Showing 33 results for:

esports

by Topic

All results

33
Snoop Dogg Resigns From Esports Company FaZe Clan As Stake Reportedly 'Plummets' By $7M

Snoop Dogg recently made a decision to step away from one of his many business endeavors.

Shanique Yates

Apr 5, 2023

Howard University Call Of Duty Team, Cold Steel, Wins $80K At Esports Tournament

The Howard University gaming community is celebrating a new achievement.

Samantha Dorisca

Mar 28, 2023

Benedict College Becomes The First HBCU To Offer An Esports Degree Track To Help Students Tap Into The Billion-Dollar Industry

As esports becomes more popular, institutions are starting to really take notice. HBCU students have been having a hand in the space with the help of organizations such as Cxmmunity. As previously reported by AfroTech, the nonprofit works to help Black youth not only be influencers and consumers of tech but also be beneficiaries. “Our main goal is to get the Black youth hired within the tech industry,” co-founder Christopher Peay told us. “Eighty-three percent of African American millennials play video games daily but when you look at the video game workforce specifically, only about two to three percent of African Americans work within the space. We’re always the influencer, we’re always the consumer, but we’re hardly ever the beneficiary.” He continued: “That’s one of the biggest disparities that we wanted to try and overcome, so we came up with these programs to create a pipeline to take K-12 students to HBCUs that then work or compete within an HBCU sports league.” Now, this...

Ngozi Nwanji

Aug 26, 2022

Tee Grizzley Partners With XSET To Help Former Inmates Re-Enter Society Through Gaming

Tee Grizzley has joined a gaming initiative that is set to bring joy to former inmates. The Detroit rapper has teamed up with esports organization XSET, which was announced on Grizzley World RP — his Grand Theft Auto Server — according to a press release. The recent news makes him  “the first talent that has ever joined a gaming organization live in-game.” WELCOME @TEEGRIZZLEY x THE GRIZZLEY GANG TO XSET. History was made last night as Tee Grizzley and the Grizzley Gang joined XSET, LIVE, in game, during a storyline inside Tee’s GTA RP server. #RepTheSet ❌ pic.twitter.com/meLQ6aDvzM — XSET (@XSET) April 6, 2022 Within the partnership, the new duo will invite former inmates to get involved in gaming with the aim to help them with the hurdle of re-entering society. As someone who was previously in prison and is a gamer himself, he hopes the games can help others the same way they did for him. It also serves as a way for people to earn a source of income instead of harmful ways of...

Ngozi Nwanji

Apr 7, 2022

Olympic Gold Medalist Usain Bolt Becomes Co-Owner Of Esports Organization WYLDE

Usain Bolt is as quick on his feet as he is with his business moves. As of March 30, the Olympian became the co-owner of esports organization WYLDE, Forbes reports. Although his new company is based in Dublin, Ireland, its roots are in the Caribbean — just like the Jamaican track and field star. According to the outlet, WYLDE’s teams and players are currently competitors in Rainbow Six Siege, VALORANT, Rocket League, and FIFA, which Bolt will now make a great influence on with his successful background as an eight-time Olympic gold medalist. “Usain coming on board takes WYLDE to the next level,” WYLDE co-founder David Cronin said, according to Forbes. “With his vast competitive experience and Olympic-winning mentality, his guidance will be invaluable as we continue to build professional structures to support the development of our players”.

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 30, 2022

Cxmmunity To Host Second Annual HBCU Esports League With Support From T-Pain, And More

Cxmmunity is still on a mission to make esports accessible at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The Black-owned non–profit spearheaded by Christopher Peay and Ryan Johnson has announced its second annual HBCU Esports League Verizon Celebrity Pro-Am. Students will compete in Uno and Fortnite alongside celebrity figures including T-Pain, Brett Gray, Mike Evans, Erin Ashley Simon, Allisha Gray, Bas, Tarik Cohen, FaZe Swagg, Sonny Digital, and more. “We want to continue elevating and raising awareness around HBCU esports programs while showing these schools and these students that there are really cool people in sports, entertainment, and music supporting the gaming space,” Johnson told AfroTech exclusively. In addition to playing alongside celebrity favorites, students can also look forward to a prize pool of $10,000 with $2,000 for the Uno segment that will be donated to the school’s esports programs and $8,000 for the Fortnite tournament to support student...

Samantha Dorisca

Mar 23, 2022

Why The Next Young Kid Can Dream Big And Know Anything Is Possible, Thanks To PlayVS' Delane Parnell

When it comes to the game of life, being one step ahead is vital, especially for PlayVS founder, Delane Parnell. As a founder, Parnell has carved his own lane in the esports industry, taking others along with him every step of the way through PlayVS, “where amateur esports happens,” according to its website. The company has changed the lives of high school students by equipping them with opportunities to not only play the game but also by opening the doors to hundreds of scholarships across North America, in turn, acting as an entryway into professional gaming as a way of life. Now the Detroit native’s story is being told through “Ahead of the Game,” written by Kevin J. Ryan to spotlight the young entrepreneurs’ unique journey and shed light on the impact that his company has had on youth across America. Parnell joined AfroTech to discuss why he agreed to go through with the book despite not initially thinking it was time, his love for esports, and the power that hard work has to...

Shanique Yates

Mar 14, 2022

Snoop Dogg Joins Esports And Entertainment Company FaZe Clan As A Member Of Its Board And Talent Network

Snoop Dogg’s ventures are still expanding! As AfroTech previously reported, the famed rapper celebrated a full circle moment after the acquisition of Death Row Records. Now, Snoop Dogg continues to prove he can do it all as he will join esports and entertainment company FaZe Clan as a member of its talent network and board of directors, The Hollywood Reporter revealed exclusively. “As the original internet kid and first generation gamer, Snoop more than anyone has always understood the cultural connection between music, lifestyle and gaming,” FaZe Clan’s Chief Strategy Officer Kai Henry said, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “Today, Snoop is a leading voice in the emerging Web3 community and we have tremendous plans to create together in the metaverse, driving new engagement opportunities for both of our fanbases.” It appears Snoop Dogg’s new role is long overdue. While Snoop Dogg has cultivated a relationship with the organization throughout the years, he has been into gaming...

Samantha Dorisca

Mar 7, 2022

NBA 2K To Join PlayVS' High School Varsity Esports Leagues In The Spring

For NBA 2K fans in high school, it’s officially your time to shine. After a partnership between Publisher 2K and Black-owned esports company PlayVS, the popular basketball video game is on its way to becoming a high school varsity esport in the U.S. and Canada, Forbes reports. In the spring, NBA 2K will be added to PlayVS for gamers to begin their online matches. Keeping in mind the reality that everyone doesn’t have the ability to play contact sports, the new partnership aims to provide more inclusivity for students, along with helping to improve attendance, grades and graduation rates — even as far as eventually competing at collegiate and professional levels. “Bringing NBA 2K, one of the most highly demanded titles among our player base, to high schools across the country is a monumental opportunity in scholastic esports,” PlayVS founder and CEO Delane Parnell said in a statement. “Since the founding of PlayVS, it has been our vision to grow esports opportunities at the high...

Ngozi Nwanji

Mar 2, 2022

J.R. Smith Partners With Complexity Gaming To Bring Esports To HBCU Students

J.R. Smith is making his time in college worthwhile. The former NBA star will be partnering with esports company Complexity Gaming to host Complexity Stars HBCU Rebirth Rumble, an online Call of Duty: Warzone tournament, for students attending Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). For J.R. Smith the opportunity will create a pathway to connect with others through the world of gaming. “As a student at NC A&T, I’m eager to find new ways to engage with my peers,” said J.R. Smith, according to a press release. “Thanks to my partnership with Complexity Stars, we were able to make the Rebirth Rumble possible and give students a unique opportunity to compete alongside world class athletes and top Call of Duty content creators.” Those who tap in can look forward to various perks such as a $10,000 prize pool and playing amongst COD influencers and popular athletes. Students will join the ranks of some of the best in COD gaming in a thrilling 3-vs.-3 Warzone competition. Trios...

Samantha Dorisca

Feb 24, 2022

LaMelo Ball Launches MB1 Gaming, His Own Esports Brand In Partnership With One Up

LaMelo Ball is already off to a stellar year. The NBA Rookie of the Year and Charlotte Hornets Point Guard is launching an esports brand — MB1 Gaming — with the help of technology company One Up. The platform will support MB1 Gaming by providing the operating system and resources needed to thrive in the world of esports through the latest One Up OS platform. “We are excited to partner with stars like LaMelo in the creation of their own esports brands and communities through One Up’s turn-key technology platform,” One Up CEO Brandon Pitts said in a press release. “Many professional athletes are big gamers and are looking for unique ways to use their own gaming fandom to ignite and expand their fanbase. We are completely democratizing competitive esports, and providing gamers with the infrastructure to either compete and monetize their skills or launch their own esports business.”

Samantha Dorisca

Jan 26, 2022

Play To Win: How PlayVS CEO Delane Parnell Utilized Technology To Change The Game Of Esports

Technology can serve as a game-changer across various industries. But when it comes to sports, PlayVS CEO Delane Parnell knows firsthand that it can take things to a new level if used correctly. This week’s Black Tech Green Money episode is a blast from the past and features a conversation held with Parnell alongside Blavity CEO Morgan DeBaun during AfroTech 2019. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AfroTech (@afro.tech)

Shanique Yates

Dec 21, 2021

Bowie State Reveals Plans To Open An Esports Lab Alongside A Game Development & Design Degree

Esports is taking the college world by storm. Having already launched an esports team back in February, Bowie State University wants to further support its students by creating an esports gaming lab facility , alongside a new game development and design degree, the Washington Business Journal reports. The historically Black university is currently on the lookout for bids to fund the gaming lab facility. The university hopes the gaming facility will encourage more students to tap into esports, strengthen their loyalty to the university’s team by creating an exclusive space, and support the addition of an undergraduate degree in game design. “It’s all part of an effort and plans to also create a game design academic program,” university spokesperson, Cassandra Robinson, said according to the outlet. Robinson also confirmed senior academic administrator Carl Goodman is leading the efforts for the layout of the degree program that is to come.

Samantha Dorisca

Dec 8, 2021