ESL FACEIT Group - EFG

Do the mods dream of electric sheep? Maria Laura Scuri, VP, Product Game Integration, talks to PC Gamer about Minerva, AI tool that promotes positive play on the 30-million-user FACEIT Ltd esports platform. By acting as a real-time referee across thousands of matches, Minerva reduces player churn and ensures a more enjoyable gaming experience. Using advanced machine learning, it understands context and identifies toxic behavior to encourage positive gameplay. "Our idea was, well, if we look at sports, you normally have a referee in a match," said Scuri. "And that guy is kind of moderating and ensuring that rules are respected. Obviously, it was impossible to think about having a human moderating every match, because we had hundreds of thousands of concurrent matches happening at the same time. So that's when we created Minerva, which uses AI to moderate and address toxicity on the platform" Read Maria's interview 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gPHNixRT #ai #faceit #minerva #game #esports #gaming #pcgamer

It’s not GG until it’s #GGForALL. Congratulations to our ESL Impact's Charlie Sirc and Dagny Veinberg, Minerva's Maria Laura Scuri, and DreamHack and FACEIT Ltd teams, winners of the Fast Company World-Changing Ideas Awards 2024, which honour people and organisations that dedicate their lives to making the world more accessible, equitable, and sustainable for everyone. Nearly half of gamers identify as women, and EFG is committed to creating safe spaces to compete, watch, and win. #GGFORALL is integrating inclusivity across EFG’s platforms to inspire greater equity in the industry. Since its inception, #GGFORALL has facilitated a broader global conversation about representation in esports communities, and since then competitors worldwide, from game publishers to tournament organizers, have made efforts to duplicate the program’s success. EFG has continued to innovate and adapt #GGFORALL to build a world where everyone has the right to compete at the highest level, celebrate fandom, and find welcoming spaces – no matter what game they’re playing or platform they’re on. From its landmark women-only global Counter-Strike league, ESL Impact, to supporting underrepresented communities during its DreamHack festivals, to first-of-its-kind AI technology, Minerva, to promote positive play, #GGFORALL has gone from a vision to an industry-defining initiative. While there is more work to do, the impact of #GGFORALL can be felt throughout EFG’s addressable audience of 300+ million gamers, which in 2023 has more diversity, fewer issues with toxicity, and offers more opportunities for minority groups than ever before. #ggforall #esports #gaming #representation #equity #eslimpact #minerva #ai #faceit #awardwinner #awards https://lnkd.in/e4cGFhyX

Want to connect with a next-gen audience? Get into gaming. Thank you to everyone who joined us at the Advertising Week Europe for a panel discussion with Giulia Z., Megan Cheong, and Izzy Ashton on how brands can best reach a next-generation audience. With over three billion gamers worldwide, gaming isn’t just the future of sports and entertainment – it’s the now. It's an industry buzzing with a young, tech-savvy audience that welcomes everyone. But many brands are missing out. Learn the importance of long-term brand partnerships across the gaming ecosystem and how brands can successfully engage with this next-generation audience. Key takeaways: ☑ Leave your ego at the door a - What is the first step brands should take when wanting to become part of the esports ecosystem? ☑ Bring something to the community - Let’s talk about impact. The esports next-generation audience is savvy. They can also smell bullshit. How does a brand have an impact without stepping in where the community doesn’t want them? ☑ The future of esports - Esports is the now, but it’s also the future. When a brand gets involved, they’re connected to three billion gamers, 365 days a year, 24/7. Can you talk about why that’s so vital for brands? 📺 Tune in to the on-demand Advertising Week platform if you missed us. 📩 Or drop us a message to continue the conversation. #gaming #esports #advertisngweek #brandpartnerships

💫 Zenni® Optical Announces Partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), becomes the ‘Official Eyewear’ of ESL professional esports tournaments and DreamHack gaming festivals 🕶 Designed to integrate eye health education with innovative eyewear solutions for the esports community, the partnership will officially launch at DreamHack festival in Dallas US 🇺🇸, taking place from May 31st to June 02. This collaboration will feature a co-branded collection of lifestyle and competitive eyewear and accessories, emphasizing Zenni Optical’s dedication to overall eye health. The initiative will also integrate much-needed eye health education across various events and programs, in alignment with EFG’s broader mission to foster inclusive gaming worlds and engaged, supported communities. "DreamHack and ESL represent some of the most community-centric and prestigious competitive events in the world. In their own unique ways, they embody esports for everyone," said Robb Chiarini, Head of Gaming, Sports, & Events at Zenni Optical. "By partnering with these incredible brands across the gaming and esports spaces, we aim to create engaging experiences that combine eye-health education with innovative eyewear solutions for players and fans at all levels." “We are thrilled to partner with Zenni Optical as the Official Eyewear Partner of DreamHack and ESL,” said Craig Levine, Co-CEO at EFG. “The genuine passion that Zenni has for the esports industry and the global gaming community is a refreshing sight to see, and a major driving factor for the decision behind our partnership. Zenni’s ongoing commitment to provide eyewear for everyone mirrors our own drive to create worlds beyond gameplay for gamers everywhere.” This partnership is another move in a series of announcements made by Zenni to increase the brand’s presence in the gaming and esports industries, having recently signed other partnerships with Evo, Ghost Gaming, TSM, the*gamehers, and more. Through these partnerships, Zenni continues its mission to provide eyewear and eye-health education to gamers around the world. Join us at DreamHack Dallas US 🇺🇸 and try the cool shades and specs out! #zenni #dreamhack #gaming #esports #esl #efg #brandpartnerships

We're excited to be part of Advertising Week Europe this week, taking to the stage to explore how brands can best reach a next generation audience. 📅 Wednesday, May 15, 14:20 BST 🔎  Topic: Want to connect with a next-gen audience? Get into gaming 👉 Topic Summary: With over three billion gamers worldwide, gaming isn’t just the future of sports and entertainment – it’s the now. It's an industry buzzing with a young, tech-savvy audience that welcomes everyone. But many brands are missing out. Join us as we unpack the importance of long-term brand partnerships across the gaming ecosystem and how brands can successfully engage with this next-generation audience. 🗣 Speakers: 💠 Giulia Z., Commercial Partnerships Strategy Director, ESL FACEIT Group 💠 Megan Cheong, Client Services Director, GEEIQ 💠 Hosted by Izzy Ashton, Senior Account Director, Propeller Group Join us as we explore how you and your brand can get involved. Find out more info here: https://lnkd.in/dKkv4wVy See you there! #AdvertisingWeekEurope #GamingIndustry #NextGenAudience #Esports

Craig Levine is spearheading #SaudiArabia’s #eSports push. The Co-CEO of ESL FACEIT Group - EFG envisions EFG as part of the paradigm shift that is occurring in the Kingdom. “As for EFG we’re excited to be involved at the ground level here, to be able to think about how we serve those audiences, both to nurture the existing communities that are happening locally, as well as to bring them on to international stages,” he says. Click to learn more, and join us as we reveal our cohort of visionary #disruptors in #SaudiArabia. The Disruptors (5/10) #wiredmemagazine

Here’s why esports is the best arena for brands to connect with the next-gen. Join Giulia Z., Commercial Partnerships Strategy Director at EFG, on a panel at Advertising Week Europe 🇬🇧 tomorrow, Wednesday, May 15th, at 2:20 pm, as she unpacks the importance of long-term brand partnerships across the #esports and #entertainment ecosystem and discusses how brands can successfully engage with this next-generation audience. 📍 Tech Zone, AdWeek, 180 Studios, London 🗓️ Wednesday, May 15th, at 2.20pm BST. With more than three billion gamers worldwide, esports isn’t just the future of sports and entertainment – it’s the now. An industry buzzing with a young, tech-savvy audience that welcomes everyone, irrespective of gender, race, disability, background, or skill. An audience most brands are missing out on. But some savvy brands recognise the importance of investing in the esports ecosystem. Who are understanding their audiences and meeting them where they are. Not by applying the logo on an event’s marketing materials but through long-term partnerships that create strong connections between the brands and their next-gen audience, as well as having a lasting, positive impact on their business. https://lnkd.in/dKkv4wVy #esports #gaming #adweek #advertisingweek #London

🏆 It's MOUZ who once again lift the ESL Pro League trophy 👏 Following three weeks of intense competition in Malta, MOUZ are crowned the Champions of ESL Pro League Season 19, winning the $170,000 grand prize after taking down Team Vitality 3-0. As Champions, they also qualify for IEM Cologne 2024 with a $1,000,000 prize pool and add their second win in the race to secure the Intel® Grand Slam V. Moreover, MOUZ have set a new record as the first team to win three global EPL titles, having also won Seasons 10 and 18 🔥 This season, the ESL Pro League saw a peak viewership of more than 377,000, and fans from 40 different countries gathered in Malta to experience the culmination of the action live during the final three days. Check out the link in the comments for more details about the tournament 👇 #esports #gaming #ESLFACEITGroup #WorldsBeyondGameplay

💫 ESL introduces Unsung Heroes - a new apparel collection inspired by the backbone of #esports. We are proud to unveil our latest fashion collection that puts the spotlight on the unsung heroes in esports. We celebrate, ☑ The player manager, Amy, whose expertise spans various big-scale tournaments and her uplifting optimism never fails to inspire those around here. ☑ The performance coach, Ismael, the compassionate psychologist for G2 League of Legends team, empowers players with his deep understanding of both the game and their emotional well-being. ☑ The superfan, Maya, can be spotted annually at IEM Cologne with her contagious enthusiasm and unwavering support for her team and the event. ☑ The observer, Jonathan, is a cherished figure within the Dota 2 community. He began his journey with ESL One Frankfurt 2015, marking his inaugural DOTA 2 LAN observing gig. ☑ The producer, Amit, is beloved by all who work alongside him. His unparalleled expertise, combined with his infectious positivity, makes him unparalleled. These five individuals represent just a glimpse of esports' vast array of unsung heroes. With this collection, we celebrate the countless others who tirelessly contribute to the success of esports behind the scenes. With this collection, we celebrate the countless others who tirelessly contribute to esports' success behind the scenes. Get your collection on  esl.gg/unsung_heroes_eu #esl #eslshop #iem #esports #gaming #dota2 #fashion

Why should marketers think of gaming as a premium environment?- Steve Ford, SVP, Advertising, talks to The Drum "Gaming isn't just the future of entertainment -it's the now and it’s the present. With 3.2 billion gamers globally and a market expected to grow to $189bn in 2024, brands have a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse and captive audience. "From esports tournaments to streaming and influencers, gaming fosters tight-knit communities that are open to all, allowing creativity to thrive and connections to deepen. In gaming, everyone is welcome to play, to make the journey from zero to hero, irrespective of gender, race, location, disability, background, or skill. "Brands tapping into this special ecosystem can authentically forge connections with the next generation - who are tech-savvy, fast-growing, and open for meaningful engagement - in a way that is unparalleled when compared to other channels." #gaming #advertising #esports #brand #brandstrategy #thedrum