Working for the Weekend
Also, this week's biggest stories in esports...
We lost: The Esports Awards’ Esports Journalist of the Year ended the way I thought it would (I've been telling people since the nomination that the chances of me winning were somewhere between slim and none) and was ultimately given to Richard Lewis (he earned it this year). We also lost The Tempest Award to Esports Illustrated—again didn’t expect a win (love the folks over there).
Honestly, I started this site on Jan. 2, so to be nominated for anything in the first 12 months of operation is a milestone in and of itself.
I will say that I have done some of the best work of my career this year—so please check it out: read my “greatest hits” right here.
All of this is to say that I love the work I am doing, and I know that people out there—like those of you reading this newsletter right now—appreciate what we do at The Esports Advocate. We really appreciate you believing in us, for this is truly a labor of love.
Loving what you do matters.
I kinda live by Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, a spiritual work that isn’t religious. I find so much value and inspiration in the quote below because I believe you have to love what you do, and put your whole heart into it, or you’re going to hate yourself later:
Work is love made visible.
And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy.
For if you bake bread with indifference, you bake a bitter bread that feeds but half man’s hunger.
And if you grudge the crushing of the grapes, your grudge distills a poison in the wine. And if you sing though as angels, and love not the singing, you muffle man’s ears to the voices of the day and the voices of the night.
Now onto the big news of the week. - James.
Top Stories This Week
Galaxy Racers Shuts Down NA Operations, Lays Off Staff
Dubai-based esports organization Galaxy Racer has cut off all communication with staff in North America (GXR NA/HER Galaxy) and shuttered operations. Sources at the company describe the situation as sudden and social media posts from employees confirm the abruptness of the decision. The closure follows staff in Los Angeles demanding that the company pay them three months of back pay or face a possible class action lawsuit. As of this writing we understand that employees affected by the latest round of cuts have finally been paid back pay and are only owed payments related to PTO at this point. We’ll have more on this story next week. READ MORE.
Russian Lawmakers Propose Ignoring Esports IP Holders
In November, lawmakers in Russia put forth a proposal that would leave major IP holders such as Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, etc., out of the picture when operating esports competitions within the country. The news was first reported by Russian-language news outlet kommersant.ru and Esports Legal News reporter and Eversheds Sutherland’s attorney Leonid Shmatenko. The law, if passed, would create a public-law company (PLC) that would manage licensing fees intended for rights holders, with money held for a three-year period. Should the money go unclaimed it would then be given to the Russian Esports Federation and/or Russia-based game developers. READ MORE.
Layoffs, Layoffs, Layoffs
In addition to layoffs at Galaxy Racer NA, India-based gaming and entertainment streaming platform Loco laid off approximately 40 of its 110 employees, or 35% of its workforce, this week. Loco confirmed that around 70 employees remain at the company. READ MORE.
Layoffs were also announced at Germany-based esports and gaming company Freaks 4U Gaming. A spokesperson tells The Esports Advocate that the company currently employs 215 people in Germany, and by the end of the year, the number will be reduced to 185. READ MORE.
Apex Legends Global Series PArtnered Teams Revealed
Electronic Arts announce the 12 teams that have received approval to be partnered for Year 4, or the 2024 season. The teams are Alliance, DarkZero, Disguised, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, FURIA, LG Chivas, Moist Esports, OpTic Gaming, Riddle, TSM, and XSET. Being a partnered team means that the league will share some revenue with teams such as in-game purchases of cosmetic skins, and more. READ MORE.
In Other News
👫 Team Liquid partners with Illuvium to support auto battler Illuvium: Arena.
👬 Super Storm has partnered with Gen.G Esports to launch Storm Striker in North America.
👋 Doublelift announces his retirement from LCS…again.
⛳ The Esports Awards partners with Logitech G, Gillette, and Saudi Arabia's PIF-backed LIV Golf...
🏆 Riot Co-Founder Marc Merrill promoted to the newly created role of chief product officer.
🔝 Saudi Arabia’s HRH Prince Faisal appointed to permanent IESF president.
🤝🏼Global Esports Federation, International Esports Federation will work together in the future.