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CEOs of GameStop, FansUnite, ESE and Activision Blizzard Driving New Trends in E-Sports, I-Gaming and Digital Entertainment

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CEOs of GameStop, FansUnite, ESE and Activision Blizzard Driving New Trends in E-Sports, I-Gaming and Digital Entertainment

 

Wall Street Reporter, the trusted name in financial news since 1843, has published reports on the latest comments and insights from leaders at: GameStop, ESE Entertainment, FansUnite, and Activision Blizzard, Inc.

The global video gaming industry took in an estimated $180bn in 2020 – more than sports and movies worldwide. Wall Street Reporter highlights the latest comments from industry thought leaders:

Activision Blizzard, Inc. CEO Bobby Kotick: “Billion Dollar Entertainment Franchises – With Momentum”

“…There are few entertainment franchises that generate over $1 billion in annual net bookings. And today we operate three of them: Call of Duty World of Warcraft and Candy Crush. And each has clear opportunity for sustained growth…For the balance of this year, we’re raising our outlook and we believe we will continue connecting and engaging more players than ever before in 2021.”

“…Call of Duty is the first community to benefit from our pursuit of this franchise based strategy. With over 100 million monthly players, the Call of Duty community is larger than ever before. And with expansion across all platforms the franchise has transformed into a truly social experience that engages and connects our players in truly epic ways. By expanding to mobile, we’ve brought in tens of millions of new players in countries far beyond our traditional audiences. With the game now in final large-scale testing in China and over 50 million players already preregistered, we see a clear path to continue growing Call of Duty’s reach, engagement, and player investment on mobile in the largest mobile gaming market in the world.”

ESE Entertainment CEO Konrad Wasiela: “E-Sports M&A Pipeline w/ $100 Million Revenues”

ESE Entertainment CEO Konrad Wasiela, a featured presenter at Wall Street Reporter’s NEXT SUPER STOCK investors livestream conference, recently updated investors on his goal of building ESE into a billions dollar global enterprise. Wasiela shared that “ESE now has a growing M&A pipeline with over $100 million annual revenues” and expected to close a significant number of these potential transactions in the coming months. ESE’s stated goal is to build a global E-Sports business with a valuation of $1 Billion+.

In his interview with Wall Street Reporter, ESE CEO Konrad Wasiela, says the company is now ready to scale – expanding its global footprint, with new partnerships with global brands like Porsche, driving revenue growth with aggressive focus on top line sales and margin expansion, and M&A opportunities. ESE is now rapidly expanding, with multiple revenue streams including, E-Sports infrastructure software powering global tournaments, exclusive digital media distribution, broadcast rights, and owning world-class leagues and teams, including its K1CK global E-Sports franchise.

FansUnite “Positioned for Exponential Revenue Growth in iGaming, E-Sports, Online Sports Betting”

In their latest presentation at Wall Street Reporter’s NEXT SUPER STOCK livestream, FansUnite (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS) CEO Scott Burton, and President Darius Eghdami explained how FUNFF’s latest distribution deal with a online casino games aggregator, sets the stage for exponential revenue growth opportunities. In the next 12 months, FUNFF plans to expand its current line from three games to twelve – while adding multiple aggregators for each game – reaching millions of new online casino customers worldwide. With each game generating as much as $500,000 in revenue per month for FUNFF – per online casino – and the potential to be in hundreds of online casinos – these numbers can quickly add up.

January 11 – FUNFF closes an oversubscribed C$13.4 million private placement driven by strong investor demand. “The successful closing of this upsized financing provides further validation that the global gambling market is seeing a resurgence in demand from investors,” said Scott Burton, CEO of FansUnite. “Despite the headwinds caused by the global pandemic in 2020, we saw consumers adopt and embrace online betting for its ease of access and simplicity. With our seasoned team of gaming operators, global B2C brands, and our industry adopted B2B technology platform, we were able to execute on multiple milestones that delivered value to our customers and shareholders. As we now look to advance our operations globally, we believe this additional capital will allow us to explore strategic initiatives and execute on our vision of becoming a globally recognized iGaming leader.”

December 16 – FUNFF gains first-mover advantage into the U.S. esports betting market, as it’s long-term partner GameCo joins US Bookmaking and Sky Ute Casino to establish the first dedicated esports sportsbook in the United States. FUNFF wholly-owned subsidiary Askott Entertainment will supply its iGaming platform, Chameleon, as part of a fully integrated esports betting solution. Through GameCo’s partnership with Sky Ute Casino and US Bookmaking, FansUnite will be the first iGaming solutions provider to receive significant exposure in the U.S. esports betting market.

December 7 – FUNFF receives Malta Gaming Service License and Critical Gaming Supply, and will now be able to offer a full spectrum of online gambling services in Europe, covering Casino, Fixed Odds Betting, Pool Betting and Controlled Skilled Games. With MGA approval received, FansUnite will be joining other highly respected gambling companies such as PokerStars, Betfair and Unibet in operating their business within MGA regulations

GameStop Corp. CEO George Sherman: “Goal: Leading Global Omni-Channel Retailer For All Things Gaming and Entertainment”

“…Our goal is simple. We are positioning GameStop to be the leading global omni-channel retailer for all things gaming and entertainment. We are encouraged by our successful efforts in 2020 to begin category and product extensions that increase our addressable market as well as by our customer’s early response to an expanded products and services offering. At the forefront of this strategy is a digital first approach focused on delivering a best-in-class ecommerce experience, along with an optimized retail footprint.“

“Going forward, you will see us leverage our GameStop ecosystem of stores, e-commerce and our app to deliver and enhanced 360 degree experience for consumers with products and services that are more relevant to how they connect and play in devices today and in the future, all with a focus on driving customer lifetime value…Our overarching goal is to leverage the power and competitive advantages of our brand significant loyalty base, dedicated and experienced sales associates and expensive omni-channel capabilities to drive lifetime value across all things, games and entertainment. As customers evolve the way they play, we are evolving with them, expanding our addressable market as we expand our suite of products and services to meet their needs…”

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SIS launches market-leading esports product in Kentucky with bet365

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SIS Content Services, part of the SIS Group (Sports Information Services), the leading global multi-content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has made its market entry in Kentucky with ebasketball from its esports product suite now live with long-term operator partner bet365.

This launch in the Bluegrass State enhances SIS’ reputation as a leading supplier in the esports betting space, widening the audience that can engage with its competitive gaming content across the US. It follows on from successful launches of its esports products in New Jersey and Colorado.

Developed specifically for betting, SIS’ H2H Global Gaming League ™ hosts over 150,000 events per year. The Competitive Gaming content is produced entirely in-house from SIS’ self-contained gaming studios in Milton Keynes, United Kingdom. It has ultra-low (sub-second) latency live streaming, visible ESIC-trained integrity referees for every game, live caster commentary, and on-screen graphics with unique betting prompts to maximize engagement.

SIS’ short-form, event-based esports product provides a full end-to-end solution with integrity at its core and is proven to deliver superior margins around the clock, adding as much as 10% in value to sportsbooks.

Since legalized sports betting launched in Kentucky in September, it has generated $447.8 million in handle across retail and mobile, providing SIS with the opportunity to expand its US offering.

Michele Fischer, Vice President, SIS Content Services, said: “As Kentucky is a basketball state, we are confident that our ebasketball product will provide an elevated experience for the bettors on the bet365 platform. Our offices are located in Louisville, so it is meaningful to be part of the sports betting infrastructure in our home state.”

Richard Ames, Chief Executive, SIS, and President, SIS Content Services, said: “To grow our esports content across the US has been an aim of ours for some time, and to be able to expand our competitive gaming product into a third US state showcases how we are well-placed to deliver engaging wagering experiences to bettors.”

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HAWKS TALON GC ADVANCE TO ROUND FOUR IN BRACKET PLAY OF SLAM OPEN

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Hawks Talon GC, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, advanced to the fourth round of bracket play in the SLAM OPEN after a 3-1 victory over the No. 19 seeded Gen.G Tigers on Thursday night.

Talon took game one 21-19, followed by wins of 22-13 and 22-9 in games three and four to close out the series. Mark David ‘MDS’ Smith lead the way, netting 16 and 10 points in games three and four. ‘MDS’ averaged 9.5 points on .700% from the field (14-20 FGM) and .770% from deep (10-13 3FGM) and 4.0 assists over the four games.

“The team is really working as a unit right now, and that includes all five guys and not just the three playing,” said Hawks Talon head coach Ismael ‘MAELO’ Diaz Tolentino. “They’re communicating constantly, and I’m really happy to have a group of guys like this.”

The No. 22 seeded Talon advanced with victories over No. 11 Bucks Gaming (3-0) last Friday night, No. 27 Rim Runners (3-1) on Wednesday night, and No. 19 Gen.G Tigers (3-1) Thursday night.

Hawks Talon will face No. 2 Lakers Gaming in round four on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

In the double elimination bracket format, Hawks Talon will advance to the semifinals portion of the bracket with a win against Lakers Gaming tomorrow night or will bump down to the losers portion of the bracket with a loss, where all games would be single elimination. All semifinals and finals games will be played on Saturday afternoon

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The World’s Best Street Fighter 6 Players Are Set to Clash at Red Bull Kumite New York on March 16th & 17th – Here’s Everything You Need to Know!

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  • The two-day event will be held at the historic Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, New York, March 16 & 17, 2024.
  • The Main Event on March 17 will be in single elimination format, where 16 players, including an invitee and the Play-In winner, battle through a bracket drawn during the opening ceremony in first-to-five matches.
  • Confirmed fighters include renowned players such as reigning champion Adel “Big Bird” Anouche, Valentin “Valmaster” Petit and Lin “Oil King” Li-wei.
  • Commentary lineup features Michael “Yipes” Mendoza, Femi “F-Word” Adeboye, and others for expert insight and analysis.
  • AOC returns as the Official Monitor Partner with PlayStation as the Official Console Partner and Vitrix as the official partner of peripherals.
  • The tournament will be streamed live on twitch.tv/redbull and youtube.com/@redbullgaming.

Red Bull Kumite, the eminent Street Fighter 6 tournament, is set to take place this weekend in New York with the full roster of fighters announced and ready to duke it out for the title of Red Bull Kumite 2024 Champion. Here’s everything you need to know!

A highlight in the Fighting Game Community’s calendar, the two-day event will take place at the historic Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse, a fitting venue for what will be one of the most memorable FGC events of 2024. Bringing a rich and immersive storyline to this year’s tournament, fans will play witness to the villainous Battle King’s scheme to rule the underground world of Street Fighter, with only one hero set to emerge victorious.

Confirming the final players who complete the exciting lineup, Red Bull Kumite New York features notable talent such as French competitor Valentin “Valmaster” Petit and the 2023 EVO JP Champion, Lin “Oil King” Li-wei. Since January, fierce competition has also been unfolding on local battlefields, with numerous contenders vying for the last two coveted spots in the Grand Final. Last year’s champion Adel “Big Bird” Anouche will be returning to the iconic cage to defend his title in the ultimate Street Fighter showdown. Players from Japan, Italy, USA, Canada, and France have been competing for the final play-in spots and will be in with a chance to overthrow the pros in what would surely be one of the biggest upsets in FGC esports.

Red Bull Kumite New York kicks off with the Play-In on March 16th, featuring a double-elimination, first-to-three tournament between the eight players who have come from World Qualifiers. The winner will then qualify for the Main Event on March 17th.

The Main Event is a single-elimination tournament featuring 16 players, including 14 that have been directly invited, and winners of the Last Chance Qualifier and Play-In. The bracket draw will take place at the opening ceremony, preceding the action kicking off from round one all the way to the Grand Final, all played in a first-to-five format (BO9).

With the stakes at their highest, the event promises a stellar showcase of unbridled talent, complemented by a distinguished commentary team. Renowned players Joe “LI Joe” Ciaramelli and host Rob “RobTV” Burney will join forces to guide viewers through the thrilling matches. The commentary lineup also includes Michael “Yipes” Mendoza, reporter Zhi Liang Chew, Femi “F-Word” Adeboye, Logan Sama, and Samantha “Persia” Hancock, all returning for another year to provide expert insight and analysis.

Confirmed players for Red Bull Kumite 2024 are as follows:

  • Victor “Punk” Woodley (USA)
  • Saul Leonardo “MenaRD” Mena II (Dominican Republic)
  • Tsunehiro “Gachikun” Kanamori (Japan)
  • Adel “Big Bird” Anouche (United Arab Emirates)
  • Wong “Chris Wong” Yuk-cheung (Hong Kong)
  • Derek “iDom” Ruffin (USA)
  • Hibiki The Beast (Japan)
  • Masato “Bonchan” Takahashi (Japan)
  • Lin “Oil King” Li-wei (Taiwan)
  • Valentin “Valmaster” Petit (France)
  • Hajime “Tokido” Taniguchi (Japan)
  • Du “NuckleDu” Dang (United States)
  • Shin “Leshar” Moon-sup (South Korea)
  • Rob “Broski” Livingston (United Kingdom)

Play-in competitors vying for a spot in the grand final:

  • USA: Noah “NoahTheProdigy” Solis
  • USA: Sean “Shine” Simpson
  • USA: Alan “Nephew” Sun
  • USA: Stephen “Space Boy” Agyemang
  • France: Nathan “Mister Crimson” Massol
  • Italy: Andrea “Garnet” Parlangeli
  • Japan: Ryukichi
  • Canada: Kuang “Zhen”

Red Bull Kumite New York is joined by three amazing partners for 2024 including AOC as the Official Monitor Partner, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors, while PlayStation kicks into gear as the Official Console Partner. Red Bull Kumite New York will also be partnering with world-leading peripherals and accessories manufacturer, Victrix, to provide unique and accessible gear to the gaming community.

Watch Red Bull Kumite New York live on March 16 and March 17 via twitch and youtube.

Please see below for a recap:

  • Red Bull Kumite, the prestigious fighting game tournament, will take place in New York and kick off on March 16 & 17, 2024 at Brooklyn’s historic Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse
  • AOC will be this year’s official Monitor Partner, bringing exceptional visual clarity and ultra-high refresh rates to competitors. Playstation joins Red Bull Kumite for the first time as Official Console Partner with Victrix joining as official partner of peripherals.

AOC

Founded in 1967, AOC is a globally leading monitor and IT accessories brand and a subsidiary of TPV Technology Limited, the world’s largest LCD manufacturer. AOC’s comprehensive product portfolio provides innovative, ergonomic, environmentally conscious and stylish solutions for professional as well as personal applications. The sub-brand of AOC, AGON by AOC, offers one of the strongest portfolios of high-performance gaming monitors in the world and a complete ecosystem of gaming accessories grouped in three categories: AOC GAMING for core gamers, AGON for competitive gamers and AGON PRO for esports enthusiasts and professional esports players. Since 2020 AGON by AOC has been one of the leading gaming monitor brands and a top choice of gamers worldwide.For more information please refer to AGON by AOC’s official website or follow AGON by AOC on Facebook, X or Instagram.

PlayStation

PlayStation Tournaments enables gamers of all levels to compete, win prizes, and connect with others worldwide, directly from their PlayStation consoles. PS5 Tournaments are available in a diverse range of games, fostering a community where participants can showcase their skills, enjoy competitive play, and take-home incredible prizes.

Victrix

PDP Gaming is an industry leader providing high-quality licensed peripherals and accessories for all major video game platforms. PDP believes that design-forward, high-performance gear should be as unique and accessible as the gaming community itself. From beginner to professional, PDP’s product lines offer uncompromising performance and striking designs that transport gamers into seamless, immersive experiences where competition, connection, and personal expression are limitless. Victrix by PDP is purpose built for Esports athletes and enthusiasts looking for unmatched performance and competitive advantage. For over 25 years, PDP has been supplying video game peripherals and accessories to major retailers across the world, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia. For more information, visit PDP website and VICTRIXPRO website.

 

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