ESL’s First Foray Into Mobile Gaming Hardware Offers Improved Connectivity for Ultimate Tournament Play ESL Gaming, the world’s largest esports company, has launched the first ESL controller for mobile phones in a partnership with RiotPWR, the leading mobile controller developer of mobile gaming hardware. The partnership with ESL and RiotPWR kicked-off earlier in 2021 with the announcement of the Rotor Riot Controller sponsorship of ESL’s Spring Season of the ESL Premiership. The deal was brokered by digital licensing agency Tinderbox, which is a division of the global licensing agency Beanstalk. The ESL Controller is compatible with iOS and Android devices and allows pros to level up their gameplay with the highest quality mobile gaming controller on the market. The ESL Controller is wired for latency-free gameplay and uses RiotPWR’s pass… . . . read more
Analysis: Netflix Faces Tough Battle Launching Gaming Service
Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Netflix is planning a push into the video game market, with Reuters and The Guardian reporting the streaming giant intends to establish a gaming subscription service similar to Steam, Apple’s Arcade service, or Microsoft’s Game Pass. As happened with the model of renting movies on CDs, video games are now being downloaded in increasing numbers, and subscription services have become the fastest growing segment of the industry. Just as Netflix drove a spike into the heart of Blockbuster, so too are subscription gaming services taking marketshare away from struggling physical retailers like Game Stop. Now, the biggest streamer of them all appears to be getting into the act, with Reuters reporting the company is headhunting an executive to oversee its expansion into video games,… . . . read more
G FUEL Celebrates World Tetris Day With New Drink
Need a little more energy to break your Tetris high score? Fear not: The global beverage company G FUEL has you covered with a new Tetris-themed energy drink called Tetris Blast. In celebration of the Tetris brand’s 37th birthday on World Tetris Day, G FUEL announced this week it has teamed up with The Tetris Company, Inc. to drop a Tetrimino of deliciousness. G FUEL’s Tetris Blast is now available to buy at gfuel.com while supplies last. G FUEL Tetris Blast comes in powdered form as part of a limited-edition collector’s box, which includes one 40-serving tub and one 16 oz. shaker cup. G FUEL Tetris Blast will also be available to buy as a standalone 40-serving tub (for customers worldwide) and in 4-packs and 12-packs of G FUEL Cans (for customers… . . . read more
Reporters Without Borders And Minecraft Win Super REGGIE Award
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief A brilliant campaign for press freedom, forged by Reporters Without Borders – Germany and the popular video game Minecraft, has won the top prize at the 2021 ANA REGGIE Awards competition. The Super REGGIE went to Reporters Without Borders for a clever collaboration that saw the organization work with Minecraft to bypass press censorship in countries where most free media is blocked by repressive governments. Created by MediaMonks and DDB Germany, “The Uncensored Library” was designed to overcome strict censorship laws in countries where most media are blocked while also generating interest among young people about press freedom. The campaign used the computer game Minecraft to bypass censorship, because even in countries where most media is blocked, Minecraft, one of the world’s most… . . . read more
EA Tees Off On New Partnership With PGA
Electronic Arts Inc., the leading producer of sports-based video games, has entered into a sweeping partnership with the PGA of America, allowing it to portray all four of the major championships in professional golf. As well, EA’s new EA Sports PGA Tour will include members of the Team of 20 PGA Club Professionals, and will feature in-game golf tutorials inspired by real-life PGA golf coaches. The new game, debuting in Spring 2022, will be the exclusive home of all four of golf’s major championships: The Masters Tournament, PGA Championship, U.S. Open Championship and The Open Championship. Golf fans can also compete at the biggest PGA TOUR events, as they strive to build a legendary career. EA SPORTS is partnering with the PGA of America to allow players to virtually experience… . . . read more
Aconyte Publishing Novels Inspired by Marvel, Assassin’s Creed
The newly launched Aconyte Books says it’s publishing a new series of novels inspired by Marvel’s hit tabletop miniatures game Crisis Protocol, and a series based on the Assassin’s Creed video game series. Aconyte is the novels division of Asmodee Entertainment, created last year to deliver on the Asmodee slogan: “Great games, amazing stories!”, and to create new content to be leveraged on further entertainment platforms. Unlike many publishing houses, Aconyte focuses very tightly on becoming a “go-to partner” for tie-in fiction, inspired by the world’s most popular brands. To helm the imprint, Asmodee Entertainment has hired Marc Gascoigne, formerly the publisher & Managing Director of award-winning global sci-fi imprint Angry Robot. The team works in the UK, and began publishing last summer for the US, UK and export markets. As well… . . . read more
Roblox Star Signed By Semaphore
As video gaming overtakes film and television in popularity, agencies and licensors are increasingly hiring on gaming celebrities to promote their brands. That’s the case with Megan ‘Megan Plays’ Letter, who has just joined the growing talent portfolio within Semaphore, a US brand and licensing management company. Recognized as a superstar by Roblox playing kids, Megan Plays, has 3.5 million subscribers on her YouTube Channel, 3.1 million fans on TikTok and over 1.4 million followers on Roblox. Megan Plays was also recently featured in Forbes, sharing how she has been able to turn her new media hobby into a seven figure salary in a 5-6 year time frame. Megan Plays is the first Roblox star in Semaphore’s portfolio of talent, and the company says she “is among the powerful female group… . . . read more
Channel Your Inner Monster, With Godzilla Mobile Game
The cinematic monster Godzilla has been on quite a tear this year, starring in the most successful box office movie during the pandemic, boasting an exploding licensing channel, and now releasing an exciting new mobile video game from Toho Games called Godzilla Destruction. Set for release on April 27, Godzilla Destruction is touted as an exciting and easy-to-play mobile game where players become the King of the Monsters himself and embark on a global rampage. Players control Godzilla with the tap of a finger to crush historical buildings in cities across the globe. In the new promotional video, Godzilla can be seen using his humongous body and devastating heat ray to topple major buildings around the world like toy blocks. The promotional video gives fans a taste of the exhilarating… . . . read more
MGA Entertainment Developing Mobile Games With Riva Technology
The international toy maker MGA Entertainment, best known for its Bratz and LOL Surprise line of fashion dolls, has announced another key move as the company increasingly moves into the digital realm. MGA says it has signed a series of brand licensing deals with game developer Riva Technology and Entertainment to develop a number of new mobile games, based on LOL Surprise and MGA’s newest property, Rainbow High. MGA says it’s all part of a broader plan to increase its presence in digital media. In December, for example, MGA signed a deal with Animoca brands to develop and publish a Bratz blockchain game named Bratz Lookz. The deal would also see development of a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Bratz mini-games, and digital Bratz collectibles, starting with a digital Bratz Card… . . . read more
Wildbrain CPLG Powers Up For Brawl Stars Partnership
New deal for hit mobile gaming brand extends agency’s partnership with rights holder LINE FRIENDS. WildBrain CPLG, one of the world’s leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies, has secured a multi-territory representation deal for the popular online mobile game Brawl Stars with the brand’s global rights holder LINE FRIENDS. The deal marks an extension of WildBrain CPLG’s existing partnership with LINE FRIENDS for character brands BROWN & FRIENDS and BT21. On behalf of LINE FRIENDS, WildBrain CPLG will represent Brawl Stars across the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Iberia, Benelux, Nordics, CEE, Greece, Turkey, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The licensing program will be aimed at fans of all ages, and key target categories include apparel, accessories, toy, homewares and stationery. “We’ve established a very successful partnership with LINE FRIENDS… . . . read more