In The News
Weekend in Review:
Valved registered Steam.tv and has since started livestreaming The International 2018, Engadget’s Mariella Moon writes. “While you don’t need to log into your Steam account to watch, you’ll be able to access your Steam Chat friends list and group chats if you do.”
Unikrn is being sued. An investor “alleges the company skirted securities law in relation to the sale of its cryptocurrency, UnikoinGold,” ESPN’s Jacob Wolf reports. “[John] Hastings filed suit Monday in King County, Washington, against Unikrn, a Bermuda-registered subsidiary of the company and its founders, former Microsoft Ventures general manager Rahul Sood and Karl Flores.”
Cliff Bleszinski’s writing a book. It’ll focus on Boss Key and its downfall, according to his Friday tweet.
“Athletes and fans” are not excited esports events will receive medals at the Asian Games, Bloomberg’s Yuji Nakamura writes. “Many athletes and fans contend computer games aren’t truly sports, and no medals should be awarded for what’s essentially skillful consumption of a corporate product.”
The World Esports Association appointed Pietro Fringuelli as its executive chairman and commissioner, TEO’s Sara Elsam writes.
Drama llamas ain’t going extinct ’round here:
Duncan “Thorin” Shields’ Alex Jones drama refuses to die. Waypoint’s Patrick Klepek put together a piece titled “One of Counter-Strike’s Leading Analysts Wants You to Know Alex Jones Rules.” In it, he compiles “racist commentary by Thorin” and speculates as to why companies like ESL continue to hire him.
Following the piece, freelance journalist Nick Monroe started a lengthy Twitter thread detailing Klepek’s own unflattering behavior. At some point during Monroe’s digging, he deleted a Flickr album. Additionally, leading up to his article on Thorin, Klepek deleted some 50,000 tweets. In a Waypoint Radio “article read and discussion,” Klepek called himself an “edgelord” in regard to previous behavior.
Thorin kept the flame alive with a series of tweets Friday (Rod “Slasher” Breslau is still not amused) in which he argued that “If you don’t speak up to protect opinions which are unpopular from being censored then one day it will not be possible to say almost anything of value on the internet, for so many important points and concepts begin as unpopular.”
NVIDIA’s cryptocurrency “generated just … $18 million during” the last quarter, GI.biz’s Haydn Taylor reports. “The hardware manufacturer now expects cryptocurrency to make ‘a negligible contribution going forward.’”
Craig Fletcher invested $330,000 in Toadman Interactive, GI.biz’s Matthew Handrahan reports. “He will also work directly with the development team as the initial project leader on forthcoming title Sky Fighters.”
Keywords Studios acquired Studio Gobo, Taylor writes. “Studio Gobo has three sites across Brighton and Hove, UK, where it provides game development services.”
The Witcher scripts for its Netflix series were leaked, IGN’s Adam Bankhurst reports. “Showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich has reassured fans that what is contained in those scripts will not be making it into the show and that ‘all is ok in the #Witcher world.’”
Monster Hunter: World has passed 10 million units sold.
Partnership and Sponsorship News:
Luckbox and OMEGA Systems are partnering, Esports Insider’s Cody Luongo reports.
UC Berkeley grabbed NVIDIA and CORSAIR as sponsors for its “esports community center,” TEO’s Trent Murray writes.
Valve launched the playartifact.com.
Extra Esports News:
Congratulations Evil Geniuses on winning the 2018 Call of Duty World League Championship! They defeated Team Kaliber to take home $600,000. FaZe Clan came in 3rd and eUnited in 4th.
Congratulations EG’s Adam “Assault” Garcia on winning MVP!
Congratulations G2 Esports on winning Six Major Paris 2018! They defeated Evil Geniuses to take home $150,000. Team Secret came in 3rd and Rogue inf 4th.
Congratulations Jim “Lii” Liu on winning HCT Buenos Aires! He defeated Team Genji’s Monsanto to take home $4,000. Cosmo came in 3rd and Tempo Storm’s Muzzy in 4th.
Rocket League Championship Series announced South America as its 4th region coming in 2019, according to a press release.
The ACO announced “the Le Mans esports series, which will see players compete to win part of a $100,000 prize pot and the chance for a place on the podium at next year’s Le Mans,” Eurogamer’s Martin Robinson reports.
Hearthstone Esports posted “The Tour – Episode #2.”
Happy weekend birthdays Song “Scc” Chun, Kim “herO” Joon Ho and Kim “Billowy” Doh Kyung!
Cloud9 News:
Cloud9 posted “Introducing Cloud9 Clash Royale | #C9CR.”
Interviews: Cloud9’s Jack Etienne and Mariano “SquishyMuffinz” Arruda.