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, FIFAe, the esports division of football governing body FIFA, revealing Liverpool will host its first-ever multi-title football esports event.
FIFAe selects Liverpool to host Nex Gen event
FIFAe, the esports division of football governing body FIFA, has revealed Liverpool will host its first-ever multi-title football esports event.
The event be held at the Exhibition Centre, Liverpool and will be centred around two football-themed esports, Sports Interactive developed Football Manager and eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer.
In terms of Football Manager, the FIFAe World Cup will take centre stage at the event. For the first time ever 20 managers will represent their own nation and compete to win a share of the £78,000 prize pool.
The Football Manager event will also incorporate streamed content across FIFAe channels, including football YouTuber Spencer ‘SpencerFC’ Owen, who will host a dedicated show on all things Football Manager.
Additionally, FIFAe will host the FIFAe Fame Your Game Cup, which will pit local eFootball Mobile players against eachother in a qualifier for a chance to play against some of the best global players.
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, commented: “As a city that lives and breathes football, loves bringing people together and relishes putting on big events, we’re delighted to be welcoming the first FIFAe Next Gen event to Liverpool.
“We are home to a vibrant and growing digital and gaming sector with strong esports credentials. This will be a fantastic opportunity to establish our city as a long-term host for the esports industry, boosting the local economy through tourism, hospitality, and retail.”
Man City Esports renews Gen.G alliance for fans
Manchester City’s esports division, Man City Esports, has revealed the extension of its partnership with esports organisation Gen.G.
The renewed partnership will feature various co-branded fan activations in Korea, including an exclusive game coaching program for Cityzens in the region, hosted by the Gen.G Global Academy.
Furthermore, Man City and Gen.G will collaborate on an amateur League of Legends tournament for players throughout Korea.
Following a string of successful events in 2023, including highlights from the club’s pre-season tour in Asia, Manchester City and Gen.G are hoping to build on last year’s success in the esports realm.
Gen.G boasts a roster of eight elite esports teams across popular titles such as League of Legends, Valorant and PUBG/PUBG Mobile. The Korean organisation has achieved notable success, including two victories at the League of Legends World Championship and four consecutive League of Legends Champions Korea titles.
Meanwhile, Man City Esports has seen remarkable growth, with the 2023/24 season marking its most successful period in Fortnite and FC 24. In Fortnite, the team secured its first FNCS title when Joshua ‘Cold’ Butler and his duo partner Acorn won the FNCS Major 1 championship.
In FC 24, Donovan ‘Tekkz’ Hunt and Matias Bonanno, who joined Man City Esports in 2023, made history by leading the club to its second ePremier League title. Bonanno continued his winning streak at Dreamhack Summer, where he emerged victorious and qualified for the Esports World Cup later this year.
SteelSeries to boost BUEC with premium gaming gear
National Student Esports (NSE) has unveiled a new partnership with SteelSeries, naming it the official peripherals brand for the British University Esports Championship (BUEC).
As part of the agreement, SteelSeries will provide Arctis Nova Series gaming headsets for use by participants at the BUEC 2025 finals, ensuring that every sound is as clear as possible during matches.
Additionally, SteelSeries will support NSE in distributing branded merchandise to over 100 gaming and esports societies at freshers’ fairs, helping to increase membership and engagement in these communities. This initiative aims to boost participation in NSE tournaments and events.
Alex Coulson, Managing Director at NSE, commented: “We are very happy to announce this new partnership with SteelSeries, a brand renowned for its high quality and gamer-centric peripherals. This collaboration represents another significant advancement for NSE, reaffirming our commitment to creating a thriving esports ecosystem for university students across the UK.”
The 2023/24 academic year saw the BUEC become a cornerstone of university esports, hosting 15,000 matches across 2,200 teams from 113 universities. Going forward, SteelSeries will play a key role in NSE’s major competitive events, further supporting the UK’s largest grassroots gaming community.
Tony Trubridge, Global Esports Director at SteelSeries, stated: “We are obsessed with making a difference in a gamer’s game, life and world, and we are passionate about empowering gamers to push the boundaries and achieve their best.
“Partnering with NSE and the British University Esports Championship allows us to further showcase how we live at the intersection of gaming and culture while supporting the next generation of esports talent and providing them with the tools they need to succeed. We look forward to a successful collaboration and seeing these talented students thrive.”
Asphalt Legends Unite reveals first esports competition with Ferrari
Gameloft, the developer and publisher of racing title Asphalt Legends Unite, has announced a collaboration with Ferrari.
As per the agreement, the two parties have launched an esports competition open to all players called the Ferrari HP Esports Asphalt Series, which is the first esports competition for Asphalt Legends Unite.
Following qualifying rounds, the two fastest players will go head-to-head for a chance of winning a share of the £17,068 prize money, as well as £4,267 in Ferrari-themed prizes.
Camilo Polimeni, Senior Partnerships Project Manager at Gameloft Barcelona, said: “The Ferrari HP Esports Asphalt Series marks an important evolution for the franchise and finally brings all of our players together under a single competition thanks to the game’s cross-play support.
“Being able to partner with Ferrari for such an important event is a dream come true and not only helps us to discover the best Asphalt player in the world but also lets us put some of the most iconic Ferrari automobiles ever made into the hands of all our players.”
