Each week, ESI Digest breaks down the weekly happenings in the esports industry, making sense of things so you don’t have to. As well as being housed on YouTube, ESI Digest is available on all major podcast platforms and is also available in written form below.
This week on the ESI Digest, we cover WePlay Esports and Oleksandr Usyk launching WUFL, ESL hosting Wild Rift tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand, FATE Esports and Orange’s new training facility, LuckBox’s debut on the TSX Venture Exchange, plus Red Bull Racing Esports’ sim racing facility.
WePlay Esports launches WUFL with boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk
Media holding company WePlay Esports has partnered with undisputed world cruiserweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk to create a ‘top-tier’ fighting game tournament brand, the WePlay Ultimate Fighting League (WUFL).
Esports Insider contacted WePlay Esports for further details, with the company revealing that the WUFL will feature a range of popular fighting titles including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Tekken 7, Street Fighter V, and Mortal Kombat 11.
ESL to host Wild Rift tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand through 2021
Event organiser ESL has announced it will operate the official League of Legends: Wild Rift tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand for 2021 as the appointed partner of Riot Games Southeast Asia.
In addition, ESL will host a collegiate Wild Rift tournament in Thailand next year.
The competitive circuit will begin in April 2021 with an open qualifier system to identify the best teams in each respective region. Local champions will then advance to represent their country in a larger Southeast Asia regional tournament.
Luckbox debuts on TSX Venture Exchange
Real Luck Group Ltd, Luckbox’s parent company, has made its debut on Toronto’s TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) trading under the ticker ‘LUCK’.
The esports betting company is loosely aiming for a closing market capitalisation of CAD $28.2m (~GBP16.2m).
FATE Esports and Orange unveil training facility in Jordan
Telecommunications giant Orange and Jordanian organisation FATE Esports have officially unveiled a new esports training facility based in Amman, Jordan.
The Orange Gaming Hub, located at the Orange Digital Village, is a new ten-player facility fitted with ‘top of the line’ equipment to help nurture and scout esports talent in the country.
Red Bull Racing Esports opens sim racing facility in Milton Keynes
Based in Milton Keynes, Red Bull Racing Esports have opened a ‘state-of-the-art’ sim racing training facility, set to be named by fans.
The facility will be the new home for the Red Bull Racing Esports Team, with the drivers using the space to train leading up to major competitions, and in some instances, utilising the establishment to compete.
ESI Digest is part of ESI Network, a collection of podcasts encompassing the esports industry. For deep dives into the major areas of esports with subject matter experts, check out ESI Focus. For conversations with key personnel and major stakeholders in esports, ESI Insight is the series for you.