Latest news with #Valorant
The Verge
a day ago
- Business
- The Verge
Riot turns to sports betting to help fund its esports leagues
As the esports industry searches for new sources of revenue, Riot Games has opened up its League of Legends and Valorant esports leagues to sports betting sponsorships. The decision will permit tier one organizations – or the highest level of professional players – in the North and South America and European esports leagues of Valorant and LoL to secure paid sponsorships from sports betting companies, a previously prohibited category of sponsor. According to Riot, the reason for this change is because it's what the players and esports organizations have been asking for. 'We agreed it was time to open up this category to create more revenue opportunities for teams,' wrote John Needham, president of publishing and esports at Riot Games. There was a time in esports history when sponsorship dollars flowed in, generating lots of revenue for game publishers and enabling organizations to pay players salaries in the millions of dollars. Esports was seen as an investment vehicle, with media corporations and even traditional sports companies investing their dollars in hopes of capitalizing on what was then an untapped but steadily growing market. One of the most famous examples, Activision Blizzard's Overwatch League, sold franchise slots for tens of millions of dollars to investors like New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Comcast. But the comparatively small revenue these leagues generate in conjunction with the high costs to run them, combined with the general economic downturn of the covid-19 pandemic, meant that companies could not get a return on their investments and began pulling their money out. It's forced esports organizations and esports game publishers alike to find new ways to pay players and staff or risk shuttering entirely, as the Overwatch League has. Over the last few years, Riot has changed how its esports leagues have worked to better weather what's being called the 'esports winter' or general contraction of the esports industry. The LoL league ecosystem has gotten smaller, thereby eliminating some teams' financial burden of participating (it costs $10 million dollars to have a slot) while also reducing Riot's financial responsibilities via its revenue sharing agreement with partnered teams. The addition of new categories of sponsors is the company's latest attempt to bring sustainability to its corner of the struggling esports scene. And sports betting companies are well-poised to fill that funding gap. While gambling sites aren't the only game in town if your esport needs money, they are some of the best paying. (Even The Verge is not immune with Vox Media displaying ads for gambling companies on its sites and podcasts.) Stake is an infamously known quantity in the video game streaming ecosystem, throwing eye-watering sums of cash at the most popular streamers to either make content on their own platform (Stake owns livestreaming site and Twitch competitor Kick) or to gamble on stream to their millions of viewers. Until now, Riot has prohibited its esports partner organizations from taking sponsorships from gambling companies. But the publisher says its guidelines can help implement the new type of sponsorship in a 'responsible' way with guidelines for teams and Riot to follow. These guidelines include Riot vetting all potential betting sponsors, teams adhering to an integrity program, and the prohibition of gambling ads on team jerseys or official Riot broadcasts. The formal inclusion of sports betting comes with significant risk to both competitive and moral integrity. Kids and young adults watch these streams, as well as the media around them. While Riot is not letting gambling companies put their logos on jerseys or the official broadcasts, the media around its esport is likely to become even more inundated with offers for gambling. This is what we've already seen with programming and podcasts focused on traditional sports like the NBA and NFL in the years since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was overturned in 2018. There have also already been allegations of and investigations into match fixing in both League of Legends and Valorant esports, with Riot recently banning two players from Riot competitions for three years. The addition of sports betting sponsorship – which could become a significant if not main source of revenue for many teams – has the potential to exacerbate existing competitive integrity issues as well as open up a potential avenue of harassment for players. With esports revenues still comparatively low, the industry has been getting increasingly desperate for any new sources of funding. Riot has already faced criticism for participating in events funded by Saudi Arabia as a part of the country's longstanding sportswashing strategy. Riot's inclusion of sports betting for League of Legends and Valorant will likely be no less controversial.
Geek Culture
5 days ago
- Sport
- Geek Culture
Valorant Masters Toronto: Singapore-Based Paper Rex Makes History With Republic's First Win
Third time's the charm for Paper Rex. The Singapore-based esports team has walked away as the champions of Valorant Masters Toronto, clinching not only their first international title but also the Republic's first-ever win at the event. For Copenhagen and Los Angeles. Third time's the charm. #VALORANTMasters — Paper Rex (@pprxteam) June 22, 2025 The latest victory follows two previous unsuccessful attempts at the Masters Copenhagen and Champions Los Angeles tournaments held in 2022 and 2023, respectively, which saw Paper Rex come in as the first runner-up. It wasn't all smooth sailing, however, as the third seed from the Pacific region almost didn't make it to this year's Masters with back-to-back defeats in the group stages, only finding their stride in the play-ins and play-offs. Once there, the newly minted champions eliminated tournament favourites G2 Esports, another top-seed from the American region, Sentiels, and dark horse Wolves Esports to secure a face-off against Fnatic in the grand finals on 23 June. The latter team, meanwhile, entered Masters Toronto as the top seed from the EMEA region, losing 1-2 to Gen.G Esports before staging a comeback against Rex Regum Qeon, Sentinels, G2 Esports, and Wolves Esports. Alas, the crown would go to Paper Rex, who bested their opponents 3-1 and took home US$350,000. The team also scored seven VCT points, bringing their current total to 11 points — and to the top of the Pacific Championship, ahead of South Korean teams T1 (10 points) and Gen.G (nine points). As for Fnatic, its players earned US$200,000 as consolation but remain the leader of their region. Rounding out the celebration is the announcement of Jason 'f0rsakeN' Susanto as MVP of the tournament, with the full Paper Rex roster as follows: Jason 'f0rsakeN' Susanto (Indonesia) Jing Jie 'Jinggg' Wang (Singapore) Ahmad Khalish Rusyaidee 'd4v41' Bin Nordin (Malaysia) Ilya 'Something' Petrov (Russia) Patrick 'PatMen' Mendoza (Philippines) Aaron 'mindfreak.' Leonhart (Indonesia) Paper Rex's victory marks the third consecutive title won by a Pacific team after Gen.G Esports and T1, who emerged as the respective champions in 2024's Masters Shanghai and Masters Bangkok held earlier this year. Next on the list is Stage 2 of the International League, kicking off on 3 July, and culminating in the biggest event for Valorant : Champions, taking place in Paris, France, from 12 September to 5 October. A hearty congratulations to Paper Rex! Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Paper Rex Riot Games Singapore Valorant Valorant Masters Toronto
Globe and Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Valorant Masters Toronto e-sports tournament ‘surreal' experience for fans
For traditional sports fans, the Valorant Masters Toronto e-sports tournament could be a culture shock. At Sunday's final, there was no field, rink or court. Instead, at game time, two groups of mostly 20-somethings sat behind computer monitors at a long desk atop a platform, trying to virtually eliminate their opponents as fans watched on a jumbotron above. Occasionally, strobe lights punctuated big moments. Attendees described it as a mix of a music festival and a sports game. For fans of the multibillion-dollar world of e-sports, it was an electric environment. 'It's bringing a community together that's been loving games all their lives,' said Matthew Ragoonath, near a crowd of people. 'Especially with events like this, everyone gets to come out, and it's just a surreal experience.' Valorant, a first-person shooter game centred around heroic characters called agents, exploded in popularity quickly after its debut in June, 2020. Tracker Network, which follows statistics, player population and leaderboards for popular online games, tracked nearly 850,000 Valorant players in its first month; that number grew more than five-fold in the next month. In May, 2025, Tracker Network tracked about 18.2 million players of the game. Valorant Masters Toronto arrived in the middle of the city's Video Games Month. The tournament was expected to have a $40-million economic impact, according to a City of Toronto news release at the beginning of June. Major leagues are turning to esports to draw in new, and younger, fans Edmonton school's e-sports athletes go mouse-to-mouse with province's best Sunday marked the culmination of two weeks of tournament gameplay. The arena was set up as if for a boxing or wrestling match, with the audience surrounding a raised platform at the centre. But instead of punches, the players exchanged gunfire with quick flicks of the wrist and deliberate mouse clicks. Just before the final began, players walked through an arch with flashing lights, taking time to brush the hands of fans who stretched over the metal barriers along the entranceway. A jumbotron hung above the players where spectators could watch the action as it was happening in the simulated war zone. The battle would shift from quiet footsteps and tactical moves to dramatic firefights in an instant. Fans would cheer and jeer at the sight of a fallen agent on-screen, not unlike the sound of an arena when a hockey puck slides dangerously close to the goal line, or a spectacular save from a soccer goaltender. The team winner of the final, Paper Rex, won a trophy and US$350,000, the largest cut of a US$1-million purse that's split between the top eight. Teams also garner circuit points on their way to the championship in Paris. In Sunday's crowd, some showed their support for Fnatic, the opponent team. Bri Sison was in the crowd wearing the flag of the eventual champions. She travelled from San Francisco for the tournament. 'The plot with their games are always just so unpredictable, you never know what's going to happen next,' she said of Paper Rex. Some people The Globe and Mail spoke with at the event say they formed connections in lineups to the event or, in one case, at a restaurant after noticing another person wearing an e-sport jersey. In a group of five, two had come solo, meeting the rest in lineups. 'My whole group actually cancelled on me, so I'm the only person who came, and every single day I've been with people, I've found groups, people have adopted me in,' Maria Liong said. She said that, despite the reputation the online game has for being toxic, events such as the e-sports tournament show a more inclusive community. Members of the group paid varying costs for their tickets. Some pre-sale buyers got tickets for $115, while another who bought their ticket later paid the Canadian equivalent of about $395. Tickets for the final available on Stubhub Saturday evening ranged from about $429 to more than $1,700 at the peak. Before game time on Sunday, hundreds of fans shuffled through a sign-making area, markering slogans or artful creations to hold in the sky. Others crowded into lines for merchandise, games or photo opportunities. Some attendees chose to dress up as characters in the game, not unlike patrons at comic or gaming conventions, in what's known as cosplay. Cai Zhao had an elaborate costume that resembled the character Jett. 'I can't actually play the game, I'm really bad, so I can dress up as one,' she laughed. She watches Valorant's fast-paced gameplay often, but said the energy of an in-person viewing adds to the excitement. For tournament host Toronto, the 'gaming industry reflects the best of our city. It is creative, diverse and forward-thinking,' Mayor Olivia Chow said ahead of this month's competition. 'Video Game Month is an invitation to celebrate this growing sector and the talented people behind it and to discover how gaming connects with art, innovation and our local communities.'
The Citizen
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Tuks law student is fast in E-sports and in the cockpit of jets
Tuks law student is fast in E-sports and in the cockpit of jets To say Ronald Wheeldon is an adrenaline junkie would not be an exaggeration. When the Tuks law student is not sitting in lecture halls or studying, he is likely to be zipping through the air at 1000 kilometres per hour. But Wheeldon is also building a reputation as a formidable dualist in Varsity E-sports' Valorant League. In a profile article on the Varsity E-sports website, his virtues are extolled as follows: 'Beyond raw mechanical skill, he serves as the team's 'In-Game Leader'. Orchestrating plays and making critical strategic calls. He takes on the responsibility of determining the approach. Leading the charge and adapting instantly when plans go awry. Quick and effective communication is his weapon'. 'I believe speed is the key to winning most gun fights. A stun or blind gives you those few seconds of opportunity and being aggressive takes the initiative in winning these fights,' he said during an interview with the website. The strategy is undoubtedly working for Tuks. The team has won four of the six games they played, which means they have qualified for the Varsity semifinals. They will face off against Ikeys. The two teams of Maties are contesting each other in the other semifinal. Wheeldon makes no secret of why he does what he does. He is an adrenaline junkie. 'During a Valorant game, when you are in a tense combat situation, the adrenaline is pumping. It is the same with flying. I am passionate about aerobatics. When you are flying a jet at 1000 kilometres per hour, it gets the adrenaline out of the box straight through the roof. You cannot replace it with anything. It is exhilarating,' he remarked. To put things in perspective. Wheeldon's father, Ron, has been doing air shows for over 30 years. His favourite plane is the Hawker Hunter, of which he has two. The younger Wheeldon is an accomplished pilot himself and has performed with his dad at airshows. 'It started when I was a kid playing Lego Star Wars. I don't like losing. That's never going to change,' he commented. When asked what it takes to be competitive in Valorant, Wheeldon answers by saying that it helps to be fit. Then, he mentions that a strong head is crucial. 'The mental side in E-sports is a big part. If you enter a match thinking that things are going to go wrong, then they will. Being in good physical shape is essential because reaction time is key to winning games. If someone 'swings' at you, you must click as fast as possible. In about two milliseconds; otherwise, you will be losing,' he explained. As to his role as dualist for the Tuks team, Wheeldon said his job is to get the first 'peg' to create space. 'Space is essential in attack. If you can't create space, you usually end up stagnant. That is when things start to go wrong,' he said. A definite highlight for Wheeldon was when he got the chance to play in the Apex Legends Global Series' European competition. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
Economic Times
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
From IP to cosplay influencer: Singapore student builds career in fashion and wig design
Singapore cosplay influencer Elise Lim styles custom wigs and props in her home studio, where she builds a career after leaving the Integrated Programme to pursue fashion design Student transitions from Integrated Programme to cosplay design Elise Lim, a 19-year-old student in Singapore, transitioned from the prestigious Integrated Programme (IP) at National Junior College to pursue a diploma in fashion design and management at Temasek Polytechnic. Initially part of the Art Elective Programme, Lim developed an interest in cosplay during her fourth year of the IP and began experimenting with costume and wig her fifth year, she decided to leave junior college to focus on fashion full-time. Lim said, 'It's not common for people to drop out of the IP, and a lot of parents could be worried that this is an unstable future, which is true, because the design and art field is unstable', to The Strait Times. Also read: Who is Khaby Lame and why the world's most popular TikTok star left the US? TikTok following grows as cosplay content gains traction Now in her third year at polytechnic, Lim has grown a substantial online following. Her TikTok account has more than 94,000 followers, and her most viewed video, featuring a self-made wig of the character Magical Mirai Miku, has garnered over 12.9 million views. On Instagram, she has 12,200 followers and manages commission requests for wigs on a rolling basis. Her wigs are priced between US$100 (S$130) and US$700, and she has created more than 30 character wigs and over 10 props. Many of her clients are international, and she frequently sends availability updates to her followers. 'I first started playing video games like Valorant and League Of Legends in secondary school, and afterwards I saw all these people online cosplaying these super-interesting-looking game characters,' Lim explained. Finding the cost of high-quality props too high, she began making her own at the end of cosplay props and wigs for global clientsLim works from a studio set up in her attic, equipped with a sewing machine and materials sourced both online and locally. Her costume accessories are made using ethylene-vinyl acetate foam and repurposed cardboard from platforms like Taobao. When pressed for time, she sources materials from stores in Chinatown. Also read: Viral icon Khaby Lame detained by ICE and forced to leave the U.S. — fans worldwide rally behind the TikTok starThe workspace includes cosplay props such as a shark-themed rocket launcher based on the character Jinx from the Arcane series and wigs styled for characters like Gwen from League of Legends. Demonstrating her process, Lim showed how she begins with a pre-colored base wig, styles the synthetic hair, and constructs an internal structure to match the character's design to The Strait stated, 'This is skilled labor, so I had to practise and learn, and train. And the cost of living in Singapore is also high, so I think my price is quite justified.' Future plans include studio launch and overseas study Despite concerns from some about the stability of an arts-based career, Lim's mother has remained supportive. 'I'm proud of Elise and generally supportive of her love for crafting... My main concern is her frequent exposure to chemicals when making wigs,' said Mrs. Lim, who is an only child and lost her father at a young age, hopes to open a commissioning studio with fellow cosplayer Jade Tang, 21. She noted that both frequently receive commission requests and see the potential for a long-term venture if they continue improving their skills. Also read: New TikTok diet trend sparks backlash as experts warn it's fueling a dangerous new wave of harmful eating habits After completing her diploma next year, Lim plans to take a gap year to attend short courses in garment construction. She is also considering applying to art universities in China, Belgium, or Italy to study costume design.'It's more fruitful because the skills that I've learnt are more tangible,' she said of her polytechnic education. 'At the end of each module, you would have a very clear idea of what you gained from it.'Reflecting on her decision, Lim said, 'If I stayed in JC, my focus would be split between academics and the arts… so I switched to TP.'She advises others to research and consult mentors before making non-traditional choices. 'If they are confident they can earn (money) and have done research in their field, then there's nothing wrong with doing something a bit more unconventional.'
