In The News
Weekend in review:
Wawa’s Boot Camp kicked off spring by relaunching a website with bells and whistles they’re eager to show off to students and coaches. The company, which focuses on bringing together casual gamers and professional players for personal training sessions, spoke with TheDW about the upgrades they’ve made.
Here’s a snippet of “Spring Cleaning: Wawa’s Boot Camp Relaunches Website, Touts Improvements“:
“The most noticeable change involved Wawa’s biggest selling point, its training sessions: They now come with a price tag. ‘It’s still going to be the free coaching model, but we’re limiting it to…’”
Congratulations to Capcom on selling over 5 million copies of Resident Evil 7.
Brian Crecente is moving from Glixel to Variety as its “new video games editor.” He starts today.
Luxe Gaming called it quits, according to Dexerto’s Calcium. “[Zoie] Burgher announced the disbanding, citing in a series of tweets that the experience had ‘only hurt her’ and cost her friendships. She also claims that ‘years of online hate’ have taken affect.”
GaymerX and MidBoss sent out separate press releases in the wake of misconduct allegations against Matt Conn. Incoming GaymerX executive director Katie Kaitchuck, who is replacing current executive director Toni Rocca, said, in part:
“Recently there have been multiple media reports regarding the actions of Matt Conn, a founder of GaymerX. Matt has not been involved with GaymerX since 2017 … We at GaymerX take these accusations very seriously and want to apologize to anyone hurt by the conduct of our former staff … Finally, while GaymerX and MidBoss have been separate entities since 2016, we will now sever all professional association with their organization entirely.”
As for MidBoss, Cade Peterson is the incoming CEO. Here’s a portion of his statement:
“Various allegations have been made against MidBoss over the past few weeks including sexual harassment, underpaying staff, undervaluing women and people of color, threats of legal action against workers and not providing access to a human resources department … Effective immediately I will be assuming the role of CEO. Matt Conn, our former CEO, is being fully offboarded. Toni Rocca, who was briefly interim-CEO, will be assisting me in the transition period and will no longer be part of the company within the next 30 days.”
Ubisoft is opening a studio in Winnipeg, Venture Beat’s Mike Minotti reports. “Ubisoft Winnipeg will create 100 new jobs for the industry over the next five years.”
Take-Two Interactive news:
GamesIndustry.biz’s Haydn Taylor reports “a profit sharing agreement [Former Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie] Benzies signed – the hook on which the entire case hangs – was unambiguous and did not entitle him to the amount he believed” in his $150 million lawsuit.
GamesIndustry.biz’s James Batchelor writes that “with 90 million sales worldwide, and $6 billion in revenue, GTA V is the ‘most financially successful media title of all time.’”
Keywords Studios acquired Cord Worldwide and Laced Music Group, Haydn reports. “Under the terms of the acquisition Keywords paid cash consideration of £3.375 million on completion and will issue 73,744 in shares after two years.”
Partnership news:
The Esports Observer’s Trent Murray reports Super League Gaming and Logitech G are partnering.
Esports Insider’s Sam Cooke reports Ajax Esports is partnering with “433, a legitimate football focused social media powerhouse with over 16 million followers.”
Gilded is touting big names as users of its product, Murray writes. “The pro teams using Guilded include the Golden Guardians, Team Liquid, World Elite, the New York Excelsior, Cloud9, LGD Gaming, the Seoul Dynasty, and KSV.”
Matthew “Burns” Potthoff did an interview with Engadget’s Jessica Conditt. Here’s a snippet: “Potthoff’s dad drove him to his first eSports tournament when he was 13. It was a small, local…”
Congratulations to FaZe Clan on winning the CWL Pro League! They defeated OpTic Gaming to take home $212,500. Luminosity Gaming came in 3rd and Team Kaliber in 4th.