All results
Los Angeles-based video game company Riot Games is shedding light on the importance of representation in the workplace. The company, which is best known for some of the world’s most popular games like League of Legends and VALORANT, is also attempting to become the industry leader in diversity and inclusion (D&I). One way they’re doing so is providing a safe space for Black Rioters to come together and share their experiences in the gaming industry in a community-like environment through Riot Games’ Black ERG, Riot Noir. Members of Riot Noir spoke with AfroTech about how they entered the industry, their experience working with Riot, and their aspirations for the next generation of game developers. “As Black people, we spend so much of our day as the only one,” says Jahmeilah Roberson, Senior UX designer at Riot Games. “In gaming, on top of being the only Black person, I may be the only woman in a day’s worth of meetings. So, connecting with other people who understand the nuances of...
It’s no secret that the eSports industry has been on a steady climb to the top these past several years. What began as small competitions between gamers has become a nearly billion-dollar industry. By 2022, the market is set to hit $1.79 billion, according to estimates from Newzoo. While most of the attention is on the games, teams, and growth of the industry, there are still other aspects of the eSports industry that entrepreneurs who are looking for an entry point to consider. 1. Sponsorship Streamers and Pro-Gaming teams need someone to pay for travel, entry fees, equipment, etc., in turn, they wear the company’s logo and build brand awareness. 2. Apparel Sports fans love to wear their favorite team’s logo, and eSports is no different. For example, Jinx.com — established in 1999 — was initially a place for hackers and geek-themed clothing, now it carries lines of clothing and apparel for gamers Anne Munition and Shroud . 3. Equipment Sites such as Newegg.com and BestBuy.com have...
PlayVS, the startup bringing esports leagues to high schoolers, has raised $50 million in its Series C funding round. The Santa Monica-based company gained heavy traction last year when it raised $15 million and $30 million in consecutive funding rounds. Parents may see Fortnite, NBA 2K and other hit games as a distraction to their kids, but video games are opening opportunities for teenagers that previous generations can only imagine. At least 20 colleges and universities in the U.S. now have varsity esports teams and PlayVS wants to get high schoolers ready for the leagues. Institutions like Hampton University are also building out curriculums to offer esports as a concentration. The esports market is set to hit a market value of more than $1 million this year and companies like PlayVS could ensure that the industry is lucrative for years to come. PlayVS is a platform looking to regulate high school esports, providing structure to an otherwise loosely controlled gaming...
Apple’s gaming service, Apple Arcade is set to be one of the company’s most successful recent announcements. Apple has been making plans for a new television streaming service and news service. The company will also be splitting iTunes up into separate platforms focused on music and podcasts. Apple Arcade — a $500 million investment for the company — will launch this fall with exclusive game offerings. The service won’t have microtransactions, ads, or ad tracking. Sonic Racing, LEGO Brawls and a range of more than 100 other games will be featured on the platform. The games will be accessible on mobile devices, desktops and more. “The App Store is the world’s biggest and most successful game platform,” Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Phil Schiller, said in a statement. “Now we are going to take games even further with Apple Arcade, the first game subscription service for mobile, desktop and the living room.” Apple has already dished out $1 billion on its TV+...