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Entain and Verizon partner to focus on VR and live streaming of sports and esports events

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Entain – formally known as GVC Holdings – and Verizon Media – a new partner of Twitch Rivals North America – will get into bed to develop trailblazing immersive VR experiences that aim to combine live sporting events with interactive gaming. In a nutshell, users will be able to experience live sporting events, socialise through various platforms, check information and wager bets across Entain services. This would include eSports events too!

This project has been born out of research conducted by YouGov for Entain. The findings showed that technology is heavily shaping consumer behaviour within the entertainment and gambling space, globally.

With Entain’s success from their online casino portfolio throughout 2020 bolstered by record numbers from leading online brand, PartyCasino, the switch from land-based locations to online platforms is a cornerstone for their 10-year success plan – and something this partnership will help come to fruition.

Entain and Verizon Partner Up

But this isn’t where the partnerships start or end.

This new VR collaboration will build on a relationship on projects between BetMGM (a project Entain are part of in the USA) and Yahoo Sports (part of Verizon Media). And in the future, Entain and Verizon Media will collaborate to produce concepts and new formats utilising emerging tech, such as more virtual reality, 5G connectivity, augmented reality and online gambling.

The overarching goal of the partnership is to create innovative ways for sports fans to live stream events but make them more realistic from other locations, such as transporting them to the stadium or arena and allow them to place bets as they stream. There are even murmurs of using the tech to enable fans to participate in play. And all of this will become available for eSports fans too, as directed by the research… 

Catapulted by YouGov Research

The exciting and revolutionary project has been devised off the back of YouGov research explicitly conducted for Entain. The research uncovered that entertainment and gaming is converging on an array of device types and becoming more interactive. More often than not, it has been combined with social media channels, which increases the excitement of the game, stream or other forms of entertainment.

The research also dived into the most active demographics of these types of entertainment technologies. In all markets, males between the age of 25 and 39 were the most likely to use the technology and services first, especially when it comes to eSports and gaming. The research discovered that most eSports fans used social media and enjoyed betting, making the proposed project ideal for this niche in gaming. Similar promising results were found in sports away from eSports and within older demographics.

The data has helped shape the Entain and Verizon partnership and add currency to its value.

Tragik disqualified from COD Mobile tournament for “shooting bodies”

Esports is no stranger to teabagging and BM in general, however, a little drama and spice are always appreciated by the viewers as long as it stays within the bounds of friendly banter.

Teabagging or BM(bad manners) is an unconventional way to assert your dominance or a moment of brilliance by looking down upon your opponents. While fans appreciate a little banter, unsportsmanlike behavior is off the limits. Teabagging is often subjected to penalization but disqualification without any prior warning is something unheard of.

Jim, a professional COD Mobile player for Tragik pulled off an incredible 1v3, much needed to keep his team in the tournament, which explains his excitement that he showed by shooting the dead bodies of the players on the receiving end of the clutch. However, shortly after, the stream cut directly to the casters as Tragik was disqualified and a free win was awarded to their opponents for “unsportsmanlike conduct.”.

The COD Mobile esports community wasn’t shy to show their disagreement with the decision of tournament organizers and for good reason. Teabagging is generally countered with a warning from the TO, but a direct disqualification is unprecedented, as teams who were involved in similar behavior were left with a warning.

Tragik Pearl, the team manager later clarified that none of the admins warned them against the possibility of a disqualification, not to mention the tournament rule book didn’t mention shooting dead bodies would result in disqualification.

Several pro players and the community, in general, have spoken against the controversial disqualification of Tragik, now it’s up to the TO to come up with a public statement that remedies the situation.

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Best VR Games 2021

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Virtual Reality has been gaining traction over the last few years thanks to affordable VR headsets and media that are intriguing enough for people to dip into next-level entertainment and experience something out of this world, literally.

Here are some of the best games that VR has to offer, and these games range from first-person shooters, puzzles, and even exploration. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a VR Headset on PC (HTC Vive, Valve Index, Oculus Rift) or PlayStation VR (with PSVR 2 on the horizon, we can expect some of these titles to be compatible with it too), you’ll find something on this list to scratch your Virtual Reality itch.

Beat Saber

At this point, playing Beat Saber is a tradition for first-time VR users due to its simplicity. Beat Saber is a rhythm-based game where players have to slash cubes using their ‘lightsabers’ in accordance with the music’s beat.

The game is honestly a decent workout, especially if you like to dance to your playlist but you can also play it seated, but where’s the fun in that? Beat Saber is available on Windows, PlayStation VR, and Oculus Quest.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard VR

Sorry PC users, Sony’s keeping this one. Biohazard manages to encapsulate horror elements in wonderful ways, until you snap out of it as the game’s visuals have been sacrificed for performance and Ethan’s arms keep floating around on the screen, which is honestly quite uncomfortable and can make players feel like a spectator, rather than feeling like Ethan himself. 

On the bright side, Biohazard is still wonderful thanks to its well-placed jump scares and set pieces, but it has been held back by PlayStation 4’s aging hardware.

Biohazard also has the privilege of being one of the first Triple-A games that is entirely playable on VR, which is no small feat and is definitely an essential experience, especially if you’re a PSVR owner.

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Superhot VR

A game where you die if you don’t stop and think about your next step as time moves when you do. Set entirely in slow motion, Superhot VR is a first-person shooter that mixes puzzle elements with bullet-time and forces you to adapt objects near you into weapons. 

Unlike the original Superhot, the VR version lets you dodge enemies’  bullets and maneuver enough to take cover behind objects which in itself is quite an immersive experience. You can grab Superhot VR for Windows, PSVR, and Oculus Quest.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR

One of the best RPG games that has been ported to almost every device known to mankind, Skyrim is perhaps one of the biggest VR games due to the amount of exploration it offers; the game also contains both Dawnguard, Dragonborn, and Hearthfire DLCs.

 Players can experience Tamriel up close in this version of Skyrim and the combat feels more personal thanks to the inclusion of motion controls. Though its movement system is a bit janky as it relies on pointing and teleporting, which might break players’ immersion. Skyrim VR is available on Windows and PSVR.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

This game of four players will truly test your friendships and patience as your goal is to defuse a bomb by clear communication. Players are split into two groups where one player (Defuser) is tasked with defusing a bomb and the rest of the players (Experts) will have to read a manual on how to defuse it. Taking too long or making multiple mistakes will eventually cause the bomb to detonate. You can find Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes on Windows, PSVR, and Oculus Quest.

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Free Fire Redeem Code 23 May 2021

Garena has released some redeem codes for Free Fire for the Indian region only where players can earn some vouchers for free. These codes will be restricted to a single region and others can not redeem them. The codes give Diamond Royale Voucher, Weapon Royale voucher, and an incubator voucher.

Free Fire redeem codes are special codes that can be used to unlock several items for free in-game. They are not released on a regular basis hence coming across a working code is very hard. Garena releases such code only when there is a special occasion and this time, they have released a code for the Indian region.

Players belonging to Indian region can get three vouchers for free. They can be used to get free spins in-game and you can follow the steps given below to get the items.

  • Free Fire India Redeem Code For Today: ESX24ADSGM4K

HOW TO REDEEM FREE FIRE REWARDS

If you don’t know how to redeem codes in Free Fire, follow these simple steps to recieve the rewards:

  • Visit the Reward Redemption center of Garena Free Fire. Click here to visit.
  • Log in with your Free Fire account. One must have either Facebook or Google ID signed in as a Guest account does not work.
  • Enter the code ESX24ADSGM4K in the box to unlock the rewards.
  • You will receive the items in your in-game mailbox.

This code is only valid for a single day so make sure to get the items before time runs out. Remember that it is only redeemable for players belonging to the ID server and hence, others may get a pop-up error if they try to redeem this code.

What Is the Value of the Esports Industry in 2021?

The concept of Esports was a pipe dream a decade or so ago. Today, it’s quickly turning into one of the most lucrative industries in the world. Valued at more than £1 billion according to the likes of Business Insider, it has the potential to challenge the traditional giants and take them on at their own game. It’s no wonder classic sports are nervously glancing over their shoulders.

The great thing about the sector is that it has room for growth, with an even bigger valuation expected by 2023. With no signs of the market slowing, it’s time to ask why Esports are so popular?

The Rise of Spectator Esports

It’s not only people actively playing that boost the industry’s numbers – it’s the spectators that gladly watch from the sidelines as professionals compete against one another. While it may seem counterproductive, the truth is that there are levels to player’s skills because some pros can do things normal users can only dream of.

Also, the improvement of gaming infrastructure means that there are tons of platforms for audiences to watch the latest action, making the sector incredibly accessible. Factor in the role of YouTube and Twitch – TechCrunch says both brands have daily users in the millions – and it’s not hard to see why Esports have skyrocketed in popularity and value in a short time frame.

Gambling Markets

Esports share similarities with regular sports. One of the best examples of this is the Formula One gaming championship, because it attracts the attention of real-life drivers such as Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Lando Norris. However, this isn’t the only area in which the two sectors overlap.

Esports are profitable for bookmakers and betting companies, which means new markets have been created to appeal to people who like to add excitement to the experience. Thanks to the crossover between sportsbooks and online casino games, there is now a customer base that enjoys placing a wager during live events – which is something that platforms such as Comeon casino leverage with expertise. It’s not much different from sports betting habits, which probably explains why the markets are so profitable.

Free-to-Play Platforms

When you look at the industry, you will instantly notice that traditional titles and releases don’t dominate. Instead, free-to-play games are at the top of the market and don’t appear to be going anywhere soon. For example, the biggest tournaments center around the likes of Leagues of Legends or Counter-Strike.

The reason for this is that they are much easier to develop because there isn’t the same concern regarding costs and return on investment. That’s why free-to-play titles are the fastest-growing category in gaming in the past 15 years. For Esports, this means that there is a fresh influx of releases to cash in on through a variety of channels every year.

Mobile Devices

Mobile trends have evolved dramatically in recent years, leading most gamers to prefer to play via their smartphones and tablets rather than on a console. Today, there are around 2.7 billion gamers on the planet, the majority of which are mobile users.

The fact that Esports are mobile-friendly, unlike console games, showcases why the sector’s expansion hasn’t been coincidental. Thanks to the platforms they use, Esports are widely accessible across the board, since devices and internet connections are ten a penny.

All the above is why Esports are worth a projected £1 billion+ in 2021, and why the valuation is expected to continue to rise for the next decade.

Top Esports Events On The Horizon This Year

Esports are getting more popular with every passing year, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the top events command considerable audiences. Fans want to keep up with the latest developments, whether that involves contenders who usurp the reigning champs or updates that take the gameplay to the next level.

2021 is no different in terms of the demand for events, with some spectators estimating that thousands of guests will arrive to watch what the entrants have to offer. What are they and what are ones to look out for? Continue reading to learn more.

Hearthstone Masters Tour

Hearthstone, an online collectible card game by Blizzard Entertainment, hasn’t been around for very long. However, an Esports version quickly became available for professional players, and the inaugural edition was launched in 2013. Eight years later, the Masters Tour is incredibly competitive, since around 400 competitors will vie for a share of a $250,000 prize pool and the chance to call themselves the champion of champions.

Two rounds have already been played, but Play Hearthstone reports that there are still four more legs to go before a winner is crowned. Considering that 48 grandmasters are attempting to land the crown as the world’s best Hearthstone gamer, there’s a lot of twists and turns left to go where this event is concerned.

2021 eChampions League

It wouldn’t be Esports without a competition that reflected the traditional sporting world, and the 2021 eChampions League is the perfect combination for gamers and classic supporters. Not only does the gameplay mirror what you’d find on real pitches, but some add-ons enhance the exciting and authentic experience.

For example, football Esports’ betting markets are very popular, just like normal sportsbooks. So, it’s not a revelation that platforms such as Mobilebet are providing customers with fantastic value. The great thing about the 2021 edition is that the final will take place on May 28th, one day before Manchester City and Chelsea compete for the title of champions of Europe.

LCS 2021 Summer

If football is integral to Esports, then League of Legends is the jewel in the crown that created the basis for an entire genre. Quite simply, LoL is part of the reason why Yahoo! predicts the Esports sector to experience a CAGR increase of 20% between now and 2026. The market is still in its growing phase, yet if LoL is anything to go by, there is nothing to worry about regarding the health of the industry.

LCS 2021 Season is a pro event in North America that takes place annually. This year, it will kick-off at the beginning of June and end in August, with ten teams hoping to finish the tournament as the victors.

The International

The most significant event in the gaming calendar, The International always has massive audiences that expect to see the best of the best compete in a clash of the titans. Hosted by Valve, Dota 2 players will hope to split the lion’s share of $40 million, with 18 teams entering in total.

With so much on the line, it won’t shock you to hear that the battles can be fierce. Therefore, the live event, or the live stream if you can’t get your hands on a ticket, is certainly full of tension and well worth watching.

With several excellent Esports events available this year, which ones will you tune in to?

Mobile Legends Strategy To Become Undefeatable

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Everyone is developing more Mobile Legends tips than most gamers can handle. If you try to apply every guide you find online, it’ll become a confusing mess, and you may end up losing more than you win. That’s why we’ve decided to craft the ultimate Mobile Legends strategy towards becoming an undefeatable champion.

Think Strategically, Play Seriously

While most casual players will think of Mobile Legends as a mere game, you shouldn’t. If you take it seriously with the intention to win every time, eventually, you’ll become unstoppable. Enter the game with the fury of the gods, ready to smite them with your impenetrable strategy.

Watch For Monthly Hero Updates

Every month, the developers released updates for heroes that include unique buffs and skills. These items make specific characters more powerful than others, which means you can eliminate those that are unaware.

Master the Hero Roles

Each hero has a class in which they specialize, and that needs to be your primary focus. Assassins level up as they kill, while tanks can endure massive amounts of damage. Ensure that you master each of these abilities to claim the best Mobile Legends strategy.

Craft the Ultimate Hero Build

When you add armor, weapons, and items to a hero, you can develop a build for that hero. There are some predefined builds that increase stats like healing and attack damage. However, be brave enough to form your own one that’ll make the hero invincible.

Match Up With Professionals

Finally, take advantage of the fact that Mobile Legends is a team game. If everyone plays their roles effectively, you’ll have an unbeatable team. Match up with professionals who have a large number of wins under the belt, and you’ll be assured of victory.

Become an Undefeatable Legend

Taking on the world in online tournaments can be daunting. You’ll face players who have years of experience, waiting to wipe the battleground clean with you. However, you can defeat even the most potent gamer if you have the right Mobile Legends strategy. Here’s a toast to the future king of this MOBA title.

PMPL Arabia 2021 SW1 Day 3: Recap, Overall Standings, Results

The final day of the PMPL Arabia Season 1: Super weekend Week 1 ended with Falcons Esport leading the standings with 196 points. The team managed to take 81 kills out of the 15 matches. The squad also got the highest placement points (115) which helped them to retain a lead of 30 points from the second leaderboard topper.

Zombies Esports finished at the 2nd spot with 166 points including the 95 kill points. The squad was the highest kill points leader of the Super Weekend week 1. The third spot on the leaderboard was taken by GUNZ Esport with 164 points.

Super weekend points will decide the League Stage overall standings of PUBG Mobile Pro League Arabia Season 1. After three weeks of play, the top 16 teams will qualify for PMPL Arabia Season 1 finals.

PMPL Arabia 2021: Super Weekend Week 1 Day 3 Match Wise Summary

MATCH 1

Zombies Esports kept their domination in the first match of the day 3 super weekend 1. They finished at the number two position on the points table with 10 kills. Whereas SUDOR Esports took the first chicken dinner of the day with 10 kills. The match was played on Erangel where the first circle was formed slightly towards the northwest part of the map. The first squad to get eliminated was Team RA’AD while Falcons Esport secured 3rd position with 7 kills.

MATCH 2

The second match of the day was played in Miramar, where Team RA’AD made a massive comeback and secured a chicken dinner for them with 13 kills. The squad turned the table upside down and dominated throughout the game. Falcons Esport was at its peak performance and took the second spot in the points table with 5 points. Till the completion of game 2, Falcons Esport was leading the standings with a decent points difference.

MATCH 3

The only match of the day which was played on Sanhok was conquered by GUNZ Esport. But the spotlight of the match was taken away by Zombies Esports. The squad finished at 3rd position in the game but climbed up to the top spot in the standings due to a massive 15 kills game. The team owned the complete battleground and took on every team out of their way with ease. SUDOR Esports finished at number three spot with 17 kills.

MATCH 4

In the fourth match of the final day, Hotline Esports won the chicken dinner with 7 kills. Alpha Legends were the highest kill leaders of the match with 9 kills and secured the second spot in the standing, followed by Flare Royal Team with 6 kills.

MATCH 5

Flare Royal Team used their momentum of the previous match and completely dominated the final game of Super Weekend 1. The team got a massive 17 kills. Falcons Esport took a total of 22 points with 10 kills. Though SUDOR Esports finished at 4th position in the game but climbed up to 3rd spot in the standings due to 5 kills.

PMPL Arabia 2021: Super weekend Week 1 Day 3 Overall Standings

  • Falcons Esports – 196 Points
  • Zombies Esports – 166 Points
  • GUNZ ESPORT – 164 Points
  • ALPHA Legends – 151 Points
  • Rico Infinity Team – 140 Points
  • NASR Esports – 117 Points
  • Sudor Esports -116 Points
  • Road To Glory Esports – 116 Points
  • RAAD Esports – 104 Points
  • iKURD E-SPORTS – 104 Points
  • Flare Loyal Team – 89 Points
  • YaLLa Esports  – 80 Points
  • HOTLINE Esports – 77 Points
  • Real Tiger9 – 59 Points
  • SCYTES Esports  – 58 Points
  • ARAB GSG –  53 Points

With the completion of Super Weekend 1, all 20 teams will enter into the week 2 league stage. Each team will play a total of matches 8 a week, every Tuesday & Wednesday (each day 4 matches). Out of which, the top 16 teams will qualify for Super Weekend 2.

Grandmaster Niemann under fire for not paying $5 charity tournament fee

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Twitch stream and Grandmaster Hans Niemann is under fire by his fans for not playing a mere $5 entry fee for the registration of a charity tournament.

Chess has seen a massive rise in popularity in recent times and several streamers have benefitted from it, including Grandmaster Hans Niemann. Being one of the top players on Twitch earned him the respect of all Chess fans on the platform but he is on the verge of losing it all by refusing to pay a mere $5 as entry fees for a charity tournament.

During his live stream from New York, Niemannwas made aware of the charity tournament. His interest grew until it came down to the entry fees. Despite sounding confident, Niemannwas unwilling to pay the entry fee as he believes in an unwritten mandate that Grandmasters do not pay an entry fee.

“Grandmasters don’t pay entry fee, man!” he said. “That’s a thing!” “My eight years of work to Grandmaster means nothing then,” he added. “It should mean a free entry because that’s what every tournament organizer does.”

“Half the proceeds are donated to charity!” replied the Tournament organizer.

“I didn’t know it was charity, but still. It’s just a matter of respect,” replied Niemann.

It is self-explanatory that why fans were very disappointed with his behavior, especially when it was a small amount, that too for charity purposes. The Grandmaster dismissed all claims highlighting the lack of respect shown to him. There are no further proceeding in the drama as of late, but more to follow when goes live again.

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Destiny 2 is getting Crossplay beta next week

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After accidentally enabling (& disabling) crossplay last week between PC and Xbox players where players on both platforms were able to play Strikes and Crucible game modes together, Bungie had originally revealed their plans to bring Crossplay last year in December, and earlier this week, they officially announced a beta update for players on PlayStation, Xbox, Stadia and Steam to test crossplay on across all platforms.

From May 25 to May 25, PC players can team up in special Vanguard Strikes with fellow Destiny players on Xbox and PlayStation, and playing three strikes will grant them a unique ‘Star Crossed’ emblem.

Considering that this feature is still in its infancy, crossplay features will be limited and players won’t be able to add each other nor they can create Fireteams if they’re on different platforms, crossplay will be limited to a single matchmade Vanguard Strikes activity and you won’t have to go out of your way to sign-up as all players will get access to the Beta Strikes.

Destiny 2 is also getting the iconic ‘Vault of Glass’ raid soon on May 22, 2021, at 10 AM PDT (1700 UTC).

https://twitter.com/Professorbroman/status/1394391627347677187

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