Asia
S8UL scripts history; becomes first Indian Esports organisation to win ‘Content Group of the Year’ award globally at ‘Esports Awards’22’
S8UL, one of India’s leading Esports organisations have made esports history by becoming the country’s first Esports organisation to win globally at the coveted ‘Esports Awards 2022’ in the ‘Content Group of the Year’ category on Wednesday.
S8UL is the brainchild of the country’s esports industry veterans, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug and Lokesh Jain aka Goldy. This triumph was a long-awaited one for the Indian esports community and winning against global sensations from the industry including the likes of 100 Thieves, FaZe Clan, OTK, G4TV, Tribo Gaules etc at a global esports recognition event, is a matter of great pride for S8UL and for Indian esports. This is bound to do good things for them, as well as for Indian esports globally in terms of recognition and respect.
Lokesh Jain aka Goldy, Co-Founder, S8UL while reflecting on this momentous achievement said “I talk a lot with fans, with creators and with everyone, but today I am speechless. The journey we have mapped together as a team seems like a blur and a vivid memory all at once. What looks like a winning moment, is actually made up of those 100s of little moments everyday, where we put in the hard work, miss special personal events, sacrifice sleep, go through lows, brainstorm, rise again and create, create, create content like we mean it. It’s such a moment, for all of us. Three cheers for the team!”
Since its very inception, S8UL has been the frontrunner of gaming content in India. They have challenged the status quo at every turn, and have leveraged social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Discord etc to bring together some of the best gaming content creators under a single umbrella, to create outstanding gaming content, watched everyday by millions of viewers. The high calibre of their esports talent which includes Mortal, Scout, Payal, Mamba, Rega, Krutika, Sidd, Kaashvi, and many more is evident from the various esports titles they have bagged over the years and the fandom they enjoy.
“Love us or really love us, but we are, as of 10:35 AM IST today, officially the “global content group of the year” and no one can take that away! So then, do dreams come true? As of now, I can proudly say that they can. We dreamt, we worked and clearly we’ve done something right, to be here today! And that’s all I ever wanted, for us to do a lot of small rights, winning the right to win big. This is the biggest motivation to take things only bigger from now on. 2023, here we come!” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-Founder, S8UL
Alongside S8UL, their co-founder and the face of Indian gaming and esports Naman ‘Mortal’ Mathur was also nominated at the awards for the ‘Esports Personality of the Year’ category where the first place was bagged by Nadeshot, owner of 100Thieves; and the results for second and third positions are still awaited. He is also the only Indian Esports athlete to be nominated in the history of the global “Esports Awards”. In 2020 and 2021, Naman won second place for the Streamer of the Year for two consecutive years.
“If we have learnt anything today, it’s that a group of passionate people, sitting somewhere in a ‘developing’ country CAN create history. Words fail me as I see our dream as a dream team come true. Seeing us being celebrated by the global esports community, it’s a real feeling. It’s really time to pause, reflect and feel happy. But we also have one eye on the future and we hope to break all records. Thanks to the fans who watch us everyday and motivate us to show up with great content, Thanks to the brands who have worked with us as a content group, but most of all, thanks to the creators who work hard all day everyday, this is our moment in the sun!” said Naman Mathura aka Mortal, Co-Founder, S8UL
Dedicated to showcasing top-class performance and innovation, the Esports Awards recognises excellence in Esports and ensures that success and achievement in esports is celebrated globally. The 2022 edition of the awards was hosted in Las Vegas where prominent names from the Esports community all over the world were in attendance.
S8UL have recently unveiled their Pokemon Unite and PUBG: New State rosters and aims to dominate India’s Esports space with top-notch athletes competing in multiple Esports titles.
Aquisitions/Mergers
Nazara’s subsidiary Absolute Sports acquires TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com
Absolute Sports, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies and the parent company of Sportskeeda.com, announced today that it has signed definitive agreements, subject to closing conditions, to acquire two IPs, TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com. These business assets will be acquired from Titan Insider Digital. These IPs add to the already dominant global position of Absolute Sports in the combat sports publishing industry.
TJRWrestling and ITRWrestling established in 2009 and 2020 respectively, have built a robust audience base within the wrestling fan community through their high-quality and in-depth combat sports news and content coverage. Together, they currently attract 1.7 million monthly active users and generate 4.6 million monthly pageviews, predominantly from North America. They generated $722K (~INR 6.1 crore) in revenue in 2024.
The transaction, valued at $1.25 million (~INR 10.5 crore), will be an all-cash asset purchase via the company’s U.S. subsidiary, Sportskeeda Inc., and is expected to close within the next 45 days.
This strategic acquisition bolsters Sportskeeda’s position in the combat sports segment and expands its presence in the U.S., home to the world’s largest pro-wrestling fanbase. The integration of these platforms will also create deeper engagement opportunities for fans and advertisers across digital formats.
Ajay Pratap Singh, CEO of Absolute Sports, commented: “ITRWrestling and TJRwrestling are two of the most respected voices in the global wrestling community. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision to be the leading go-to destination for wrestling content worldwide. It also reinforces Absolute Sports’ dedication to expanding its footprint in the fast-growing U.S. media market through a targeted and impactful M&A strategy.”
The post Nazara’s subsidiary Absolute Sports acquires TJRWrestling.net and ITRWrestling.com appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
FBM® is set to elevate the gaming experience at Solaire Entertainment City with the launch of the highly anticipated Jin Qián Link™ slot themes on the cutting-edge Auria casino cabinet. Being the leading e-bingo games provider in the Philippines, FBM® continues delivering innovation with four captivating slot titles inspired by Asian mystique, featuring stunning graphics and exciting gameplay, at one of the country’s premier gaming destinations.
Jin Qián Link comprises four distinct slot themes – Eternal Fènghuáng™, Golden Lóng™, Great Bái Hǔ™, and Lucky Guī™ – each transporting players to a mystical universe. Players will be attracted and engaged by captivating visuals and an immersive soundscape, while Jin Qián Link also offers a rewarding and strategic gaming experience.
Players can chase Mini, Minor, Major, and Grand jackpots within the Jin Qián Link bonus, accessed by incrementing the pagoda. The bonus mode culminates in a double prize when all positions on the five reels are covered. The attractive feature set of this product line includes Luck Has Arrived as a shared feature, anticipating a rewarding round. Triple Wild, available on Golden Lóng and Lucky Guī, and Wild Multiplier, running on Great Bái Hǔ and Eternal Fènghuáng, are the game features completing the features roll of this game series.
Pepe Costa, Country Manager of FBM Philippines, highlighted the relevance of this installation for the brand’s operation in the country. “FBM is committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences that resonate with players. Jin Qián Link is a testament to this commitment, combining compelling themes with innovative features and the quality and excellence that FBM is known for.”, stated the FBM representative.
About the expectations around the game and FBM’s intents for the short-term future, Pepe Costa shared: “We are confident that Jin Qián Link will be a major success at Solaire Entertainment City. It’s also important to note that Jin Qian Link is just the first in a series of new slot games that FBM will be launching for the Philippine market”. With a legacy dating back to 2001, FBM has established itself as a trusted provider of high-quality gaming solutions. The leadership obtained in the Philippines e-bingo segment placed FBM among the references in the national industry, boosting the operation expansion for new product categories. The Jin Qián Link launch at Solaire Entertainment City further solidifies FBM Philippines’ position in the market and provides Solaire Entertainment City patrons with a new and exciting gaming adventure.
The post FBM® installs Jin Qián Link™ at Solaire Entertainment City appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
This surge marks a critical turning point in the sector with electronic gaming now leading revenue generation, said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco.
“The E-Games and E-Bingo segment made history by becoming the industry’s top revenue driver for the first time, contributing Php51.39 billion or 49.36% of the total first quarter GGR,” he said.
“This represents not just revenue growth but how consumer behavior continues to shift towards digital, on-demand gaming experiences, accelerated by greater access to mobile technology,” he added.
The PAGCOR chief also noted that the rise of the E-Games industry has drastically reshaped the Philippine gaming landscape.
“As digital platforms take center stage, the Philippine gaming industry is likewise undergoing a paradigm shift. Hence, our goal as a regulator is to strike the right balance between innovation, player protection and long-term industry sustainability,” he said.
Licensed casinos, which have historically dominated the GGR landscape, generated Php49.28 billion, accounting for 47.32% of the industry’s total.
“While there was a minimal dip in revenues from licensed casinos compared to last year’s figures due to growing digital competition, this segment shows sustained strength and relevance,” Chairman Tengco said.
“The performance of brick-and-mortar casinos remains critical to industry stability, particularly in tourism-driven hubs such as Entertainment City and Clark.”
Meanwhile, PAGCOR-operated casinos generated Php3.45 billion in revenues, making up 3.31% of the GGR.
The post PH GAMING INDUSTRY RECORDS PHP104.12B GGR IN 1ST QUARTER 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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