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 within the sector, including Mastercard debuting in the African esports market by holding its first-ever Esports Summit in Casablanca, Morocco.
At Mastercard’s Africa Esports Summit, key leaders from the finance, technology and gaming industries came together to discuss the integration of gaming with payment solutions and the necessity for regulatory frameworks to strengthen Africa’s esports ecosystem.
The aim of the event was to encourage collaboration and build cross-sector partnerships within Africa’s gaming industry. Mastercard’s goal was to provide valuable resources for emerging esports players and content creators.
The Summit featured a range of prominent speakers, including Hicham El Khlifi, President of the African Esports Confederation, and Andrew Lilien, Mastercard’s VP for Global Sponsorships. Representatives from Riot Games, such as Katie Cross (Global Head of Partner Management) and David Mulhall (Global Head of Business Development and Esports Partnerships), also participated.
At the event, Mastercard showcased its new payment technologies designed for Gen Z gamers looking to engage with the global gaming economy.
Looking ahead, the company has stated that it is focused on empowering African creators and developers by organising events, supporting grassroots competitions, and launching other initiatives to strengthen the gaming community across the continent.
Mohamed Benomar, Country General Manager of North West Africa at Mastercard, commented on the event: “As gaming gains traction across the continent, Mastercard is proud to support Africa’s young, mobile-driven population by fostering an inclusive and innovative gaming ecosystem.
“Through initiatives like this summit, Mastercard is not only demonstrating its commitment to this vibrant market but also enabling critical partnerships that will fuel the future of gaming in Africa. The Mastercard Africa Esports Summit is a cornerstone in our mission to enable secure, accessible payment solutions that drive economic opportunities for Africa’s digital generation.”
University of Chichester unveils esports psychology degree
The University of Chichester has introduced a new BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology of Esports.
The degree programme will feature modules covering areas such as cognitive psychology, human interaction and relationships, developmental psychology, esports ethics and conduct guidelines and research methods for social science.
Scheduled to launch in September 2025, the University aims to combine psychological principles with practical applications in esports, creating a bridge between psychology and competitive gaming.
To strengthen the course’s credibility, it is set to undergo a British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation assessment in February 2025. As a result, students can expect to pursue roles such as esports psychology, team analysis, coaching, and management, along with psychology positions outside the esports sector.
Benjamin Sharpe, Course Founder, Programme Leader and a Senior Lecturer in Cognitive Psychology at the University of Chichester, said: “Through practical experiments, students will connect theoretical knowledge to the multifaceted esports landscape, including international competitions, global audience engagement and the industry’s full spectrum from grassroots to professional levels.
“This pioneering degree represents a collaborative achievement between our Institute of Psychology, Business and Human Sciences and Creative Industries. We’re not just filling a market gap and responding to stakeholder calls – we’re creating versatile graduates equipped with both psychological expertise and practical industry skills, within and beyond esports.”
Earlier this year, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) launched a new National Progression Award (NPA) in esports for schools and colleges in Scotland, offering a one-year course that aims to provide an overview of the esports industry.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang celebrates milestone for women’s esports
The 2024 Asian Esports Games has selected Mobile Legends: Bang Bang as its exclusive esports title for the women’s competition.
At the Asian Esports Games, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will bring together 20 national teams representing Asia and the Middle East. Among these, Nepal, Mongolia and Tajikistan will participate for the first time in the all-women’s event.
Additionally, China’s women’s team will compete in a global esports event in Southeast Asia for the first time at the 2024 Asian Esports Games, which shows the successful development of female esports in the region.
The Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) is organising the event, which the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) is sanctioning. It will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 25-27 November.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystems at MOONTON Games, stated: “This year’s Asian Esports Games marks another huge milestone for women’s esports.
“The representation of 20 regions in the MLBB women’s tournament exemplifies our commitment to diversity and the dedication of AESF and TESF in creating a competitive platform that encourages inclusivity globally.
“We are thrilled to witness the strengthening of the esports ecosystem with more countries embracing women’s esports, allowing the MLBB community to continue breaking boundaries.”
Team Liquid ‘upgrades’ fan platform with blockchain-based MyBlue
Esports organisation Team Liquid has expanded its fan engagement platform with the launch of MyBlue on the Sui blockchain.
According to Steve Arhancet, Co-CEO of Team Liquid, the organisation has built upon the strengths of Liquid+, the original platform, and ‘upgraded’ it. This was done with the help of Mysten Labs, a blockchain company that builds scalable platforms on its Sui blockchain.
With this launch, Team Liquid fans will be able to participate in various challenges and quests within the app. Completing these tasks will earn them digital rewards, including profile customisation items.
Additionally, fans can unlock real-world prizes, such as signed jerseys, discounts at the Team Liquid store and exclusive access to players and merchandise.
This marks the first major announcement since Team Liquid’s partnership with the blockchain company was revealed in February 2024.
Commenting on the launch, Arhancet said: “Thanks to our partnership with Mysten Labs, we’ve taken the best parts of Liquid+ and upgraded it by integrating Sui to make the ultimate fan platform.
“Fans show up for us, and MyBlue will enable us to keep showing up for them by offering amazing experiences and unique rewards. I can’t wait for all our fans to get their own Blue!”
