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.
This week on the ESI Digest, we cover EXCEL’s major brand update, Vikkstar becoming London Royal Ravens’ co-owner, Cloud9’s latest PUMA collaboration, Hector Rodriguez reacquiring OpTic Gaming, plus Envy Gaming’s membership programme.
EXCEL ESPORTS unveils brand update with new logo and ‘Power of Better’ ethos
EXCEL ESPORTS has unveiled a complete brand revamp as the UK-based organisation introduces a new logo and its ‘Power of Better’ vision.
According to the release, the new visual update is designed to highlight EXCEL’s evolution as an esports organisation since launching in 2014. Moreover, its Power of Better mantra has been described as a “commitment to improve in everything it does” whilst also providing a positive impact on the esports and gaming community.
ReKTGlobal announces Vikkstar as London Royal Ravens co-owner
Esports infrastructure company ReKTGlobal has announced the addition of popular streamer Vikram “Vikkstar” Singh Barn as a co-owner of the London Royal Ravens.
The London-based Youtube personality will serve as the face of the Call of Duty League franchise, with a variety of content and activation plans in the works.
Hector Rodriguez reacquires OpTic Gaming, rebrands CDL franchise
NRG Co-owner and CEO Hector “H3CZ” Rodriguez has reacquired OpTic Gaming from Immortals Gaming Club (IGC), having originally sold his majority share of the organisation in 2017.
The announcement of the acquisition comes following the sale of IGC’s Call of Duty League (CDL) franchise slot, OpTic Gaming Los Angeles, to 100 Thieves.
Cloud9 expands PUMA collaboration with footwear launch
North American esports organisation Cloud9 has once again collaborated with sportswear firm PUMA to launch its latest line of apparel and debut its new footwear collection.
For the first time, PUMA footwear silhouettes will be apart of Cloud9’s latest collaboration with the Future Rider, RS-X and AGF (Active Gaming Footwear) all donning the esports organisation’s branding. In particular, AGF has been described to deliver “comfort, support and grip engineered to adapt to different active gaming modes with its sock-like fit”.
Envy Gaming launches ‘EnvyUS’ membership programme
North American organisation Envy Gaming, the parent company of Team Envy, Overwatch League franchise Dallas Fuel, and Call of Duty League franchise Dallas Empire, has launched a membership programme called ‘EnvyUS‘.
The name plays homage to Envy’s original team, EnVyUs, originally founded in 2017. Members can sign up for a free Silver plan to receive exclusive content or the Gold plan for $29.95 (£22.70) per year. The Gold plan offers exclusive perks such as discounts, giveaways, access to the members-only Discord server, and ‘direct Team Envy access’.
ESI Digest is part of ESI 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.
