquid
- Team Vitality
- FOKUS Clan
- TO BE ANNOUNCED
- TO BE ANNOUNCED
- TO BE ANNOUNCED
- FUT Esports – TR Qualifier
- Team BIG – EMEA Qualifier
FUT Esports grabbed their spot during the closed Turkish Qualifiers in August. This year’s EMEA Open Qualifier took place on Sunday and saw German organisation Team BIG emerge victorious. In an incredibly close final, BIG went head to head with KOI, securing the win over the Spanish squad.
Providing insight into the team’s dynamics and expert opinions throughout the tournament, Yinsu Collins is set to return as the host of the invitational alongside commentators; Mitch “Mitchman” McBride, Tom “Tombizz” Bissmire, Ryan “RyanCentral” Horton, Beatriz “kaquka” Alonso and Adam “Dinko” Hawthorne.
An official part of the VALORANT Champions Offseason Tournaments, Red Bull Home Ground will also feature special guest appearances from from G2’s female VALORANT roster G2 Gozen and Against The Current front-woman and recent desk host of the VALORANT Champions Tour, Chrissy Costanza. Taking a break from inventing, VALORANT Agent “Killjoy” will also make her way to Red Bull Home Ground; stay updated on her journey via her TikTok closer to the event. Fans can also anticipate some exciting cosmetic content drops throughout the tournament’s gameplay.
Red Bull Home Ground pioneers a pulse-racing Home and Away structure that puts an exciting curveball on the traditional VALORANT format. The two competing teams will select a “home ground” to play on for the open two maps. This structure rewards tactical awareness, map knowledge and wider map usage; if a team wins both opening “home” and “away” matches, they automatically win the tie, while a stalemate will default the tie to the traditional best of format.
Embracing the pulsing atmosphere of Manchester, the Red Bull Home Ground cyberpunk aesthetic sets a futuristic mood for this year’s event. The combination of eight world-class teams, global rivalries, and famous hosts offers the live audience a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Victoria Warehouse. The event will be brought to life for digital audiences across the globe, made available in several languages on Twitch and YouTube.
VALORANT analyst, commentator and content creator Beatriz “Kaquka” Alonso said: “Red Bull Home Ground brings together some of the world’s top teams, giving us the opportunity to see completely new match-ups and teams partnerships ahead of next year. The unique format means we’ll see teams perform and strategise in totally new ways, bringing unpredictability to one of the most anticipated tournaments for some time. I look forward to catching up with the UK VALORANT community and fans in the vibrant city of Manchester- see you there!”
Going into its third edition, Red Bull Home Ground is the premier Red Bull event for VALORANT and, alongside Red Bull Campus Clutch – an open global VALORANT tournament for students – encapsulates the brand´s continued commitment to support the VALORANT community and uplift its competitive ecosystem, from a grassroots level with an array of local initiatives to the very highest echelons of esports. National Qualifiers are taking place across the world right now, head over to redbull .com/campusclutch for more information
To level up last year’s tournament and create a truly unforgettable experience for teams and fans alike, Red Bull Home Ground has teamed up with gaming and esports industry leaders. AGON by AOC, a global leader in gaming monitors, is the Official Monitor Partner for the event, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. AMD joins as Technology Provider, ensuring the high-performance computing that will push the boundaries of the tournament. Also supporting Red Bull Home Ground as a peripheral sponsor, HyperX ensures that players will be able to reach their full potential on the stage.
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Berlin Gaming Industry
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:
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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
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:
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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.
Akshat Rathee
Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone
The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.
The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.
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Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
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Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
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Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.
The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage
The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.
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Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
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Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
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Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.
Market Evolution and Key Trends
The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.
| Trend | Impact in 2026 |
| Mobile Dominance | Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware. |
| Beyond BGMI | 2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.” |
| Monetization Shift | Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression. |
| Tier II & III Growth | Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content. |
The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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