The hottest Esports Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

No, I Don't Want To Come To Your Pity Party

Richard Lewis • 1906 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Gaming Esports Media Business Industry
  1. The games and esports industry has experienced a significant number of layoffs due to unsustainable practices and behavior.
  2. Many individuals in the industry exhibit toxic behavior, including forming secret blacklists and engaging in power plays for personal gain.
  3. Esports industry executives have mismanaged funds and made poor decisions, leading to financial instability and a negative impact on the industry as a whole.

Internal Slack Messages Reveal Riot’s Messaging About Saudi Arabian Tournament`

Richard Lewis • 1631 implied HN points • 21 Jan 24
💼 Business Companies Ethics Partnerships Esports Diversity
  1. Riot Games faced internal conflicts over participation in a Saudi Arabian tournament due to LGBTQ+ concerns
  2. There was controversy over Riot's decision to work with a government that criminalizes homosexuality
  3. Internal messages revealed mixed feelings within Riot about business relationships with Saudi Arabia

The Great Saudi Arabian State “Pay To Play” Scheme

Richard Lewis • 1022 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
💼 Business Esports Saudi Arabia Corporate Influence Ethics Sponsorship
  1. Esports World Cup program provides financial assistance to organizations in exchange for participation in tournaments and generating viewership.
  2. Saudi Arabian state heavily involved in funding and controlling Esports World Cup, aiming to increase global recognition through esports.
  3. Esports organizations receiving stimulus payments from Saudi Arabia may face conflicts of interest and compromise on integrity due to financial ties.
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Gonzo Awards: Worst Decision Of The Year

Richard Lewis • 1316 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Esports Gaming Athletes
  1. Esports can be full of drama and downfalls due to incompetent narcissists.
  2. Astralis made a series of questionable decisions involving a coach named Hunden.
  3. Astralis' actions resulted in denigration of their own legacy, angering the community, lawsuits, fines, and no improvement in tournament results.

Gonzo Awards: Biggest Scam Of The Year

Richard Lewis • 1120 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎾 Sports Esports Scams Gaming
  1. Esports can be a world of hustles and scams, attracting both opportunists and grifters.
  2. Overwatch 2 and the Overwatch League faced significant challenges and failures in 2023.
  3. The Overwatch esports league experienced financial troubles and controversies, ultimately leading to its downfall.

Upcoming Release: The Hunden Files

Richard Lewis • 2338 implied HN points • 27 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Esports Scandal Investigation Coaching
  1. The Hunden Files reveal private communications shedding light on the behavior of Nicolai 'Hunden' Petersen.
  2. Petersen faced consequences for cheating in competitive matches and leaking strategic documents to Astralis.
  3. Legal actions against Petersen are ongoing, with evidence showing his involvement with Astralis while still employed by Heroic.

The Hunden Files 2: The Leak

Richard Lewis • 2044 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎾 Sports Esports Team Dynamics Ethical considerations
  1. Nicolai "Hunden" Petersen faced a ban for sharing strategic materials with a rival team.
  2. The leaked Google Drive incident involved detailed strategies used by Heroic, possibly shared with Astralis.
  3. The court filings suggest Petersen may have shared confidential material irresponsibly, influenced by his desire to join Astralis.

The Appropriately Mediocre Send Off For CS:GO

Richard Lewis • 1749 implied HN points • 25 May 23
🎾 Sports Esports Tournament Broadcasting Teams
  1. The competitive scene for CS:GO is stagnant, and a true farewell may not be around the corner.
  2. The format of CS:GO Majors and the seeding system have major flaws that impact the fairness of the competition.
  3. The broadcasting, show concepts, and overall production quality of CS:GO events have become bland and lack the excitement and innovation of the past.

Behold the World

Donkeyspace • 3 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Games Esports Internet Travel Media
  1. GeoGuessr is a game that highlights the beauty and complexity of perceiving and interpreting the world through online snapshots.
  2. GeoGuessr is a game that relies on skill and intuition rather than complex strategies, making it unique from traditional esports.
  3. GeoGuessr serves as an example of how games can evolve and fill educational voids by engaging players in new ways of navigating and understanding data.

Living Evil: How North Americas Greatest Esports Brand Became A Nightmare

Richard Lewis • 1 HN point • 25 Apr 23
🎾 Sports Esports Management Work Culture Acquisition Brand
  1. Evil Geniuses faced financial struggles under new ownership, leading to a decline in performance and brand reputation.
  2. The takeover by Peak6 brought in new management, leading to a shift in company culture and a focus on rebranding.
  3. Former and current employees reported negative experiences, citing a lack of care for staff well-being and a culture of intimidation.