Tag: epsorts

SteelSeries partners with Valve for CS2 Dragon Lore Collection

SteelSeries, the original esports brand that fuses gaming and culture, and Valve, creator of the iconic FPS, Counter-Strike 2, proudly announce a new collaborative collection of limited-edition gaming gear. Celebrating the highly sought-after and coveted Dragon Lore skin, the design dons the award-winning QcK XXL Mousepad and Custom Wireless Gaming Mouse. The new collection was inspired by fusing SteelSeries’ esteemed reputation as a premium brand and worldwide leader in elite performance gaming gear with the mythos of the Counter-Strike franchise and its unique footprint within gaming culture.
The prestigious AWP | Dragon Lore skin is one of the rarest and most coveted in all of gaming. Introduced as part of the Cobblestone Collection in 2014, it remains elusive and a rarity to behold — until now. For the first time, the Dragon Lore design adorns two new Limited-Edition items from SteelSeries, inspiring precision with the Wireless Gaming Mouse and showcasing the dragon in all its glory across the QcK XXL Mousepad.
  • SteelSeries Custom Wireless Gaming Mouse | CS2 Dragon Lore Edition – Inspired by the illustrious, ultra-rare Dragon Lore skin, gamers can elevate their gameplay to new heights with this versatile custom wireless gaming mouse. Seamlessly switch between ultra-fast gaming-grade 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth, maintaining accuracy with 18K DPI TrueMove Air optical sensor, co-developed with PixArt. Experience the power of the dragon with up to 200 hours of battery life and 80 million clicks. The SteelSeries Wireless Gaming Mouse | CS2 Dragon Lore Edition takes inspiration from the award-winning Aerox 3 Wireless and reengineers the chassis and trigger button for the exclusive new design.
  • QcK XXL Mousepad | CS2 Dragon Lore Edition – The dragon’s power is fully exhibited as you lay down the foundations for victory. Achieve complete control and stability with a non-slip rubber base gaming mousepad, featuring our renowned QcK micro-woven cloth. Optimized to work with low or high DPI, style and substance come together in this signature CS2 mousepad. The QcK XXL represents the pinnacle of surface performance, innovation, and style. Durable micro-woven cloth on a 900 mm x 400 mm x 2mm playing surface provides players with maximum control. SteelSeries’ legendary QcK Series mousepads are engineered for all levels of play and are highly recommended by esports professionals.
For over two decades, Counter-Strike (CS) has offered an elite competitive experience, one shaped by millions of players from across the globe. Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) launched back in 2023 as a free upgrade to CS:GO, marking the largest technical leap in Counter-Strike’s history. Built on the Source 2 engine, CS2 is modernized with realistic physically-based rendering, state-of-the-art networking, and upgraded Community Workshop tools.
The SteelSeries x CS2 Dragon Lore Collection is available for pre-order beginning today, June 17, 2028, ahead of the official launch on July 1, 2025, at SteelSeries.com for the following MSRPs:
  • SteelSeries Wireless Gaming Mouse | CS2 Dragon Lore Edition – NA: $149.99 | EMEA: €129.99| UK: £119.99
  • QcK XXL Mousepad | CS2 Dragon Lore Edition – NA: $44.99 | EMEA: €44.99| UK: £39.99

Esports World Cup Foundation and Amazon Announce Strategic Collaboration

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced a strategic three-year collaboration with Amazon Ads that will combine the Esports World Cup’s (EWC) premier esports and gaming event, returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, with Amazon’s full-funnel advertising and entertainment services to deliver unprecedented fan experiences and expand the tournament’s global reach.

Building on the success of their 2024 collaboration at the inaugural Esports World Cup, which featured the launch of the Esports World Cup Hub on Amazon.sa and Amazon.ae, the expanded agreement will unlock new fan experiences across Twitch, Prime Video, Alexa, and Wondery, and introduce custom branded activations that inspire, connect and engage fans around the world with the action in Riyadh.

As part of the collaboration, EWCF and Amazon Ads will work together to extend the reach of the Esports World Cup across key locales, including the United States, Europe, Brazil, Mexico, the Middle East and North Africa, Turkey, India, and Canada. EWC content will be delivered to fans through live broadcasts on Twitch, an original docuseries on Prime Video, real-time voice integrations on Alexa, and immersive music-driven storytelling via Wondery. These initiatives aim to transform the way fans engage with esports as mainstream entertainment for a digital generation, from competition and storytelling to shopping and social interaction.

In addition to new audience experiences, the collaboration will offer new opportunities for brands to connect with the next-generation global esports audience through Amazon’s suite of advertising solutions. From exclusive content and custom executions to programmatic media and retail integration, creating a powerful storytelling environment that benefits players, Clubs, fans, and partners of the EWC.

“Esports is redefining how a new generation consumes entertainment – always on, always accessible, and deeply social,” said Mike McCabe, Chief Operating Officer, at the Esports World Cup Foundation. “With Amazon, we are bringing esports into everyday digital lives for millions of people around the world — whether you’re catching highlights on Prime, or a livestream on Twitch, or asking Alexa for updates – creating an immersive, multimedia experience that’s shaping its place in global culture.”

Rayan Karaky, Managing Director, EMEA & Southeast Asia at Amazon Ads, said,“ We are excited to continue our collaboration with EWCF to shape how Esports is experienced globally. Our collaboration will power immersive fan experiences across multiple touchpoints and create exceptional value for brands. Through our global services – Twitch, Prime Video, Alexa and Wondery – we will take world-class esports content from Saudi Arabia to the world. This initiative supports the Kingdom’s position as a world-leading esports hub, and the Vision 2030 ambition to be a leader in digital entertainment and technology.”

Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24, 2025, the Esports World Cup Festival will unite gaming and esports communities for a global celebration of gaming and esports culture. With esports tournaments, live music, retro arcades, anime cafes, cosplay, creator studios, and more, the EWC Festival will offer millions of fans exclusive experiences celebrating their love of the game.

The Esports World Cup 2025 will feature 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries, competing in 25 tournaments across 24 games for a record-breaking $70+ million prize pool.

To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.

TechLabs, Ireland’s only tech, electronics and lifestyle consumer expo is coming to Dublin’s RDS

From the creators of GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, comes TechLabs, the country’s only expo showcasing the latest advancements in consumer tech, electronics and lifestyle.  Taking place in Dublin’s RDS on Saturday, 18th October, TechLabs is set to be Ireland’s answer to Las Vegas’ CES.

Featuring leading global tech brands showcasing the latest in consumer electronics and smart technology, TechLabs is set to welcome over 10,000 tech-savvy visitors to the state-of-the-art exhibition highlighting the industry’s most cutting edge innovations.

Focusing on five key pillars, TechLabs is a free to attend event that connects consumers with the latest, most enhanced digital tech from around the world:

Urban Mobility – Discover next-generation urban mobility solutions including high performance cars and motorbikes, EVs, drones, e-scooters and e-bikes

Health and Fitness – Join the revolution of personalised health with the latest in wearable health trackers, smart fitness equipment and healthcare solutions

Audiovisual – Your gateway to entertainment with smart TVs, projectors, sound systems, headsets, home cinema, photography and action cameras

Connectivity – Get hands on with the latest smartphones, tablets, smart glasses and ultra-fast 5G connectivity that keeps everything – and everyone – connected

Computers and Gaming – Check out the very latest in PCs, high performance laptops, gaming consoles and immersive VR experiences

The event also sees the launch of the Innovation Stage, where visitors to TechLabs can experience live product demos, exclusive product launches, and expert reviews of innovative devices. It’s the go-to platform for discovering what’s new, what’s next, and what’s redefining the world of smart technology.

With 81% of Irish households embracing smart technology (according to a survey by European retailer Reichelt Elektronik), TechLabs is the perfect opportunity for tech lovers to engage with forward-thinking brands. Whether you’re a seasoned gadget fanatic or just curious about the latest in smart living, the event has something for everyone. Techlabs also comes just in time for those looking to trial products ahead of Black Friday sales and the Christmas shopping season.

TechLabs is created by the organisers of GamerFest, Ireland’s leading games convention which has welcomed over 35,000 gamers to the RDS, and the NEXUS Games Conference, a leading games industry conference bringing together global decision makers and industry leaders.

CEO of TechLabs, Stuart Dempsey, says: “We’re hugely excited to announce TechLabs, a groundbreaking, immersive new expo designed for everyone who lives and breathes technology. From next-generation smart TVs and cutting-edge wearable fitness devices to the latest in urban mobility, TechLabs will showcase the latest tech innovations ahead of the Black Friday and Christmas period.”

 

www.techlabsexpo.ie

Irish software research centre Lero to open doors for women to esports competitions

Research to determine if women have cognitive advantages that could help them become stars in the male-dominated esport sector, where players compete for more than €500 million in prize money annually, has been launched by Lero, Ireland’s Research Centre for Software, and University of Limerick.

Lero researchers at the bespoke Esports Science Research Lab—the first of its kind in Europe—have teamed up with Logitech, a designer of software-enabled hardware solutions. This collaboration aims to leverage Logitech’s expertise in hardware design and Lero’s research capabilities to establish elite women gamers’ cognitive and gaming abilities.

 Director of the Esport Science Research Lab and Co-Principal Investigator on the project, Professor Mark Campbell, said gaming is now a multi-billion-euro industry with professional gamers, coaches, and competitions viewed by audiences that compare in size with well-established major sporting events like the Superbowl, the golf majors, Wimbledon, and the Six Nations.

“Even though esports don’t require as much physical effort as traditional sports, there is a dichotomy whereby men feature much more prominently than women at the highest levels of play. Yet most of the video gaming and esports research to date predominantly tests male participants, which means we know little to nothing about elite women gamers’ cognitive and gaming performance.”

Dr Adam Toth, Principal Investigator on the project, added: “This project will continue to grow the capabilities and expertise within the Lero Esports Science Research Lab, utilising bespoke experimental techniques, expert investigators, and high-level processing and analysis tools to identify the attributes of elite women gamers and how we can enhance women’s performance and experience in gaming.”

Dr Toth said the goal of this project is to extend collaborative work between Lero and Logitech in esports and break new ground by investigating the cognitive and gaming performance of elite women gamers.

“We will do this by using bespoke hardware and software to capture behavioural, physiological and performance data during professional and amateur gamers’ training and play sessions to highlight any significant cognitive differences between male and female gamers. This data primarily will come from the differing instrumentation of games/gaming devices, and processing and analysis techniques will be employed to assess the cognitive and in-game similarities and differences of elite women gamers compared to their male counterparts,” he added.

The two-year project at the University of Limerick, which will cost close to €120,000, builds on a successful eight-year collaboration between UL and Logitech and will enhance the capabilities and status of the Esports Science Research Lab at the University of Limerick.

Virgin Media announced as the title sponsor of The FAI’s Esports Programme

Virgin Media has been announced as the title partner of the Football Association of Ireland’s Esports programme, including the ELOI which will now be titled the Virgin Media ELOI.

The new two-year agreement will provide Virgin Media with title sponsorship of the ELOI, eNational Team and a newly launched EFAI Cup.

The new EFAI Cup will be an exciting two-week online tournament in January which will culminate in an in-person final four showdown one week after the tournament ends. The tournament will be open to all levels to enter and participants must be over 16 and based in the Republic of Ireland. Registrations will open in December.

The Virgin Media ELOI will run from February to April 2024 and will feature all 20 men’s League of Ireland clubs, competing in a group format with the top two teams progressing to the live Final.

The winner of the Virgin Media ELOI will earn a place in the eChampions League Group Stage and a Play-Off place for the FC Pro World Championship.

Competitive gaming and the esports industry have grown exponentially in recent years. The industry has become a global phenomenon with millions of fans participating and consuming esports. There are around two million gamers in Ireland across all spectrums, and it is estimated there are around 700,000 Esports enthusiasts.

The FAI have recognised these developments in esports and has decided to actively shape the efootball landscape here in Ireland. The FAI’s esports programme is established to attract and engage with a younger demographic of football fans and create a new participation and supporter stream through esports.

Sean Kavanagh, FAI Commercial Director, said: “This is an exciting partnership for the FAI to have such a brilliant brand to be the title sponsor for our electronic games programmes. This is an exciting area for us to grow and has huge potential for both ourselves and Virgin Media. The addition of the EFAI Cup will give the wider public a great opportunity to get involved in the games and having Virgin Media alongside us will help us amplify this as well as the Virgin Media ELOI and ENational Team for the FAI to an even wider audience.”

Vice President of Commercial at Virgin Media, Paul Higgins said: “Virgin Media recognises the growth of gaming and esports in Ireland and we know many of our customers come to Virgin Media so they can experience the most reliable and best broadband for their gameplay.  This important strategic partnership with the FAI is an opportunity for Virgin Media to continue to support the gaming community in Ireland so the right infrastructure is in place for Irish gamers to play and compete.

“We are excited to partner with the FAI’s esports programme that is committed to engaging and supporting gamers at a grass root and national level. This partnership is an extension of our gaming partnerships with the likes of Esports organisation WYLDE.”

Mark Scanlon, League of Ireland Director, said: “We’re delighted to announce Virgin Media as title sponsor with the FAI and it is great to have such a well-known and innovative brand as title sponsor of the ELOI. The ELOI has a huge role for us to play in the growth of the League of Ireland’s fanbase with the newer generation and last year’s tournament was a great way to kick off the new brand. We’re excited to see where we can take the Virgin Media ELOI along with Virgin Media into 2024.”

 

EGX tickets are now on sale with a 20% off early bird offer until June 22nd

Tickets are on sale now for EGX, the UK’s biggest celebration of games, with 20% off before 22nd June. Bringing a loaded lineup of video game goodness to ExCeL London, 12th-15th October, EGX will feature playable games from major AAA and indie developers, four days of competitive esports and a stellar stage schedule.

New for 2023, EGX is introducing Clan Packages for players who want to team up with their fireteam, clan or raid team for a discounted price and exclusive merch. This is the perfect option for squads hungry to test their mettle in the competitive EGX Arena.

 The EGX line-up so far…

  • Playable games and experiences from AAA and indie developers
  • The EGX Theatre – world renowned game creators present their latest video game projects and answer fan questions.
  • The Leftfield Collection – an eclectic area packed with weird and wonderful independent games that do things a little differently.
  • Community Hub – a celebration of fandoms and diverse gaming communities who call EGX their home.
  • EGX Arena – go face to face in 1v1s or squads with other players in esports tournaments, with plenty of prizes to be won.

Plus, much more! Stay tuned for more updates about EGX 2023. All badges and tickets can be purchased on the EGX website here.

GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, returns to Dublin this October

GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, is returning to the RDS, Dublin this October 22nd & 23rd. The epic weekend celebration of gaming entertainment will include the latest games, VR gaming, esports and gaming challenges, a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators, and a variety of live stage content.

Organisers have also announced an exciting new partnership with Lucozade, the 2022 Title Sponsor of GamerFest, who will be showing up big at the event and supporting a wide range of gaming activations across the entire weekend.

Since its establishment in 2017 GamerFest has established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, whether that be casual gaming with friends or those who engage in competitive esports tournaments, game development and design or content creation.

Over the last number of years GamerFest has become a hub for content creator talent in Ireland, with a host of YouTube and Twitch special guests set to attend October’s event. Content creators confirmed to date include Antitinkerbell, Jamie Jay Car, The Gara Show, Audrey and event hosts All Cast Irish Gamers with more special guest announcements coming soon.

Fans of esports will witness a packed line-up of competitive action on the GamerFest Main Stage including an Official Partnership with Ubisoft and the launch of the GamerFest Rainbow Six Siege Ireland Open. This tournament offers an incredible opportunity for Irish teams to qualify for the UK Ireland Nationals (UKIN) and ultimately earn a professional spot in the Rainbow Six Northern Premier League.

Organisers have also confirmed a ground-breaking partnership with Legion Collegiate Esports, Ireland’s dedicated esports series for third-level students in Ireland, which will see some of the best student esports talent in the country go head to head across a range of titles including Rocket League, Apex Legends and FIFA.

Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to get hands on with HADO, the very latest in Augmented Reality (AR) gaming, where players do battle with virtual energy balls and shields on a real life court. HADO will also launch the first ever Irish HADO Championship at GamerFest which will see the winning team represent Ireland at the upcoming HADO European Championships in France.

The wide array of gaming entertainment on offer at GamerFest includes:

  • The latest titles, VR gaming and technology

  • A showcase of the best in Irish gaming content creator talent with a new ‘Creator Zone’ offering visitors the chance to meet their favourite Twitch and YouTube creators

  • An expo hall and market place to get the latest gaming equipment and gear

  • A host of esports tournaments featuring on the GamerFest Main Stage

  • A range of special guest appearances and Meet + Greet opportunities

GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says:

“Like our visitors, the team behind GamerFest are gamers. Ever since our first event five years ago, we’ve kept an absolute focus on one thing – the gaming community. Community guides us in everything we do, ensuring we have the best games, content, special guests and entertainment possible at all our events.”

 “Just like every other live event, it’s been incredibly tough not seeing our community since 2020 throughout the Covid pandemic. So, we’re incredibly excited to see the anticipation for the return of GamerFest this year. It will be wonderful to see people physically come together and celebrate all things gaming, bringing to life all the incredible friendships and relationships that have developed online over the last number of years.”

GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this October 22nd and 23rd with tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.

‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’ digital skills competition final to be televised on RTÉ2 on June 16th at 5pm

The final of Ireland’s first national digital skills competition, Ireland’s Future is MINE, is scheduled to be televised on RTÉ2 on June 16th at 5pm. Delivered through a collaboration between Microsoft Ireland and RTÉjr, the competition’s final will see St. Hugh’s National Primary School from Leitrim and Moyvore Primary School from Westmeath battle it out for first place.

Launched in September 2021, the ‘Ireland’s Future is MINE‘ digital skills competition challenged primary school students to use Minecraft: Education Edition to think creatively, collaborate, problem-solve and shape Ireland’s sustainable future.

Since its launch, schools across Ireland have entered the competition and students have explored fun challenges such as building their own NASA rover and coding their very own polar ice hut. These challenges, made possible through Minecraft: Education Edition, are aligned to both the Republic and Northern Irish curriculums covering subjects from English, Maths, Science, Geography, SPHE and more.

Delivered by Microsoft Ireland’s Dream Space teachers on Dream Space TV in partnership with RTÉjr, the competition provided each school with comprehensive teaching guides to ensure that they were supported in making their submission. Through the competition, Microsoft Ireland and RTÉ sought to inspire students to build critical in-demand skills that will allow them to compete and fully participate in today’s digital world.

Having successfully progressed through the various stages of the competition, which saw participation from 130 other primary schools across Ireland, St Hugh’s National Primary School and Moyvore Primary School will compete in the final phase of the digital skills challenge. The winner will receive the grand prize of laptops for the classroom plus a charging trolley for their school.

Commenting on the final, James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Lead and Vice President of Microsoft International Operations, said: “We’re delighted to see the ‘Ireland’s Future is MINE’ competition reach its final stages. It’s been encouraging to see the level of enthusiasm from teachers and students right across the country as they competed in the competition over the last few months. At Microsoft, we are passionate about engaging students and teachers in STEM education experiences and by way of Ireland’s Future is MINE and Dream Space, our innovative STEM education experience, we are empowering young people to see digital technology and STEM in exciting new ways.

“In advance of the final, I’d like to wish the students of St Hugh’s National Primary School and Moyvore Primary School the very best of luck.”

 Suzanne Kelly, Group Head of Children’s and Young Peoples’ Content at RTÉ, said:

“We were blown away by the standard of entries from schools across the country to Ireland’s Future is Mine. After months of hard work and nail-biting showdowns, just two talented schools remain in the battle for the coveted title of All-Ireland champions.  RTÉ is so excited to bring you our thrilling final. This is a ‘first of its kind’ esports TV broadcast and when kids see what the finalists built, we hope they will be inspired. Certainly, we’ve been inspired by the creativity and the fun the two teams showed in this exciting final. Don’t miss it!”

To view the scheduling programme for the final, visit RTÉjr here: www.rte.ie/learn/irelands-future-is-mine/