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.
On this week’s ESI Digest, we cover Fnatic’s $17m funding round, the LCS Players Association’s new leadership team, FlyQuest’s rebranding, Betway partnering with FURIA, and Harry Maguire joining Semper Fortis Esports.
This edition of the ESI Digest is in partnership with REELY.
Fnatic closes $17m funding round led by Marubeni
London-based esports organisation Fnatic announced that it has raised $17m (~£12m) in a new investment round led by the Japanese conglomerate, Marubeni Corporation.
The investment includes a strategic partnership between the two organisations that will support Fnatic’s expansion into the Japanese and Asia-Pacific esports markets. As a result of the funding round, Fnatic will relocate its Rainbow Six: Siege team to Japan.
LCS Players Association announces new leadership team
NA LCS Players Association (LCS PA) has announced its new leadership team, with Phillip Aram, formerly of Evil Geniuses, appointed as the association’s new Executive Director.
Moreover, the LCS PA’s new Board of Directors includes Stephen Ellis, the CEO of Pipeline, Theorycraft’s Founder & Partner, Lauren Gaba Flanagan, and Jason Docton, Rise Above the Disorder’s CEO, among others.
FlyQuest unveils rebranding ahead of LCS Summer Split
North American esports organisation FlyQuest has unveiled a new visual identity ahead of the 2021 LCS Summer Split.
FlyQuest’s new logo looks to heavily lean into its ‘Showcase Greatness’ vision that was implemented in 2020. This saw FlyQuest launch its ‘Go Green’ initiative, which led to environmental campaigns such as TreeQuest, SeaQuest, WorldQuest, and BeeQuest being integrated into the organisation.
Betway strengthens presence in Brazil with FURIA partnership
Online bookmaker Betway has announced a partnership with Brazilian esports organisation FURIA.
Through this partnership, fans can anticipate international cross collaborations, including content and activations across BetwayTV, the bookmaker’s streaming platform. Moreover, FURIA will receive access to Betway’s partners in Brazil and globally.
Harry Maguire named Semper Fortis Esports ambassador
Manchester United and England defender Harry Maguire has been appointed as the latest brand ambassador of UK-based organisation Semper Fortis Esports.
In his new role, Maguire will interact with fans across digital platforms alongside providing his ‘experience in traditional sports’ to apply it to an esports organisation. The defender will be paid through warrants that will enable him to purchase shares in Semper Fortis Esports after a 12-month period.
ESI Digest, in partnership with Reely.ai, is part of the ESI Podcast 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.