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Team Vitality Moves East with StarCraft II Roster as it Continues Global Expansion

Published

2 years ago

February 1, 2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Leading esports organisation Team Vitality is excited to announce the arrival of a StarCraft II roster within its ranks, diving into the heart of Korean esports culture and the real-time strategy (RTS) scene.

Against a challenging economic backdrop, Team Vitality shines by demonstrating its dynamism. The organisation is thriving, confirming its role as a leader and pioneer at the heart of the global esports ecosystem, while writing a new page in its history, highlighting continued and inspiring growth.

TEAM VITALITY’S STARCRAFT II ROSTER WILL COMPETE AT IEM KATOWICE 2024

The French esports club is embracing one of the most iconic and foundational titles in the esports ecosystem. Formerly known as ONSYDE, Team Vitality’s new StarCraft II roster will make their debut, donned in Vitality’s iconic colours, at IEM Katowice 2024, taking place from February 8-11th in Poland, with the goal of securing multiple titles. Each player on the roster has accumulated several individual titles in the Global StarCraft II League (GSL), with the team itself having claimed victory in every season of the World Team League until 2023.

The roster is composed of:

Kang ‘Solar’ Min-Soo – Zerg – South Korea: Solar stands out as a formidable force in the competitive StarCraft II scene. Known for his innovative playstyle and consistent performance, he has captured the admiration of fans worldwide. With an illustrious career holding multiple GSL titles as well as the most recent season, Solar has cemented himself as one of the best in StarCraft II.
Cho ‘Maru’ Seong-Ju – Terran – South Korea: Maru has established himself as a true prodigy of StarCraft II esports, with the title of youngest player to compete in GSL and winning their first televised game at 13 years old. Since his debut, Maru has consistently proven himself as a dominant force in StarCraft II esports. With numerous championships and accolades under his belt, including multiple GSL titles, Maru’s impact on the esports landscape is nothing short of legendary.
Kim ‘Ryung’ Dong-Won – Terran – South Korea: Beloved by the community, Ryung has consistently performed at the top tournaments, such as GSL and World Team League, over many years which earned him the respect of both players and fans alike. Ryung brings a wealth of experience and a strategic mindset that complements the team’s pursuit of success.
Choi ‘CranK’ Jae-Won – Team Manager – South Korea: CranK is primarily known for his career spanning several years where he showcased the hallmarks of a StarCraft II expert, using highly strategic gameplay with quick and precise decision making. Now a streamer and a coach, CranK continues to be dedicated and passionate about the game. His charismatic personality and love for the community, makes him the perfect candidate to lead the team to dominate the esports scene.
“Entering StarCraft II means associating Team Vitality with the history of global esports. It’s an iconic game that the entire esport ecosystem has grown up with. And as well as rekindling our nostalgia, it’s a great opportunity to open up to a new market as part of our international expansion. We’re going to be partnering with professionals on the scene and players with legendary status. These criteria are essential to Team Vitality’s top performance model. Together, we will work towards the success of the game and become ambassadors to recreate the craze for RTS games.” explains Fabien ‘Neo’ Devide, Co-Founder and President of Team Vitality.

“We are so excited to be partnering with Team Vitality. This is the next step for us as a team, and by sharing insights, knowledge, and resources we can take our roster to the next level and expand our reach to a global audience. Despite ONSYDE being relatively young, we have established ourselves as a dominant force in the StarCraft II scene, and with the support of Team Vitality we hope to continue claiming titles and making our fans proud.” comments Choi ‘CranK’ Jae-Won, Team Manager.

TEAM VITALITY FORGES ITS DEVELOPMENT ON THE GLOBAL ESPORTS SCENE

The launch of this team marks Team Vitality’s ongoing growth in the Asian market following its presence in Mumbai, India, with the incorporation of its Call of Duty: Mobile team in 2021.

This new roster comes at the heels of Team Vitality’s most successful competitive year in history. In 2023, its Counter-Strike team won five major circuit trophies, including the IEM Rio in April, BLAST Major Paris in May, Gamers8 in August, BLAST Fall Finals in November, and rounding off the year claiming victory at the BLAST World Final in December. These outstanding performances earned the team the title of Team of the Year at the HLTV Awards. The Rocket League team made a significant impact by winning the RLCS Spring Europe, the Spring Split Major, and the World Championship, achieving the first perfect split in the game’s history. At the end of the year, Team Vitality was honoured with the coveted title of Esports Organisation of the Year at the Esports Awards.

“Last year was incredibly successful for us, and we’re aiming to maintain the momentum this year by focusing on tier 1 games and seizing exciting opportunities. Our entry into the Asian market puts us in the cradle of esports, offering new opportunities for growth and visibility. We hope to connect with passionate new fans worldwide!” explains Nicolas Maurer, Co-Founder and CEO of Team Vitality.

Latest News

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

20 hours ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

20 hours ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

20 hours ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: