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Former ESPN CEO to head Activision Blizzard’s new eSports division
Game publishing giant Activision Blizzard Inc has announced the formation of a new dedicated eSports division within the company, and the new department will be headed by former ESPN and NFL Network CEO Steve Bornstein. Bornstein will also be supported by Major League Gaming (MLG) co-founder and president Mike Sepso, who will be joining the division as senior vice president.
“Celebrating our players and their unique skill, dedication and commitment is the essence of our esports initiatives,” Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement. “There are no better leaders for this new initiative than Steve and Mike.”
The publisher has already enjoyed a strong eSports presence thanks primarily to the Blizzard half of the company’s name, as Blizzard Entertainment is the studio behind some of the most popular competitive titles on the market, including Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and more recently Heroes of the Storm. The studio is likely hoping to also capture some of that same eSports magic with Overwatch, Blizzard’s upcoming class-based team shooter, which is set to enter public beta next week.
With eSports projected to grow into a potentially $1 billion industry, it is clear why a major game publisher like Activision Blizzard would feel that it needs its own dedicated professional gaming division, particularly in light of the numerous scandals that have threatened the legitimacy eSports in the last few months.
Just a few days ago, South Korean authorities arrested several people involved in a match-fixing and illegal betting scheme in StarCraft II, including an eSports team coach and two players.
There have also been some issues with professional gamers using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) during tournaments, particularly the prescription stimulant Adderall. Several eSports tournament leagues have since instituted stricter drug policies for players during matches, and at least one said that it intends to begin random drug screenings prior to games.
photo credit: IMG_0331 via photopin (license)
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