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How the NBA is Making Waves in eSports

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The National Basketball Association has just turned 73 years old and is one of the four major leagues for professional level sports in North America. Thanks to this age and prominence, it is often considered the world’s leading basketball league, with good reason. Whilst comprising of teams only from the United States and Canada, the NBA attracts many international players who join from every continent. In addition, the average NBA team is worth $1.9 billion, considerably more than teams in other leagues.

Expanding the Empire

The NBA is currently enacting a strategy to leverage its brand around the world, developing audiences in regions outside of the United States including the UK, Africa and China. As part of this it recently announced the launch of a NBA YouTube channel to stream games to sub-Saharan audiences.

The eSports Expansion

In 2017, the NBA and games developer Take-Two Interactive announced that 17 of the 30 NBA teams would be taking part in the inaugural NBA 2K eSports League. This list included big names like the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and the Toronto Raptors. The first of these eSports games took place in 2018, using the NBA 2K video games. Like real life games, NBA 2K eSports League games are contested between two teams of 5 players, making use of the “Pro-Am” mode found in the consumer version of NBA 2K 2018.

Just like in real life basketball, the eSports teams are generally made up of the following types of player:

  • Point guard: generally taking the on court leadership role for the team, typically having the best ball handling and passing skills to assist in creating shots
  • Shooting guard: typically the best shooter on the team, tasked with exploiting these skills, particularly when shooting from behind the three-point line
  • Small forward: often considered the most versatile position of the five, the small forward often takes on the role of the shooting guard, but is more likely to score baskets from lay-ups or slam dunks in contrast to the shooting guard’s three-point shooting abilities
  • Power forward: a versatile role, similar to the centre, which requires shooting and defence skills against all types of players
  • Centre: typically the tallest players, defending against shots and collecting rebounds.

The “eSeason”

In the real world, the NBA Championship will be decided between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors in mid June. Currently, odds comparison site Oddschecker is ranking the Raptors as favourites to take the crown. However, the NBA 2K eSports season begins in spring and finishes in summer. This timing allows the NBA to have its brand utilised for a larger portion of the year, beyond the end of the traditional basketball season.

eSports has become a multi million dollar industry.  Photo by Anthony Brolin, License

 

First Mover Advantage

The NBA’s announcement in 2017 that it would be launching the NBA 2K eSports League meant that it was the first major sports brand in the United States to enter the world of eSports. In contrast, most other eSports leagues are organised by tech companies like Intel – or games companies like Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. Therefore, if the NBA is successful it will have several years of development to build a loyal eSports fan base, before rivals such as the National Football League or Major League Baseball join the party.

Growing Already

After a successful first year, four additional real life NBA teams will be joining the NBA 2K eSports League lineup, bringing the total number to 21. These new teams are: the Atlanta Hawks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Brooklyn Nets and the Minnesota Timberwolves.The growth provides mutual benefits, since the teams will bring with them their own existing supporters who are more likely to follow their team’s eSports team, than an unknown entrant. In addition, the fans of eSports are likely to also gain a stronger interest in the real life team, buying merchandise and visiting games.

Live Streaming

Just as traditional sports leagues like the NBA have sold rights to air games on TV, the NBA 2K eSports League has signed a deal to have its games streamed live over the internet. The deal with streaming platform Twitch sees all games shown live, available to its audience of 15 million daily active users. The multi year streaming deal also includes commentary and analysis, just like you would expect from traditional TV coverage of any other sport.

The NBA 2K eSports deal is not Twitch’s first with the NBA. In December 2017, the two companies signed a deal that enabled Twitch to live stream games from the NBA G League, the official minor league, with up to 6 matches each week being distributed on the platform.

Sponsorship

Just like traditional sports leagues, the NBA 2K eSports League has signed a number of major sponsorship deals with large companies. Games are played on computers provided by gaming PC brand Alienware, using powerful processing chipsets supplied by Intel. Players use HyperX sponsored headsets and Scuf Gaming branded controllers. Teams also have their own sponsors, with their logos displayed on the teams’ in-game uniforms, just like in real life.

Conclusion

The growth in eSports has been massive, with large sums of money now being invested in creating leagues with all of the hallmarks of a traditional sport. In its quest to become a global sports brand, the NBA has been able to leverage its existing assets to create a large following in eSports, almost overnight. By launching the league in 2018 with 17 existing NBA teams, the NBA 2K eSports League already had loyal fans of 17 established sports clubs who would want to support them. Thus, it has a pre-made fanbase, huge financial assets and an established brand to leverage sponsorship deals and to use in negotiations when selling streaming rights.

In addition, the NBA’s venture into eSports is a significant opportunity to expand the reach of its brand into new geographic regions, as well as to new demographics that had not previously been interested in basketball. Even if a player does not become an avid watcher of NBA games, sales of the NBA 2K video game titles are also likely to benefit from the exposure of the NBA 2K eSports League.


Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: How the NBA is Making Waves in eSports

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Evoplay celebrates the holidays with fast-paced fun in Uncrossable Rush X-mas

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Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has given its hit title Uncrossable Rush a festive makeover with the release of Uncrossable Rush Xmas.

The new edition reintroduces Eggwina, the fearless chicken from the original game, for another wild road-crossing adventure, this time through a snowy landscape filled with flashing lights, holiday traffic, and plenty of chaos.

Based on the mechanics of CrossyRun under the licence from SlotСatalog, Uncrossable Rush Xmas challenges players to guide Eggwina across 32 unpredictable lanes, dodging cars and trucks to reach the other side.

Players can cash out their winnings at any moment or take another risky move to test their luck for bigger rewards.

Designed to meet the excitement of the year’s most active period, the game now features an expanded multiplier distribution across more tracks, creating a longer progression curve and stronger momentum throughout each run.

These improvements heighten engagement and make every round more rewarding while preserving everything players loved about the original release.

Four difficulty levels allow players to choose their pace, ranging from a gentle holiday stroll to full-speed festive mayhem. The higher the setting, the faster the traffic flows and the larger the starting multiplier increases.

No two rounds are alike, with randomised traffic patterns ensuring each run remains fresh and unpredictable.

For those who like to plan ahead, the game’s autoplay mode offers complete control, allowing players to set bet amounts, behaviour after wins or losses, and even stop conditions for profit or loss.

Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay, said: Uncrossable Rush Xmas brings back the fun and intensity of the original while adding a joyful twist. We’ve enhanced progression and engagement to create a more dynamic experience that captures the excitement of the holidays, giving players plenty of reasons to jump in and enjoy the rush.”

“With its playful design, fast-paced gameplay, and spirit of adventure, Uncrossable Rush X-mas delivers an experience that perfectly fits the energy and excitement of the most exciting time of the year.”

The post Evoplay celebrates the holidays with fast-paced fun in Uncrossable Rush X-mas appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Explore the Cursed Diary in Just Slots’ New Game, Book of Abyss

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Malta-based iGaming developer, Just Slots, has announced the release of its latest slot title, Book of Abyss. In this dark fantasy adventure, players descend into the realm of Abyss, a fallen queen demoness bound to a cursed diary. Every spin of the reels echoes Abyss’s torment, and when the mystical Book feature opens, players peer into forbidden chapters of her soul. Each expanded page reveals fragments of Abyss’s desire, vengeance and eternal struggle, making Book of Abyss more than just a slot, but a ritualistic journey into passion and damnation.

While built on the familiar “Book” mechanics that fans love, Book of Abyss pushes the boundaries further with powerful visuals and narratives, and a huge 150,000x max win. Free spins plunge players into Abyss’s blazing underworld, where expanding symbols and high multipliers turn every spin into a battle for domination. The game also offers Bonus Buy and the popular HotSpin feature, giving players extra ways to ignite the action. In short, Book of Abyss feels comfortably familiar but boldly fresh, blending the beloved style of Book of Arcane with a darker and more seductive twist, and pushing the max win potential even higher.

Inspired by gothic fantasy and occult myth, Abyss portrays a dangerous yet captivating fallen queen. Her design is painted in a palette of cold emerald shadows and scorching inferno reds to reflect her dual nature, restraint on the page versus wrath unleashed. Book of Abyss expands creative horizons with its blend of myth, sensuality and suspense. Just Slots has crafted it with its audience in mind, knowing players crave immersive and narrative driven slots with frequent bonuses. The game’s mystical theme, striking aesthetic and rich storytelling diversifies the company’s portfolio and continues its trend of reinventing bold new concepts, from the candy coated charm of Sugar Heaven to the mystical allure of Book of Arcane.

Commenting on the release, Christine Parkhill, Chief Commercial Officer at Just Slots, said, “Book of Abyss is an epic adventure. We’ve taken the successful formula of our ‘Book’ game and plunged it into a deeper and darker territory. Players can expect the high-volatility features they love including expanding symbols, free spins, multipliers and a massive 150,000x max win, wrapped in a haunting gothic tale of desire and vengeance. Every page of Abyss’s cursed diary that players unlock immerses them further into her forbidden world. Book of Abyss is a ritualistic journey through the soul of a demoness and we can’t wait for players to explore its secrets page by page.”

Book of Abyss goes live today and will be available on leading sites such as Gamdom.com, Biggg.com , Stake.com , LuckyDreams.com  and more. A demo is also available on Just Slots’ website, inviting players to get a sense of Abyss’s realm before embarking on the full experience. To keep the fire of Abyss’s story burning long after launch, Just Slots plans operator-led tournaments, instant prize drops and streamer collaborations, offering extra excitement beyond the core gameplay.

The post Explore the Cursed Diary in Just Slots’ New Game, Book of Abyss appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Rings of Prosperity channels divine favour

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Play’n GO presents Rings of Prosperity, a slot rooted in ancient mysticism and the power of celestial guidance.

Play’n GO’s Rings of Prosperity draws on the influence of Eastern mythology, placing players under the protection of the Dragon God – a symbol of strength and abundance. Following in the footsteps of narrative-led titles such as Temple of Prosperity, this 5-reel slot embraces a thematic focus on balance and transformation, expressed through sacred rings, golden coins, and the celestial influence of a Prosperity Wheel.

With its strong visual identity and symbolic layering, Rings of Prosperity creates a holistic player experience that’s both visually rich and narratively focused.

The heart of the game lies in its interconnected symbols and celestial mechanisms. RINGS – in green, red, and purple – appear and evolve through the divine will of the Dragon God, ultimately transforming into golden coins. These coins are more than visual rewards – they symbolise earned blessings, tying directly into the theme of spiritual wealth.

At pivotal moments, the Prosperity Wheel spins into view, acting as a divine arbiter. This design choice elevates the gameplay by anchoring key moments in the will of a higher force, rather than random chance – in line with Play’n GO’s focus on storytelling-led slots that prioritise immersion and meaning.

Rings of Prosperity shares conceptual DNA with titles such as Temple of Prosperity and Fortune Rewind, continuing Play’n GO’s exploration of time, wealth, and divine influence. While Temple of Prosperity invokes nature spirits and ritualistic iconography, Rings of Prosperity focuses on celestial transformation – using colour, motion, and myth to communicate progress and reward.

Magnus Wallentin, Games Ambassador at Play’n GO said:“Our goal with Rings of Prosperity was to build a symbolic system players could intuitively connect with. Every visual element feeds into the core narrative.”

With its elegant symbolism and visual clarity, Rings of Prosperity rewards players not just with gameplay, but meaning.

The post Rings of Prosperity channels divine favour appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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