COLOGNE: Intel, the global technology company and ESL, the largest independent eSports firm in the world, announced Wednesday the most expensive deal in the history of the virtual gaming industry that aims to grow eSports audiences worldwide.
Over the next three years, more than $100 million will be invested by Intel and ESL to shape the future landscape of esports through innovative technology, tournaments and more competitive events. In addition to kicking off Season 14 of the Intel Extreme Masters, the longest running pro eSports circuit in the world, the partnership also encompasses support of ESL’s other premier live circuits, including ESL One powered by Intel and the CS:GO Pro League, in addition to the $1 million Intel Grand Slam in 2019.
The investment will also introduce eSports to new regions of the globe, including the hosting and introduction of large scale events in certain countries within the APAC region.
“ESL and Intel have worked side by side on growing eSports for nearly two decades,” ESL founder and co-CEO Ralf Reichert said.
“We built a number of cornerstones of this industry together and helped many gamers in becoming legends of the sport. The long-term extended partnership with Intel opens even more opportunities for us to take our efforts to a whole different level on a global scale.”
As ESL’s global technical partner, Intel will deliver technology solutions that will power all pro-level tournaments and events including the best gaming CPU, the Intel Core i9 Processor and Intel Xeon processors to power ESL’s world class production. Intel will also trial new technologies like 5G as part of the deal.
“This joint investment with ESL into the ecosystem means that the eSports growth and innovation that we’ve led over the past two decades will continue,” Intel VP and GM of VR, Gaming and eSports John Bonini said.
“This partnership will advance the rapid evolution of eSports, and Intel is committed to ushering in this new era with technology solutions that place the gaming community and fans first.”
Intel and ESL have had the longest standing partnership in all of eSports, leading initiatives in the space for the last 18 years, starting with ESL’s early events in Germany. In 2006, the co-operation turned global when Intel became the official title sponsor of the Intel Extreme Masters and ESL’s official technical partner
On average, ESL attracted up to 15,000 daily visitors to 10 mega-events in 2018. The Intel Extreme Masters this year in Poland saw 169,000 fans in attendance onsite and 3.4 billion minutes of content consumed online.
