Here’s our latest weekly Newsflash roundup, where we cover a host of esports and gaming news in an informal, bitesize nature for you to digest.
Newcastle United Foundation announces esports education push
Newcastle United Foundation has teamed up with Newcastle College to offer students the Esports BTEC qualifications from Pearson and the British Esports Association.
Legends of Runeterra World Championship announced as UK player reaches top 32 in Seasonal
64 players from each of the Americas, Europe and Asia as well as several ranked and seasonal tournament participants will compete for seats in the Legends of Runeterra World Championship finals and a $200,000 prize pool, starting this September.
Elsewhere in Riot’s digital card game, UK player Spaiikz reached the top 32 in the latest Seasonal.
Fnatic beat Liquid to win Valorant finals
Last weekend, Fnatic’s Valorant team triumphed in the European Champions Tour Stage 2 Challengers 2 final.
They beat Team Liquid in the final, who, like Fnatic, also have UK players.
Fnatic got the win just days after changing their roster, with tsack and Moe40 leaving, and Derke and Magnum stepping in.
SureFire launches new headsets, targets esports and Minecraft fans
SureFire, the specialist gaming brand from Verbatim Europe, has launched two news headsets: the Harrier 360 Surround Sound Gaming Headset and the Skirmish Gaming Headset (pictured).
The two headsets are part of the new SureFire product range that includes external SSDs and hard drives, gaming mice, mice pads, speakers, keyboards and other gaming accessories.
Promoted interview: SureFire interview and exclusive look at new gaming range including external SSDs (the 52-year-old data storage company moving into esports)
New agency-only UK esports league launches
Teams from B2B agencies will compete in tournaments across FIFA 21 and Call of Duty: Warzone to fight for bragging rights and raise money for their chosen charities.
“Many agencies are considering the impact remote working has on the mental wellbeing of their staff. They’re wondering how to preserve company culture or provide alternative social options in a remote-first world. We’re providing one solution to that.” said Giorgio Cassella, founder of Agency Esports.
Agencies can register online at agencyesports.com.
Royal Ravens reveal signing
The London Royal Ravens, ReKTGlobal’s Call of Duty League franchise team and top-four finisher in the inaugural CDL season, announced the signing of US player Alex ‘Zaptius’ Bonilla to their starting lineup. He joined on a short-term contract for the start of the Call of Duty League Stage III.
Bonilla replaced Northern Irish player Thomas ‘Dylan’ Henderson on the starting roster, and joined from Call of Duty Challengers team WestR.
Excel announce Sony partnership
UK org Excel Esports named Sony as its Official Smartphone Supplier for Fortnite. The partnership will see Sony work closely with UK Fortnite prodigy and Excel player Jaden ‘Wolfiez’ Ashman to showcase the capabilities of its flagship Xperia smartphones with a selection of content pieces.
Jack Grealish scissor kicks a grenade in star-studded Warzone trailer
Call of Duty Season Three has launched, sending players back to 1984 and the Cold War in Warzone, with a revised map.
Stars from hip hop, gaming and sport were featured in the trailer, directed by Gibson Hazard, including AJ Tracey, Dennis Schroder, Druski, Gunna, Jack Grealish, Jack Harlow, Michelle Viscusi, Mookie Betts, Nadeshot, Rocky No Hands, Saweetie, Swae Lee and Young Thug.
The game also recently passed the 100m-player mark.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
