News Digest 42: Top Gaming News This Week
12 June, 2020 | By Anzu
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It’s already a hot summer in the world of esports! The much-anticipated PS5 presentation, new exciting partnerships secured during the period of lockdowns and self-isolation, significant investments made… There’s no doubt that the esports & video games industries are the ones to watch! Read on to get more details in our weekly news digest.
Sony has finally revealed the design of its next-generation console -- the PlayStation 5! Originally planned for June 4, Sony delayed its presentation amidst the world-shaking protests ignited by the BLM movement. The reveal event took place yesterday during Sony’s next-generation games presentation and included a first look at PS5 games as well. Moreover, Sony also revealed that there will be a “digital” version of the PS5, without a disc drive. It appears that the front panel of both models includes a USB-A port and a USB-C port, reports Polygon.
The Redwood City-based BoomTV has raised a $10 million USD Series in financing led by BITKRAFT Esports Ventures for its esports live streaming platform that enables organizers to create and manage their own - particularly smaller community - events, reports VentureBeat. BoomTV runs a popular biweekly event series called Code Red, which has averaged 2.7 million unique viewers over the last year and currently boasts more than 4 million fans across social platforms. The beauty of all of this is that hypothetically a local YMCA group could challenge a local fire department in a Fortnite tournament to help raise funds. They could jump on Boom to set the event, register players, and enable score-tracking. Parents, family members, and community leaders could watch, share, and support the cause. These small-scale events are the backbone of the competitive gaming movement and Boom is dedicated to simplifying the hosting experience across platforms like Mixer or YouTube. Currently, more than 75,000 content creators and 1,600 college programs are already taking advantage of this opportunity.
FaZe Clan have announced their plans to get into the movie business. FaZe Clan Universe will feature the esports organization's top talent in a new collection of content, with the first feature-length film arriving later this year. Working with Invisible Narratives, founded by former Paramount producer Adam Goodman and Andrew Sugerman, the collaboration hopes to bring the organization's unique and eclectic identity to the silver screen. The five-week production would be one of the first movies to begin filming while in lockdown, attempting to circumvent the issues of the time with remote training for the actors. More details on Newsweek.
KitKat will become one of the main partners of the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), gaining increased visibility with its in-game banner on the league’s new Summoner’s Rift arena. The Nestlé chocolate brand will also continue to present breaks and pauses, as it did through the 2020 Spring Split, with the Summer Split to begin this Friday, reports the Esports Observer.
And last, but not least! It’s quite clear to everyone across industries that Travis Scott's recent performances in Fortnite set a new standard for virtual concerts, and many companies will now be rushing to replicate Epic's endeavor. GamesIndustry.biz provides us with a very timely and thought-provoking piece on whether video games might be the future of live music. Follow the link to educate yourself on why both bands and game developers are eager to tap into this new form of interaction even after the pandemic.
Anzu.io is an in-game advertising platform that brings real-world brand ads to video gaming and esports. Backed by BITKRAFT Esports Ventures, WPP, and Axel Springer Digital Ventures, Anzu redefines digital advertising through seamless integration of non-intrusive ads into the gameplay. Bringing real-time data and programmatic to the video gaming world, the platform promises native advertising, brand safety and ad viewability. Follow Anzu on
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