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Japan sees a surge of popularity in Esports
Japan, the global leader in the manufacturing and consumption of video games, is fast catching up on Esports too.
The country, rather surprisingly, was a bit slow to get off the blocks in the Esports arena. However, as the global profile of Esports starts rising, especially with the decision to include it as a demonstration event in the upcoming Asian Games in Indonesia and as a full medal event at the 2022 Asian Games in China, Japan is witnessing a sudden spurt of interest.
Japan is of the home of game: developers Nintendo Co., Sony Corp., Capcom Co. and Konami Holdings Corp., you name it. But esports faces legal restrictions, such as a law that made it difficult for game-makers to hold competitions offering substantial prize money, in the country.
“Let’s say a company were to come out with a game that costs ¥10,000 and hold a game tournament to promote its sales. If the top prize was set at ¥100,000 that would be construed as inappropriate sales promotion because it would move many people to buy the product in order to go for the prize money,” explained lawmaker Jin Matsubara, head of the secretariat of a suprapartisan group of lawmakers promoting online games and esports.
“Japan is the only country that has this kind of law,” said Matsubara, who was previously state minister for consumer affairs.
To set the stage for growth in the domestic esports market, the group negotiated with the Consumer Affairs Agency and helped make it possible for esports tournaments to offer large monetary prize pools on condition that the contestants are professional competitors.
The Japan Esports Union (JESU), formed in February this year through the merger of five related entities aimed at unifying administrative activities, is tasked with issuing professional licenses.
JESU has so far issued licenses to more than 100 people for game titles including “Street Fighter V Arcade Edition,” “Call of Duty: WWII” and “Winning Eleven 2018,” known internationally as “Pro Evolution Soccer 2018.”
JESU Vice President Hirokazu Hamamura said the esports movement in Japan is accelerating. This has drawn the interest of companies outside the industry, including entertainment firm Yoshimoto Kogyo Co., which formed a professional esports team in March.
Still, the remuneration in Japan lags the rest of the world, peaking at around ¥60 million. Hamamura said prize money is merely one index.
“A bigger prize may bring excitement about esports, but another aspect is to attract attention,” he said, referring to such events as the Olympics, which do not directly offer prize money to the medalists but succeed in exciting athletes and spectators alike.
Source: japantimes.co.jp / SARAH SUK
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WILDZ INTRODUCES CUTTING-EDGE ENTERTAINMENT WITH WILDZ TV
Ta ‘Xbiex, Malta, September 2025: The Wildz Group is pleased to announce an impressive new addition to its flagship Wildz platform: Video-On-Demand product Wildz TV.
Wildz TV is a rich content offering that takes into account the popularity of Video On Demand (VOD). The service delivers rich media entertainment created by guest presenters that enhances the iGaming user experience within the sportsbook and online casino verticals.
As the first Wildz Group brand to provide a full sportsbook offering that accompanies its popular online casino within the same platform, Wildz is the ideal space to boost the enjoyment even more by introducing VOD content. Aligning with the brand’s ‘GET MORE’ payoff line, this complete entertainment suite provides streaming, live chat and 24/7 customer support, setting the bar high for one-stop leisure gaming.
Embracing the trend
VOD content is sweeping the globe as the preferred option chosen by customers seeking to make the most of their leisure activities, allowing them exclusive access to content suited to their tastes (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ being notable examples). According to Markets dot com, in 2023 the VOD market size was valued at USD 146.6 billion, and it’s forecast to balloon to USD 270.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 13%. It made sense to the Wildz team that this trend will inevitably dominate gambling entertainment, too, leading to the creation of a VOD tier of video action in Wildz TV.
Wildz hosts the phenomenal team at Gämblerscast to showcase how this works. They’re renowned for their razor-sharp commentary and insights. Viewers can enjoy Gämblerscast episodes, explore dedicated Gämblers Picks for selected sports and even dip into the Gämblers Favourite Slots.
About Gämblerscast
The collective at Gämblerscast has been amassing a growing following of enthusiasts on Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. As gambling enthusiasts, they know exactly how to create content that appeals to players, including insights, observations, humour and plenty of fun. This winning combination makes them a great fit as the first-ever team to be hosted on Wildz.
The added value of VOD
Players get the opportunity to access exclusive content for a modest premium, content that’s designed to match their interests. While Hulu and Paramount+ (for example) cater to mass markets, sites such as Wildz TV can provide niche content.
Contained behind a paywall, VOD entertainment is perfect for gambling as it underscores the importance of providing access to content according to Responsible Gaming principles and guidelines. Better yet, this source of revenue for entertainers offers a more sustainable form of entertainment that allows others to explore their creativity, too.
Jani Koskinen, Chief Marketing Officer at Wildz Group, says, “VOD is the way forward for gambling platforms seeking to acquire, entertain, engage, and retain players. We’ve seen a great impact from hosting the Gämblerscast team and premium sports events, and we anticipate quality engagement as we explore the benefits of offering rich and exclusive media to our customers. Welcome to the future of iGaming entertainment!”
Wildz TV is yet another reason players are moving to Wildz and sticking around for more quality gambling entertainment.
The post WILDZ INTRODUCES CUTTING-EDGE ENTERTAINMENT WITH WILDZ TV appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational
Ubisoft and BLAST are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Six Invitational, the biggest event in the BLAST R6 calendar, will take place at the Adidas Arena in northern Paris for the very first time.
Reopened in 2023 following major renovations, this state-of-the-art venue has quickly become one of Paris’s premier destinations for sport and entertainment. Designed with fan experience in mind, the Adidas Arena regularly hosts top-tier basketball games, concerts, and cultural events, and was a key stage during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With cutting-edge broadcast capabilities, spacious backstage areas for players, and infrastructure built for live streaming and large-scale digital productions, the Adidas Arena is also positioning itself as one of the most esports-friendly venues in Europe.
“The Six Invitational is not just a tournament, it’s a celebration of the Rainbow Six community,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “Bringing the event to Adidas Arena allows us to create an unforgettable experience for players and fans in one of Europe’s most exciting venues.”
“Hosting the Six Invitational 2026 in Paris, at the Adidas Arena, is a milestone for Ubisoft and for French esports,” said François-Xavier Deniele, VP, Esports & Competitive Gaming, Ubisoft. “France has become a leading hub for competitive gaming, and bringing Rainbow Six’s biggest event here highlights our commitment to the community.”
About the Tournament
The Six Invitational will span three distinct phases, each crafted to deliver intense competition and compelling narratives.
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Phase 1: Group Stage20 qualified teams will be divided into four groups of five. Each team will face the others in Best-of-3 matches. The top four teams from each group will advance.
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Phase 2: Playoffs16 teams will enter a double-elimination bracket, with all matches played in Best-of-3 format. Teams knocked to the lower bracket will have one final lifeline to stay in the competition. By the end of this phase, only six teams will remain.
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Phase 3: FinalsThe final six teams will battle in front of a live Parisian crowd at the Adidas Arena. Across two days of Best-of-3 matches, the field will narrow to the last two contenders, who will face off in a Best-of-5 Grand Final to crown the world champion.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Six Invitational 2026 will go on sale this week. Ticket categories include the ELITE Merchandise Bundle (€300), Carré Or, and multiple standard categories ranging from €75 to €175 (3-day passes), with 1-day passes starting from €30.
The post Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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LiveScore Group announces transformational partnership with X and xAI to drive the future of integrated sports media and betting
- Landmark partnership will leverage X’s real-time content and xAI’s technology to advance LiveScore Group’s mission to converge sports media and betting.
- Collaboration will introduce richer media, new fan engagement features and AI-driven personalisation, setting a new benchmark for digital sports content experiences.
- With over 100 million annual users, LiveScore Group continues to lead in global sports media innovation, while driving betting growth across the UK and international markets.
LiveScore Group, a global leader in sports media and betting, has announced a pioneering partnership with X and xAI that promises to transform both the sports media and betting industries. By leveraging the vast real-time content of X and the advanced AI capabilities of xAI, LiveScore Group will accelerate its strategy of converging sports media and betting into a single, seamless experience for millions of fans worldwide.
This collaboration will allow LiveScore Group to tap into the unique scale, speed and interactivity of X to deliver richer, more engaging content experiences across its Livescore and Livescore Bet products. The integration will redefine how fans follow live sport, interact with breaking news and participate in betting, creating a new standard for fan engagement in the digital era.
The collaboration will leverage unprecedented access to X’s various data and content APIs, giving LiveScore Group the ability to capture real-time sports conversations, sentiment and breaking news at scale.
This integration will fuel innovation across LiveScore Group’s media and betting platforms, enabling:
- Richer sports media experiences with instant delivery of news, fan sentiment, and influencer commentary.
- New engagement features such as bet-slip and prediction sharing directly into X, connecting communities of fans and bettors.
- Smarter trading models that react to real-time sports developments and fan conversations, enhancing bettor value and retention.
- Faster, scalable customer support, including automated responses to fan inquiries via X.
The partnership will also leverage the power of xAI’s cutting-edge technology to develop personalised fan experiences, predictive insights and new AI-driven engagement tools across LiveScore and LiveScore Bet. From smarter trading models that adapt to real-time sentiment, to tailored content delivery that anticipates fan preferences, xAI will play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of products within LiveScore Group’s integrated ecosystem.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “This is a game-changing moment for LiveScore Group and for the industries we operate in. By partnering with X and xAI, we are unlocking the ability to combine the world’s most dynamic real-time content platform with our mission to converge sports media and betting. This will redefine how fans experience live sport, empower new forms of interaction, and set a bold new direction for the future of our industry”.
Christopher Park, Director & Global Lead of Developer Platform at X Corp, commented: “We are delighted to partner with LiveScore Group as they push the boundaries of sports engagement and innovation. This partnership highlights how X and xAI can empower forward-thinking companies to harness real-time data and AI to disrupt industries and deliver transformative experiences to users around the world.”
With more than 100 million annual users, LiveScore Group has established itself as a leading force in converging sports media and betting. This new partnership with X and xAI cements its position at the forefront of industry innovation and marks a bold step in shaping the next era of fan engagement.
The post LiveScore Group announces transformational partnership with X and xAI to drive the future of integrated sports media and betting appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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