From sponsorships to industry-wide announcements, Insider Sport has you covered when it comes to the world of esports.
This week’s edition highlights the latest developments including FIFA revealing the revival of the FIFAe World Cup, which will now feature national teams competing in Rocket League.
FIFAe World Cup shifts to Rocket League
Global football governing body FIFA has revealed the revival of the FIFAe World Cup will now feature national teams competing in Rocket League.
Perhaps the most notable thing about this announcement is that the primary governing body for global football will now host a tournament not in a traditional football video game, but in Rocket League, a game with elements loosely inspired by football.
Rocket League is a popular video game where players control rocket-powered cars to play football. Published by Psyonix, players use cars to hit a ball into their opponent’s goal to score points.
The reason for this transition is due to FIFA no longer having an official game under its brand since 2023, following Electronic Arts’ discontinuation of the EA FC series. The 2023 FIFAe World Cup was the last event featuring the FIFA game series.
Little information is currently available about the upcoming event, except that it will be accessible to all players through the official FIFA website. FIFA has indicated that national teams will be selected based on the “number of representatives from each country in the previous Rocket League Majors.”
Christian Volk, Director eFootball and Gaming at FIFA, commented: “The FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League marks a new era for FIFAe, providing a groundbreaking platform for FIFA’s member associations to compete on one of the most relevant esports titles.
“This milestone partnership highlights our commitment to evolve our football esports ecosystem and continue to build the biggest stages for all communities to fame their game.”
Adidas links athletics to esports in EWCF partnership
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and Adidas have announced a partnership that aims to bridge the worlds of athletics and digital competition.
Under the agreement, Adidas will become the official merchandise sponsor of the Esports World Cup (EWC), providing competitors with exclusive gear during the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
In addition to providing the athletes with premium kits, the partnership also extends to the event staff, with EWC crew, ushers and access control personnel sporting co-branded Adidas apparel.
Starting 3 July, Riyadh will become the epicentre of esports and gaming culture with the EWC hosted in Boulevard City. Fans will be able to watch top athletes and clubs compete in 22 game championships for a share of over $60m in prize money, the largest prize pool in esports history.
Bilal Fares, Managing Director KSA at Adidas, commented: “Building on the success of our Gamers8 partnership, Adidas is thrilled to join forces with the Esports World Cup, a global leader in esports and gaming.
“Our return to Riyadh underscores our commitment to this dynamic community. This collaboration highlights Adidas’ dedication to the Kingdom’s growing gaming scene and our ongoing exploration of sports and entertainment.”
Mohammed Al Nimer, Sales Director, EWCF, said: “The Esports World Cup is proud to partner with Adidas, a brand that embodies the spirit of competition and innovation.
“This partnership allows Adidas to connect with a passionate and dedicated fanbase, presenting a unique opportunity to engage with the rapidly growing esports community. We look forward to co-creating innovative experiences that excite fans and elevate the esports landscape.”
Motorsport UK and Williams Racing partner for 2024 sim racing
Motorsport UK has partnered with Formula One’s Williams Racing to choose UK drivers for the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games‘ sim racing competitions.
In addition to choosing the UK’s representatives, both organisations will collaborate on training the sim racers for these events, as they gear up for the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games. The games will include competitions featuring GT3 cars on Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC) and F4 cars on the iRacing platform.
Scheduled for 23-27 October in Valencia, Spain, the games will include a total of 27 motorsport disciplines, including the aforementioned sim racing categories.
In terms of the selection process, the organisations have stated that it will involve online qualifiers followed by a selection day at Williams’ headquarters in Grove, UK.
Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, spoke on the collaboration: “Esports, and its presence at the FIA Motorsport Games, truly showcases how innovation is shaping motorsport and its future.
“Williams Esports are renowned for offering elite training, and this will be of huge benefit to our drivers going for gold in Valencia.”
Esports Charts integrates SOOP for enhanced viewership data
Esports Charts, a platform known for tracking esports viewership, has integrated live-streaming platform SOOP into its array of data sources.
SOOP has already showcased various esports events, including the Pacific and EMEA VALORANT Champions Tour. It has also entered into an exclusive partnership with Riot Games to produce and broadcast VALORANT Challengers Thailand.
This collaboration ensures that viewership data from esports events streamed on SOOP will now be integrated into the Esports Charts platform.
SOOP, originating from South Korea, was developed by the team behind the popular Korean live-streaming service AfreecaTV and made its debut earlier this month.
This collaboration strengthens the Esports Charts Platform, expanding its data collection from streaming giants like Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and the aforementioned AfreecaTV.
Viktor Proniakin, Project Manager at Esports Charts, commented: “We are excited to expand our range of platforms that enable us to provide the most accurate data on esports tournament viewership.
“SOOP has just launched, but its potential is already evident with Valorant tournaments. More platforms mean more opportunities for viewers, benefiting the entire industry.”
