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Final Countdown to IEM Katowice 2023 – everything fans need to know

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With two more days to go before the Hall of Heroes opens its gates for fans to experience the legendary atmosphere of the Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Katowice 2023 live, the tournament is entering its most crucial point. Over the last week, 24 of the best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams from around the globe participated in a heated competition with only the top six progressing to the final stage. With the CS:GO teams finetuning their skills before their next battles, 36 of the world’s best StarCraft® II players now take the center stage. Over the next days, they will play against each other to claim the ESL Pro Tour Championship title.

Meanwhile, thousands of fans get ready to cheer on their CS:GO favorites in the sold-out Spodek Arena and their StarCraft® II idols in the International Congress Center (MCK), in Katowice, Poland. Moreover, they can look forward to the return of the free-to-enter IEM Expo, as the MCK will host one of the biggest trade shows in the region, the EFG Esports Forum, live ESL Impact and ESL R1 tournaments, and more.

ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Championship

Yesterday, the Group Stage came to an end, and now the top six teams are making their way towards the final weekend. The competition proved that the best players in the world brought their A-game to Katowice, and the past week resulted in some big surprises.

To begin with, IEM Katowice 2022 title holders, FaZe Clan, will not be defending their title this year. In their last game of the Group Stage, the international squad faced Team Liquid, with the latter winning the match 2-1.

In the quarterfinals of the competition, Team Liquid will be joined by the IEM Rio 2022 Major Champion, Outsiders, and the ESL Pro League Season 16 winner, Team Vitality. The last spot was decided in a hit match between legendary snipers in Natus Vincere vs. G2 Esports, where the latter took a confident victory. While Natus Vincere proceeds to the quarterfinals starting on Friday, February 10, at 3:30 PM CET, G2 Esports joins team Heroic directly in the semi-finals. This penultimate phase will  commence Saturday, February 11, at 3:30 PM CET.

With only two days left before history will be made, the top six competitors are now getting ready to show their world-class performances in the final stage of the ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Championship and fight for the major share in the $1,000,000 prize pool.

For more information and a full overview of the participating teams, the talent lineup, and more, head to the official website and follow ESL CS on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Furthermore, make sure to tune in during the live broadcasts on the ESL CS channels on Twitch or YouTube, or via our dedicated broadcast partners.

ESL Pro Tour for StarCraft® II Championship

Today the Zealots, Marines and Zerglings are facing off under their commander’s supervision. 36 of the best StarCraft® II players in the world are competing in a grand tournament, fighting for the World Championship title and a total prize pool of $500,000. From February 10, the competition moves to a dedicated stage at the IEM Expo in the MCK as the contenders continue their extragalactic battle live on stage.

Head to the official website, and follow ESL SC2 on Twitter and Facebook, for additional details about the IEM Katowice 2023 StarCraft® II Championship, the full lineup of contenders, and more. The live transmissions of the competition will be available on the ESL SC2 channels on Twitch, Youtube and via our dedicated broadcast partners.

The return of the IEM Expo

For the first time in over three years, IEM Katowice returns in full glory along with the IEM Expo, filled with major highlights. Besides the StarCraft® II Championship and many other activities, this year’s IEM Expo features two additional esports competitions:

  • This year marks the beginning of a new chapter for virtual racing fans. With a total prize pool of $500,000 for 2023, ESL R1 kicks off at IEM Katowice 2023 on February 11-12. This brand-new championship, co-created with RENNSPORT, will see 48 drivers from 12 teams compete in eight rounds in order to qualify for the ESL R1 Major. Make sure to check out the first two rounds of the 2023 Spring season which will be played out live at the IEM Expo.
  • Starting its second year, the all-women CS:GO circuit, ESL Impact, makes its debut in Poland as eight of the best women CS:GO teams from around the world face each other in a standalone live event. Cheered on by their fans, the participating teams will fight for a prize pool of $100,000.

IEM Expo visitors also have the opportunity to check out the ESL Pro Tour for CS:GO Championship live in a dedicated area inside the Spodek Arena. Note that space is limited and that the entrance policy happens on a first come first serve basis.

The IEM Expo, however, is not only about esports – it is a shared celebration of passion, where fans of new technologies, gaming and pop-culture get to meet and create unforgettable memories. To support this, the free-of-charge event will host a renowned trade show where some of the largest brands from around the world will be present. Exhibitors have prepared numerous activities including free2play zones and competitions from brands such as Intel®, Komputronik Gaming, Monster Energy, Samsung, Microsoft, HyperX, Hewlett-Packard and more. Visitors can look forward to some of the newest titles in gaming, taking part in numerous tournaments and competitions and joining meet and greet sessions with influencers. Among the exhibitors are:

  • The ESL LAN Party will host a set of activities form the zone’s partners including a chillout zone with view on StarCraft II stage, numerous hardware partners and a central zone including IEM Katowice’s first-ever Cosplay Competition led by Shappi Workshop.
  • Lenovo Legion will create an experience benefiting from all aspects of the event as visitors have the opportunity to play and compete in some of the biggest competitive game titles, participate in product demonstrations by Polish tech influencers, and enjoy a spectacular concert of one of the most popular Polish rappers of the new generation – Smolasty – on February 10 from 5PM until 6PM.
  • Nintendo’s distributor ConQuest entertainment has prepared a booth for you to have tons of fun with your Nintendo Switch console! Whether you are fighting a battle of colors in Splatoon 3, scoring points in Mario Strikers: Battle League Football, or trying out an array of sports in Nintendo Switch Sports,  plenty of fun is guaranteed.
  • RENNSPORT will bring two virtual racing rigs where you have the opportunity to drive in the future of virtual racing and to experience for yourself the game that the ESL R1 drivers are racing in.

Furthermore, IEM Katowice is creating an opportunity to celebrate, experience and learn. To emphasize this, the EFG Esports Forum features representatives of the esports and gaming industries, business partners, and opinions leaders who will discuss the future of the industry during two conference days:

  • Friday, February 10 – “Esports Elevated. Trends and perspectives” –  The first part of the forum is open for everyone interested in the esports industry, its business, and its future.
  • Saturday, February 11 – “Video games and esports: an opportunity for Europe’s digital future. The example of Poland” – This second part focuses on the relationship between the esports industry and the economy – nationwide and local.

The beginning of the CS:GO tournament marks the 11th time ESL is returning to the Polish city of Katowice. The event marks the pinnacle of competition, emotions, and rivalry, while celebrating shared passion. Make sure to be part of this historic moment by joining us on-site in Katowice, tuning in during the live transmissions of the esports competitions, and following all events on the official EFG’s social media channels.

For more general information, make sure to follow ESL FACEIT Group and ESL on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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eWear launches aim.one – the world’s first functional gaming wear for esports athletes and gaming-fans

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From hoodies to short-sleeved jerseys: the entire collection has been developed to meet the specific needs of gamers – uncompromising, highest-quality and thought-out down to the last detail.

“There is the right functional clothing for every sport – for soccer, tennis, golf… Gaming used to have this gap. Not anymore!”, say the founders.

The debut collection features 4 products and thus offers the right piece for all gamers: hoodie, longsleeve, shirt and pants. Each combines innovative functionality with comfort and style. Smart gadgets – including special ventilation zones, padding and other features to promote reaction, focus and grip – make this clothing a real support in the game.

Developed from the ground up specifically for playing at a PC, “aim.one is for everyone who wants to take their gaming to the next level – from high-end eSports pros to hobby gamers,” say the founders. “With this collection, gamers finally get their own clothing tailored to their passion!”

 

The product launch will take place via Kickstarter on the 5th of August!

Until launch, Gamers can unlock MVP status for only a €/$1 donation. This grants up to 35% discount during the campaign — plus a free nickname print on their apparel.

The post eWear launches aim.one – the world’s first functional gaming wear for esports athletes and gaming-fans appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Number of companies and employees in German games industry falls for first time in years

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After years of growth, the number of companies and employees in the German games industry declined in 2025. This was announced today by game – The German Games Industry Association on the basis of data from gamesmap.de in cooperation with Goldmedia. According to the data, the number of companies in Germany that develop and/or publish games has dropped by 4 per cent within the past year, to 910. The boom in start-ups in the games sector, which was set in motion by the introduction of the German Federal Games Funding Programme in 2020, has now completely subsided. Last year’s figures already indicated a clear slowdown. This decline was due in particular to the consolidation of the global games market and the unreliable availability of games funding to date in Germany.

Three times since 2020, there have been months-long suspensions placed on funding applications. Despite the newly registered drop, the number of companies has risen by 46 per cent overall since the initial start of the games funding programme in 2020. Of the 910 present companies, 454 work exclusively in game development and 52 exclusively as publishers. The remaining 404 companies are active in both the development and publishing of games.

‘Last year was another very difficult one for the German games industry,’ says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘Germany’s international competitiveness was further decreased by the ongoing flip-flopping of the games funding policy, which ran right into the consolidation wave that swept the global games sector. Fortunately, the new federal government has already taken the necessary steps to level the playing field for companies in this country. The future funding budget is to be increased and thus adjusted to actual needs, and applications can be submitted from August onwards. These are crucial growth impulses that are urgently needed. The additional funds will not only give companies more planning security, but also time to implement additional tax breaks for games, as set out in the coalition agreement between the CDU, CSU and SPD. The improved conditions will finally give games companies a boost, which will hopefully soon be reflected in more start-ups and the creation of new jobs.’

The number of employees at games companies in Germany has also declined over the last year. Whereas game developers and publishers employed 12,408 workers in 2024, the current figure stands at just 12,134 – a drop of 2 per cent. As with the number of companies, the employee numbers had previously shown strong growth since the introduction of the games funding programme at the federal level: a rise of 23 per cent from 2020 to 2024. The recent decline indicates that the current conditions for the games industry, which offer limited scope for planning due to the repeated funding application stoppages and significant current funding restrictions, are having an impact on the job market. A year ago, there were still more companies with ongoing projects that were internationally competitive thanks to funding at levels comparable to those in other countries – financing that had stabilised Germany’s game sector, despite the global consolidation wave and a lack of funding certainty for the industry here. The game industry secures a total of over 30,000 jobs in Germany. In addition to jobs in development and publishing, these include, for example, skilled professionals in educational institutions, the media and the public and commercial sectors.

About the data
The data is drawn from a survey carried out by Goldmedia on the basis of entries on gamesmap.de. It was conducted on behalf of game – The German Games Industry Association for the period ending on 12 May 2025.

The post Number of companies and employees in German games industry falls for first time in years appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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METABORA Partners with LINE NEXT

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METABORA, a global casual game developer and blockchain project operator, has announced a strategic partnership with LINE NEXT Inc. Through this partnership, METABORA will distribute Web3 games via the LINE Messenger–based Dapp Portal, expanding its reach in the Web3 gaming space.

The Dapp Portal is a platform built on the KAIA ecosystem that offers Mini Dapps (decentralised applications) directly within the LINE Messenger app. Users can enjoy a variety of Mini Dapps—ranging from games to social features—without needing to install separate applications. Since its launch in January this year, the platform has garnered significant attention, surpassing 100 million cumulative users.

Through this new partnership, METABORA and LINE NEXT will work closely to accelerate the growth of the Mini Dapp’s gaming ecosystem. Leveraging its network of development partners and global experience in game development and publishing, METABORA will supply Web3 games to the Dapp Portal. LINE NEXT will expand accessibility to Web3 games and support marketing of these games through its platform.

As part of the collaboration, METABORA will also expand the utility of its BORA token within the LINE Messenger–based Mini Dapp ecosystem. The company plans to implement a payment infrastructure that enables users to purchase in-game items currently planned for upcoming titles to be released under the BORA brand. Additionally, METABORA will apply Gas Abstraction technology, allowing users to make in-app purchases with BORA without needing KAIA tokens to cover gas fees. This feature is expected to be fully implemented in the second half of the year.

By expanding the utility of the BORA token, METABORA aims to elevate its value beyond the confines of the BORA Chain, laying the groundwork for broader integration across the Web3 ecosystem.

In addition, METABORA and LINE NEXT plan to continue their collaboration by researching and developing infrastructure to support the use of stable coins such as USDT, further enhancing the Web3 gaming experience within the LINE ecosystem centered on the Dapp Portal.

Lim Youngjun, Co-CEO of METABORA, said: “We’re pleased to partner with LINE NEXT, a company making remarkable strides in the global Web3 gaming market with its vast user base. Through our strong network of development partners, we will carefully select and bring high-quality games to the Dapp Portal, working together to create a leading example of Web3 gaming reaching a mainstream audience.”

Kim Woosuk, CSO at LINE NEXT, said: “Through this partnership with METABORA, we look forward to creating a major success case for Mini Dapp. Moving forward, we will continue working closely together across multiple fronts, including enabling USDT stablecoin support to improve game onboarding and the overall user payment environment.”

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