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 Wolves’ involvement in Rocket League, Na’Vi launching a fan token, the Mayor of London backing LND UTD’s initiative, plus Fnatic’s signing of UK artist Not3s.
Premier League club Wolves announces entry into Rocket League
Wolverhampton Wanderers has become the first English Premier League club to enter the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS), further showcasing the growing trend of traditional sports organisations expanding into competitive gaming.
The announcement sees Wolves add to its growing portfolio of esports teams, with the club already establishing rosters for FIFA 21, FIFA Online 4, PUBG, Identity V and Pop Kart Racing.
Natus Vincere launches Fan Token on Socios.com
Ukrainian organisation Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) has announced it plans to launch a Fan Token on blockchain-based fan voting and rewards application Socios.com.
The deal, in partnership with Chiliz, will see holders of the $NAVI token obtain the ability to influence decisions made by the organisation.
Na’Vi becomes the third esports firm to launch a Fan token on Socios.com, joining European organisation OG and Spanish organisation Team Heretics. Moreover, a host of traditionally sporting organisations such as FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, have also been created tokens on the platform.
Mayor of London backs esports campaign to tackle youth unemployment
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has joined forces with esports organisation LDN UTD for an initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment in the capital.
The LDN UTD Inter-Borough Esports Championships, according to a press release, will facilitate competition between young Londoners. Moreover, the initiative will use esports and education to combat rising rates of youth unemployment.
Fnatic adds recording artist Not3s to talent roster
London-based esports organisation Fnatic has revealed the signing of British recording artist Lukman “Not3s” Odunaike to its talent roster. As a result, Odunaike has become the first UK-based musician to sign with an esports organisation.
Lukman “Not3s” Odunaike commented on the signing in a release: “Gaming has allowed me to experiment with my creativity. As an artist and creator, I’m always looking for things that nobody has done before. I’m thrilled to join Fnatic, because of the sense of community I feel from the organisation, the players and from their fans. I look forward to bringing the worlds of music and gaming even closer together.”
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.