https://www.scmp.com/rss/13863/feed Esther is an independent writer interested in esports and cybersecurity stories. She started producing and writing for CNN after graduating from the University of Miami. Even though she appreciates her iPhone, she misses her flip phone every day. She fell in love with League of Legends after her friends introduced her to Teemo and Quinn. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The Esports Awards is the scene’s big black tie event, where pro gamers and streamers sit alongside the heads of game publishers, cheering on as the stars of the industry receive awards for their achievements. And two games stood out this year: Blizzard Entertainment’s first-person shooter Overwatch, and Epic Games’ battle royale sensation Fortnite.   Overwatch League celebrated an incredibly successful inaugural season in 2018, with the OWL Finals drawing in 10.8 million viewers globally across... https://www.scmp.com/esports/overwatch-fortnite-and-ninja-win-big-esports-awards-2018/article/2172876?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/overwatch-fortnite-and-ninja-win-big-esports-awards-2018/article/2172876?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Nov 2018 12:28:16 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The Esports Awards is the scene’s big black tie event, where pro gamers and streamers sit alongside the heads of game publishers, cheering on as the stars of the industry receive awards for their achievements. And two games stood out this year: Blizzard Entertainment’s first-person shooter Overwatch, and Epic Games’ battle royale sensation Fortnite. How Fortnite and PUBG made battle royale the hottest trend in gaming Overwatch League celebrated an... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028969/overwatch-fortnite-and-ninja-win-big-esports-awards-2018?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028969/overwatch-fortnite-and-ninja-win-big-esports-awards-2018?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Nov 2018 12:28:16 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS As the 2018 esports season winds down for many games, PUBG has their eyes on 2019 -- laying out plans for the game’s first official professional competition. In spite of the battle royale boom this year, PUBG has been hesitant to launch official tournaments, with PlayerUnknown himself saying his game isn’t quite ready for esports yet right as a major esports event -- the PUBG Global Invitational (PGI) Berlin -- was taking place. PUBG, the battle royale... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028955/pubg-goes-pro-plans-first-official-esports-season-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028955/pubg-goes-pro-plans-first-official-esports-season-unveiled?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Nov 2018 09:12:16 +0000 As the 2018 esports season winds down for many games, PUBG has their eyes on 2019 -- laying out plans for the game’s first official professional competition. In spite of the battle royale boom this year, PUBG has been hesitant to launch official tournaments, with PlayerUnknown himself saying his game isn’t quite ready for esports yet right as a major esports event -- the PUBG Global Invitational (PGI) Berlin -- was taking place.   It seems that PUBG Corp is finally ready to take the plunge,... https://www.scmp.com/esports/pubg-goes-pro-plans-first-official-esports-season-unveiled/article/2172200?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/pubg-goes-pro-plans-first-official-esports-season-unveiled/article/2172200?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 08 Nov 2018 09:12:16 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS For the first time ever, a Chinese team gets to raise the Summoner’s Cup. Invictus Gaming beat Fnatic 3-0 in the final, and when you add in the results of the Mid-Season Invitational and Rift Rivals, it's really been the LPL's year. This was also the first time since 2013 that a region other than South Korea won the League of Legends competitive scene’s top honor. League of Legends, the esports giant Invictus Gaming’s team were incredibly decisive... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028944/invictus-gaming-wins-coveted-league-legends-worlds-title-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028944/invictus-gaming-wins-coveted-league-legends-worlds-title-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Nov 2018 19:00:00 +0000 For the first time ever, a Chinese team gets to raise the Summoner’s Cup. Invictus Gaming beat Fnatic 3-0 in the final, and when you add in the results of the Mid-Season Invitational and Rift Rivals, it's really been the LPL's year. This was also the first time since 2013 that a region other than South Korea won the League of Legends competitive scene’s top honor.   Invictus Gaming’s team were incredibly decisive in the Finals, suffocating Fnatic’s solo laners at every turn, and racking up... https://www.scmp.com/esports/invictus-gaming-wins-coveted-league-legends-worlds-title-china/article/2171315?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/invictus-gaming-wins-coveted-league-legends-worlds-title-china/article/2171315?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Nov 2018 19:00:00 +0000 The Overwatch Paris team doesn’t have a name yet, but it does have a roster. The team revealed its lineup on Twitter, beating other expansion teams to the punch. STAND WITH US Here come our players for the #OWL2019 : @SoOn99 ⚔️ @SDBurnOW @NiCOgdh @danye_ow @HyP_ow @KruiseOW @BenBest_Ow @FinnsiOW @LhCloudy @baemoN @Its_MDW EU is getting stronger #HelloParis pic.twitter.com/zJ6M2zCoGw — Paris OWL (@OverwatchParis) October 23, 2018 Among them are French players SoOn and NiCO, who are competing in... https://www.scmp.com/esports/paris-becomes-first-overwatch-league-expansion-team-reveal-roster/article/2169903?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/paris-becomes-first-overwatch-league-expansion-team-reveal-roster/article/2169903?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Oct 2018 10:15:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The Overwatch Paris team doesn’t have a name yet, but it does have a roster. The team revealed its lineup on Twitter, beating other expansion teams to the punch. STAND WITH US Here come our players for the #OWL2019 : @SoOn99 ⚔️ @SDBurnOW @NiCOgdh @danye_ow @HyP_ow @KruiseOW @BenBest_Ow @FinnsiOW @LhCloudy @baemoN @Its_MDW EU is getting stronger #HelloParis pic.twitter.com/zJ6M2zCoGw — Paris OWL (@OverwatchParis) October 23, 2018 Among... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028918/paris-becomes-first-overwatch-league-expansion-team-reveal-roster?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028918/paris-becomes-first-overwatch-league-expansion-team-reveal-roster?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Oct 2018 10:15:15 +0000 There were high hopes for Shanghai Dragons. They were the first Chinese franchise team in Overwatch League and seemed to have a strong roster, with talented players, backed by gaming giant NetEase.   And then they set a new record by losing… and losing… and losing. Shanghai Dragons lost every game they played, for an overall record of 0-40. But they’re determined to change their fortunes in season two by signing on an all new roster -- of South Korean players. Announcement Please give your... https://www.scmp.com/esports/shanghai-dragons-turn-south-korean-talent-fresh-start/article/2169897?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/shanghai-dragons-turn-south-korean-talent-fresh-start/article/2169897?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Oct 2018 10:15:11 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS There were high hopes for Shanghai Dragons. They were the first Chinese franchise team in Overwatch League and seemed to have a strong roster, with talented players, backed by gaming giant NetEase. Meet NetEase, China’s second-largest game publisher And then they set a new record by losing… and losing… and losing. Shanghai Dragons lost every game they played, for an overall record of 0-40. But they’re determined to change their fortunes in season... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3028917/shanghai-dragons-turn-south-korean-talent-fresh-start?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3028917/shanghai-dragons-turn-south-korean-talent-fresh-start?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Oct 2018 10:15:11 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The world of League of Legends esports exploded over the weekend as G2 Esports toppled Royal Never Give Up, the team that was seen as the shoo-in champions. And a day later, Cloud9 took down Afreeca Freecs, ending South Korea’s five year reign over Worlds. Twitter was a flood of baffled cheers and memes. The League of Legends subreddit had back-to-back threads filled with all-caps comments rejoicing over the two winning teams. Casters and analysts... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028911/wild-upsets-league-legends-world-championships-quarterfinals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028911/wild-upsets-league-legends-world-championships-quarterfinals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Oct 2018 11:16:06 +0000 The world of League of Legends esports exploded over the weekend as G2 Esports toppled Royal Never Give Up, the team that was seen as the shoo-in champions. And a day later, Cloud9 took down Afreeca Freecs, ending South Korea’s five year reign over Worlds. Twitter was a flood of baffled cheers and memes. The League of Legends subreddit had back-to-back threads filled with all-caps comments rejoicing over the two winning teams. Casters and analysts around the world were taken off guard by the... https://www.scmp.com/esports/wild-upsets-league-legends-world-championships-quarterfinals/article/2169596?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/wild-upsets-league-legends-world-championships-quarterfinals/article/2169596?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Oct 2018 11:16:06 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Fortnite’s attempts at competitive tournaments seem to follow a trend of having launch day issues. The game’s developer Epic Games kicked off a new series of in-game competitive play modes earlier this week. In its announcement, Epic said the in-game tournaments will eventually allow the most skilled players to compete in higher stake esports tournaments like the 2019 Fortnite World Cup. But once again, server issues and inaccurate scorekeeping are... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028905/epic-games-issues-patch-fix-fortnites-alpha-tournament-bugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028905/epic-games-issues-patch-fix-fortnites-alpha-tournament-bugs?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Oct 2018 10:34:15 +0000 Fortnite’s attempts at competitive tournaments seem to follow a trend of having launch day issues. The game’s developer Epic Games kicked off a new series of in-game competitive play modes earlier this week. In its announcement, Epic said the in-game tournaments will eventually allow the most skilled players to compete in higher stake esports tournaments like the 2019 Fortnite World Cup. But once again, server issues and inaccurate scorekeeping are plaguing the Fortnite tournament debut. Epic... https://www.scmp.com/epic-games-issues-patch-fix-fortnites-alpha-tournament-bugs/article/2169232?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/epic-games-issues-patch-fix-fortnites-alpha-tournament-bugs/article/2169232?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Oct 2018 10:34:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS After eight long days of matches, the final eight teams of the League of Legends World Championship have been locked in. There have been three intense tiebreakers as well as a ton of upsets across the groups. And we saw comfort picks like bot lane Heimerdinger, a Singed-Zilean team composition, and throwbacks like top lane Jax. Now teams can breathe a short sigh of relief, and start preparing for their specific opponent. They will be facing each other... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028902/stage-set-league-legends-world-championship-quarterfinals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028902/stage-set-league-legends-world-championship-quarterfinals?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Oct 2018 11:30:45 +0000 After eight long days of matches, the final eight teams of the League of Legends World Championship have been locked in. There have been three intense tiebreakers as well as a ton of upsets across the groups. And we saw comfort picks like bot lane Heimerdinger, a Singed-Zilean team composition, and throwbacks like top lane Jax. Now teams can breathe a short sigh of relief, and start preparing for their specific opponent. They will be facing each other in a best-of-five series this weekend in... https://www.scmp.com/stage-set-league-legends-world-championship-quarterfinals/article/2169038?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/stage-set-league-legends-world-championship-quarterfinals/article/2169038?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Oct 2018 11:30:45 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS It took him three years and a completely new set of teammates, but G2’s Luka “Perkz” Perković can now mark down another milestone for his League of Legends career. League of Legends, the esports giant After two long days of matches, his team was tied in rankings with the LMS team Flash Wolves. It was down to a tiebreaker to determine who gets to take second place in their group and head on to the Worlds Quarterfinals. It was an intense match. G2 was... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028893/welcome-league-legends-worlds-2018-quarterfinals-perkz?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028893/welcome-league-legends-worlds-2018-quarterfinals-perkz?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:01:25 +0000 It took him three years and a completely new set of teammates, but G2’s Luka “Perkz” Perković can now mark down another milestone for his League of Legends career.   After two long days of matches, his team was tied in rankings with the LMS team Flash Wolves. It was down to a tiebreaker to determine who gets to take second place in their group and head on to the Worlds Quarterfinals. It was an intense match. G2 was everywhere on the map, repeatedly diving Flash Wolves’ turrets to secure an early... https://www.scmp.com/esports/welcome-league-legends-worlds-2018-quarterfinals-perkz/article/2168700?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/welcome-league-legends-worlds-2018-quarterfinals-perkz/article/2168700?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:01:25 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Group B was always going to be the most exciting group to watch at League of Legends Worlds 2018. Known as the Group of Death during the Draw Show, it featured China’s Royal Never Give Up (RNG) -- world champions at the Mid-Season Invitational 2018 -- as well as the defending Worlds 2017 champions in the South Korean team Gen.G Esports. Europe’s Team Vitality were relative rookies in comparison… and then there was North America’s Cloud9 (C9). The team... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028889/cloud9-becomes-first-team-lock-quarterfinals-spot-league-legends-world?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028889/cloud9-becomes-first-team-lock-quarterfinals-spot-league-legends-world?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Oct 2018 10:27:40 +0000 Group B was always going to be the most exciting group to watch at League of Legends Worlds 2018. Known as the Group of Death during the Draw Show, it featured China’s Royal Never Give Up (RNG) -- world champions at the Mid-Season Invitational 2018 -- as well as the defending Worlds 2017 champions in the South Korean team Gen.G Esports. Europe’s Team Vitality were relative rookies in comparison… and then there was North America’s Cloud9 (C9). The team placed third in their region and just a few... https://www.scmp.com/esports/cloud9-becomes-first-team-lock-quarterfinals-spot-league-legends-world-championships-2018/article/2168541?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/cloud9-becomes-first-team-lock-quarterfinals-spot-league-legends-world-championships-2018/article/2168541?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Oct 2018 10:27:40 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS So much for home turf advantage. South Korea’s League of Legends teams were taken off guard by the European teams, ending the first day of League of Legends Worlds group stage with 2 losses. League of Legends, the esports giant This is the region that has won the last five World Championships. And this year they’re spending the entire tournament playing to their home crowd. But things seem to be off on a shaky start after the first day of Worlds... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028883/south-korea-falls-eu-day-one-league-legends-world-championships-group?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028883/south-korea-falls-eu-day-one-league-legends-world-championships-group?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Oct 2018 10:50:48 +0000 So much for home turf advantage. South Korea’s League of Legends teams were taken off guard by the European teams, ending the first day of League of Legends Worlds group stage with 2 losses.   This is the region that has won the last five World Championships. And this year they’re spending the entire tournament playing to their home crowd. But things seem to be off on a shaky start after the first day of Worlds group stage. The only win for South Korea on Wednesday went to first seed kt Rolster.... https://www.scmp.com/esports/south-korea-falls-eu-day-one-league-legends-world-championships-group-stage/article/2167975?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/south-korea-falls-eu-day-one-league-legends-world-championships-group-stage/article/2167975?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Oct 2018 10:50:48 +0000 The inaugural season of Overwatch League saw the rise of London Spitfire, as well as formidable players across the league. And now players and coaches must figure out if they stay with their current teams, or if they venture off for a fresh start.   Throughout August, organizations were negotiating contracts with players. But anyone who didn’t sign a fresh contract are now free agents -- up for any new team to woo them into joining. There are eight new expansion teams in the league as well, and... https://www.scmp.com/esports/new-teams-new-faces-and-new-rosters-overwatch-league/article/2167740?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/new-teams-new-faces-and-new-rosters-overwatch-league/article/2167740?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:06:46 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The inaugural season of Overwatch League saw the rise of London Spitfire, as well as formidable players across the league. And now players and coaches must figure out if they stay with their current teams, or if they venture off for a fresh start. Want to watch Overwatch League? Start here! Throughout August, organizations were negotiating contracts with players. But anyone who didn’t sign a fresh contract are now free agents -- up for any new team... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028877/new-teams-new-faces-and-new-rosters-overwatch-league?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028877/new-teams-new-faces-and-new-rosters-overwatch-league?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 10 Oct 2018 12:06:46 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Riot Games just announced another round of warnings and fines for 16 pro players and coaching staff -- including for the golden boy of Chinese esports, Uzi. Uzi, the Shaquille O'Neal of Chinese esports But crucially, none of them were given bans, with the group stage of the League of Legends World Championship starting on Wednesday. As a competitive multiplayer game, League of Legends struggles with toxicity or bad behavior in-game. Players... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028874/league-legends-stars-uzi-iloveoov-and-more-fined-toxic-behavior?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028874/league-legends-stars-uzi-iloveoov-and-more-fined-toxic-behavior?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Oct 2018 09:21:37 +0000 Riot Games just announced another round of warnings and fines for 16 pro players and coaching staff -- including for the golden boy of Chinese esports, Uzi.   But crucially, none of them were given bans, with the group stage of the League of Legends World Championship starting on Wednesday. As a competitive multiplayer game, League of Legends struggles with toxicity or bad behavior in-game. Players sometimes intentionally die (known as feeding) to spite their teammates, or use the in-game chat... https://www.scmp.com/esports/league-legends-stars-uzi-iloveoov-and-more-fined-toxic-behavior/article/2167563?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/league-legends-stars-uzi-iloveoov-and-more-fined-toxic-behavior/article/2167563?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Oct 2018 09:21:37 +0000 And then there were eight. We are slowly whittling down the teams at the League of Worlds. Play-ins group stage is officially over and here is the final scoreboard and the matchups for the play-ins knockout stage.   The top seed from each group are then randomly paired with a second seed team from another group. This leaves us with Cloud9 vs Gambit Esports, G2 Esports vs Infinity Esports, EDward Gaming vs Detonation FocusMe, and G-Rex vs Bahçeşehir SuperMassive. Unfortunately for Dire Wolves,... https://www.scmp.com/esports/upsets-and-rising-stars-first-week-league-legends-worlds-2018/article/2167059?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/upsets-and-rising-stars-first-week-league-legends-worlds-2018/article/2167059?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Oct 2018 10:15:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS And then there were eight. We are slowly whittling down the teams at the League of Worlds. Play-ins group stage is officially over and here is the final scoreboard and the matchups for the play-ins knockout stage. League of Legends, the esports giant The top seed from each group are then randomly paired with a second seed team from another group. This leaves us with Cloud9 vs Gambit Esports, G2 Esports vs Infinity Esports, EDward Gaming vs... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028867/upsets-and-rising-stars-first-week-league-legends-worlds-2018?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028867/upsets-and-rising-stars-first-week-league-legends-worlds-2018?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Oct 2018 10:15:15 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS If you’ve ever watched esports, chances are you’ve seen League of Legends. The free-to-play game is known for its competitive objective-based, strategy-focused gameplay. Think of it as a hybrid of chess and capture the flag. The map and champions affect how players approach the game, and you have to plan moves strategically as a team. At first glance, LoL is simple enough. Two teams of five start from opposing sides on a map. They then follow paths (or... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/who-what/what/article/3028247/league-legends-esports-giant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/who-what/what/article/3028247/league-legends-esports-giant?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Oct 2018 10:05:05 +0000 Worlds is back in South Korea, and the month-long tournament is kicks off on Monday in Seoul. But for many players, their journey to the pinnacle of League of Legends fame could end just as they get their foot in the door. Before they can officially say they made it into Worlds Group Stage, 12 teams will have to battle it out at play-ins for just four spots.   Some are well-known names in the major regions, like C9 and EDward Gaming. The third seeds from Europe and North America -- as well as... https://www.scmp.com/esports/wild-cards-league-legends-prepare-take-worlds-2018/article/2166407?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/wild-cards-league-legends-prepare-take-worlds-2018/article/2166407?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:05:29 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Worlds is back in South Korea, and the month-long tournament is kicks off on Monday in Seoul. But for many players, their journey to the pinnacle of League of Legends fame could end just as they get their foot in the door. Before they can officially say they made it into Worlds Group Stage, 12 teams will have to battle it out at play-ins for just four spots. The League of Legends World Championship schedule is out! Some are well-known names in the... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028856/wild-cards-league-legends-prepare-take-worlds-2018?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028856/wild-cards-league-legends-prepare-take-worlds-2018?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Oct 2018 11:05:29 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Holding an esports tournament is hard work. Each competitor needs their own separate computer running the game. When one match ends, the other has to begin soon after, so the audience doesn’t get bored. And speaking of the audience, they depend on the tournament’s organizers to show them what’s happening. Someone has to keep track of dozens of separate player cameras to select the right perspective at the right time for the benefit of thousands of... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028766/how-three-guys-turned-their-college-dream-esports-company?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028766/how-three-guys-turned-their-college-dream-esports-company?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Aug 2018 11:51:59 +0000 Holding an esports tournament is hard work. Each competitor needs their own separate computer running the game. When one match ends, the other has to begin soon after, so the audience doesn’t get bored. And speaking of the audience, they depend on the tournament’s organizers to show them what’s happening. Someone has to keep track of dozens of separate player cameras to select the right perspective at the right time for the benefit of thousands of people in the room… and countless more watching... https://www.scmp.com/esports/how-three-guys-turned-their-college-dream-esports-company/article/2159385?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/how-three-guys-turned-their-college-dream-esports-company/article/2159385?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Aug 2018 11:51:59 +0000 The Overwatch World Cup is fast approaching. 24 nations spent the past couple months finalizing their rosters and making sure they have the best players possible. On Thursday, six teams from around the world will be kicking off the first group stage in Incheon, South Korea. Among them is Team Hong Kong, who competed in previous years but unfortunately never made it past the group stage. This year the roster is a blend of of Overwatch veterans and hopeful newcomers. But they’re in an interesting... https://www.scmp.com/team-hong-kong-reveal-struggles-ahead-overwatch-world-cup/article/2158388?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/team-hong-kong-reveal-struggles-ahead-overwatch-world-cup/article/2158388?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Aug 2018 10:00:30 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS The Overwatch World Cup is fast approaching. 24 nations spent the past couple months finalizing their rosters and making sure they have the best players possible. On Thursday, six teams from around the world will be kicking off the first group stage in Incheon, South Korea. Among them is Team Hong Kong, who competed in previous years but unfortunately never made it past the group stage. This year the roster is a blend of of Overwatch veterans and... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028738/team-hong-kong-reveal-struggles-ahead-overwatch-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028738/team-hong-kong-reveal-struggles-ahead-overwatch-world-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Aug 2018 10:00:30 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS I may be bloodthirsty in Arena of Valor, but in Overwatch I’m definitely more comfortable hanging out in the back, preferably healing people instead of trying to land those headshots. That being said, I’m kind of a pushover when it comes to hero selection. As much as I want to autolock Mercy every single game, I do sigh and click over to the tank hero pool when I see the dreaded “NO TANK” alert blinking on the side. In the spirit of teamwork, I started... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028729/space-hamsters-are-best-part-overwatch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028729/space-hamsters-are-best-part-overwatch?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Aug 2018 10:56:45 +0000 I may be bloodthirsty in Arena of Valor, but in Overwatch I’m definitely more comfortable hanging out in the back, preferably healing people instead of trying to land those headshots. That being said, I’m kind of a pushover when it comes to hero selection. As much as I want to autolock Mercy every single game, I do sigh and click over to the tank hero pool when I see the dreaded “NO TANK” alert blinking on the side. In the spirit of teamwork, I started off with Wrecking Ball -- also known as... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/space-hamsters-are-best-part-overwatch/article/2159140?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/space-hamsters-are-best-part-overwatch/article/2159140?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Aug 2018 10:56:45 +0000 Overwatch Summer Games are back! Starting August 9 (Thursday), we have new legendary skins to grind for all the way until the end of the month. The in-game cosmetics are a huge part of all special events. And Overwatch has been tweeting out short teasers ahead of this year’s Summer Games. Last year we got a fantastic dad skin for Soldier:76, and this year it looks like we’re getting a legendary beach mom skin for Ana: Cabana Ana. Here are all the new looks they’ve given a sneak peek of so... https://www.scmp.com/overwatch-summer-games-back-new-skins-and-collegiate-tournament/article/2158917?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/overwatch-summer-games-back-new-skins-and-collegiate-tournament/article/2158917?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:30:00 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Overwatch Summer Games are back! Starting August 9 (Thursday), we have new legendary skins to grind for all the way until the end of the month. The in-game cosmetics are a huge part of all special events. And Overwatch has been tweeting out short teasers ahead of this year’s Summer Games. Last year we got a fantastic dad skin for Soldier:76, and this year it looks like we’re getting a legendary beach mom skin for Ana: Cabana Ana. Here are all the new... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028727/overwatch-summer-games-are-back-new-skins-and-collegiate-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028727/overwatch-summer-games-are-back-new-skins-and-collegiate-tournament?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:30:00 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Most esports require quick reflexes and instantaneous decision making, which means mostly people in their late teens and early 20s get to make it to the competitive scene. But this upcoming esports tournament is for a game that’s played by people of all ages, from kids to the elderly. It’s the iconic card game: solitaire. Mobile esports company Skillz is organizing what it calls “the largest solitaire tournament in history” through Tether Studios’... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028725/theres-100000-prize-pool-grabs-solitaire-right-now?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028725/theres-100000-prize-pool-grabs-solitaire-right-now?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Aug 2018 11:15:15 +0000 Most esports require quick reflexes and instantaneous decision making, which means mostly people in their late teens and early 20s get to make it to the competitive scene. But this upcoming esports tournament is for a game that’s played by people of all ages, from kids to the elderly. It’s the iconic card game: solitaire. Mobile esports company Skillz is organizing what it calls “the largest solitaire tournament in history” through Tether Studios’ Solitaire Cube mobile app. The event, which... https://www.scmp.com/esports/theres-100000-prize-pool-grabs-solitaire-right-now/article/2158973?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/theres-100000-prize-pool-grabs-solitaire-right-now/article/2158973?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Aug 2018 11:15:15 +0000 We’ve been expecting some roster changes in the Overwatch League as teams get ready for the new season. And we just got our first bombshell announcement. On Tuesday, Dallas Fuel’s flex player Brandon “Seagull” Larned announced that he’s retiring from professional play and returning to full-time streaming instead. I am no longer a professional OW player. Returning to full-time streaming starting today. — Brandon Larned (@A_Seagull) August 7, 2018 His abrupt statement shocked quite a few fans.... https://www.scmp.com/seagull-announces-hes-quitting-overwatch-league-going-back-streaming/article/2158729?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/seagull-announces-hes-quitting-overwatch-league-going-back-streaming/article/2158729?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Aug 2018 10:12:09 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS We’ve been expecting some roster changes in the Overwatch League as teams get ready for the new season. And we just got our first bombshell announcement. On Tuesday, Dallas Fuel’s flex player Brandon “Seagull” Larned announced that he’s retiring from professional play and returning to full-time streaming instead. I am no longer a professional OW player. Returning to full-time streaming starting today. — Brandon Larned (@A_Seagull) August 7, 2018 His... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028723/seagull-announces-hes-quitting-overwatch-league-going-back-streaming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028723/seagull-announces-hes-quitting-overwatch-league-going-back-streaming?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Aug 2018 10:12:09 +0000 Las Vegas is known for championship bouts. A huge crowd roaring on two combatants in the ring is a part of the city’s image. This weekend fighting champions once again competed in front of thousands of fans. But it wasn’t boxing or MMA. They were competing in the largest and most prestigious esports fighting tournament in the world. EVO, short for Evolution Championship Series, is where the greats of all popular fighting games come to beat each other to a (digital) pulp. The tournament has been... https://www.scmp.com/esports/records-were-broken-and-champions-were-toppled-evo-2018-worlds-largest-fighting-game-tournament/article/2158389?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/records-were-broken-and-champions-were-toppled-evo-2018-worlds-largest-fighting-game-tournament/article/2158389?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Aug 2018 11:30:51 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS Las Vegas is known for championship bouts. A huge crowd roaring on two combatants in the ring is a part of the city’s image. This weekend fighting champions once again competed in front of thousands of fans. But it wasn’t boxing or MMA. They were competing in the largest and most prestigious esports fighting tournament in the world. EVO, short for Evolution Championship Series, is where the greats of all popular fighting games come to beat each other to... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028712/records-were-broken-and-champions-were-toppled-evo-2018-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028712/records-were-broken-and-champions-were-toppled-evo-2018-worlds-largest?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Aug 2018 11:30:51 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS We’ve only just crowned our first Overwatch League inaugural season champions, and we’re already moving on to changes for the next season! This time, it’s new teams and potentially new rosters. Of all the esports leagues out there, Overwatch League resembles US professional sports like the NBA in style and structure. That means it has a set number of franchises based around cities. So just like the NBA has the Los Angeles Lakers, Overwatch League has... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028706/overwatch-league-adding-new-teams-atlanta-and-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028706/overwatch-league-adding-new-teams-atlanta-and-guangzhou?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Aug 2018 13:51:45 +0000 We’ve only just crowned our first Overwatch League inaugural season champions, and we’re already moving on to changes for the next season! This time, it’s new teams and potentially new rosters. Of all the esports leagues out there, Overwatch League resembles US professional sports like the NBA in style and structure. That means it has a set number of franchises based around cities. So just like the NBA has the Los Angeles Lakers, Overwatch League has the Los Angeles Valiant. And OWL’s teams... https://www.scmp.com/esports/overwatch-league-adding-new-teams-atlanta-and-guangzhou/article/2158102?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/esports/overwatch-league-adding-new-teams-atlanta-and-guangzhou/article/2158102?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Aug 2018 13:51:45 +0000 I like MOBAs. I like watching them and I like playing them. I’ve dabbled in League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, SMITE, and even tried out Paragon for a while. But I always go back to LoL. There’s something about Summoner’s Rift that’s comforting. LoL was my first MOBA, and I’ve been playing on and off since Season Three. I know I’m terrible at CS-ing, and I have an unfortunate tendency to get baited by low health bars. But I understand the game enough to have a passable grasp on mechanics... https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/league-legends-fan-tries-arena-valor/article/2157906?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/digital-life/league-legends-fan-tries-arena-valor/article/2157906?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:57:58 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS I like MOBAs. I like watching them and I like playing them. I’ve dabbled in League of Legends, Heroes of the Storm, SMITE, and even tried out Paragon for a while. But I always go back to LoL. There’s something about Summoner’s Rift that’s comforting. LoL was my first MOBA, and I’ve been playing on and off since Season Three. I know I’m terrible at CS-ing, and I have an unfortunate tendency to get baited by low health bars. But I understand the game... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3028701/league-legends-fan-tries-arena-valor?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/tech/article/3028701/league-legends-fan-tries-arena-valor?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:57:58 +0000 This article originally appeared on ABACUS WE HAVE THE DATES! For months we knew that the 2018 League of Legends World Championship was going to be held in South Korea. Now we finally know when the big day is -- November 3. This year, the entire tournament process will take place in cities around South Korea, ending with the pinnacle event in Incheon. This is the final schedule: Play-in Stage City: Seoul Dates: October 1 - 4, 6 - 7 Group Stage: City: Busan Dates: October 10 -... https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028700/league-legends-world-championship-schedule-out?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3028700/league-legends-world-championship-schedule-out?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:50:18 +0000