Earlier today, ePlay announced the biggest news in esports and egaming in 2019.
"ePlay Digital Inc. (CSE:EPY) today announced a new Chinese distribution and marketing partnership with Next Joy (www.nextjoy.com). Next Joy is a major leader in esports, gaming, and augmented reality in China."
The announcement brings Big Shot, ePlay's upcoming flagship mobile gaming title to China with the actual launch date to be announced. The two companies are already working together on the marketing and distribution strategy for the game. Big Shot will also be available in other markets and the massive multi-country marketing tour dates will be announced. Big Shot is a sports-based Pokemon Go style mobile game, where gamers explore their environment for NBA players and when Lebron, Steph, or Simmons scores - you score!
The ePlay / Next Joy announcement comes at a time when the #1 mobile game on the App Store in China is recently launched Pokemon Go style game. In that game players search and catch monsters. In Big Shot, players search and catch NBA players. The NBA is the biggest sport in China and the 3rd biggest, and fastest growing, in the United States. View how China's #1 game and Big Shot compare.
Next Joy Backgrounder Video
At the Toronto event, schedule for after markets close on Wednesday, April 24, ePlay CEO, Trevor Doerksen, is expected to provide more information on esports and egaming and how esports can obtain Super Bowl size audience numbers in 2019. In addition, Doerksen will emphasize the importance of intellectual property ownership in driving mobile advertising, in-app purchase, and esports revenues and how ePlay compares to other Canadian gaming companies with a Chinese presence.
"3/4 of all esports revenues come from brands - same as NFL," says Doerksen. "Brands pay for reach, so where will the biggest esports reach be in 2019? 2018 data shows that 90% of all viewership on Twitch and YouTube Gaming was not professional esports events - this is 1 key way esports is not like the Super Bowl."
Getting Super Bowl viewership numbers (approx. 100m) in esports is a goal. There are over 2 billion egame players. Turning players into viewers while bringing non-endemic brands to content is a first step. That content needs to be a compelling story, told by the right people to attract brands, audiences, and big dollars. Great destinations with hundreds of millions of viewers - like Next Joy are also required. Next Joy has over 100 million viewers on its esports platform in China.