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Esports

Once a niche subculture, esports and competitive gaming have now become a mainstream phenomenon. The Overwatch League and Call of Duty League feature wealthy owners from the NFL, League of Legends and Dota 2 regularly sell out stadiums, and Fortnite has its own World Cup. The next big sport could be a video game.

League of Legends’ 2022 world championship will be a multi-city affairLeague of Legends’ 2022 world championship will be a multi-city affair
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Riot swapped a live show for a massive music video at Worlds 2021Riot swapped a live show for a massive music video at Worlds 2021
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Faze Clan is going public in $1 billion SPAC dealFaze Clan is going public in $1 billion SPAC deal
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How to watch the 2021 League of Legends World ChampionshipHow to watch the 2021 League of Legends World Championship
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League of Legends’ biggest stars turn into anime heroes in Worlds 2021 music videoLeague of Legends’ biggest stars turn into anime heroes in Worlds 2021 music video
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League of Legends’ world championships will take place in IcelandLeague of Legends’ world championships will take place in Iceland
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DC’s latest superhero crossover: Batman x FaZe ClanDC’s latest superhero crossover: Batman x FaZe Clan
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Paramount Plus orders new series Players from American Vandal creatorsParamount Plus orders new series Players from American Vandal creators
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Overwatch League cancels its in-person playoff eventsOverwatch League cancels its in-person playoff events
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League of Legends’ world championships moved from China to EuropeLeague of Legends’ world championships moved from China to Europe
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The Overwatch League’s 2021 regular season was full of drama amid an uncertain future

With one more tournament and the playoffs to go, here’s an overview of the league’s fourth season

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Riot moves League of Legends’ US championship from Prudential Center due to COVID-19Riot moves League of Legends’ US championship from Prudential Center due to COVID-19
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Kim Lyons and Jay PetersCommentsComment Icon Bubble
Overwatch League sponsors reevaluate support following Activision Blizzard lawsuitOverwatch League sponsors reevaluate support following Activision Blizzard lawsuit
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Pokémon Unite turns monster battles into a team sportPokémon Unite turns monster battles into a team sport
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Fortnite champ Bugha is getting his own in-game skinFortnite champ Bugha is getting his own in-game skin
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League of Legends’ US championship will welcome back in-person fansLeague of Legends’ US championship will welcome back in-person fans
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Dota 2’s The International will now take place in Bucharest in OctoberDota 2’s The International will now take place in Bucharest in October
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Dota 2’s The International might not take place in Sweden after allDota 2’s The International might not take place in Sweden after all
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Takashi Murakami designed an esports jersey for Faze ClanTakashi Murakami designed an esports jersey for Faze Clan
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Design
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Nintendo is bringing Smash and Splatoon esports to high schoolsNintendo is bringing Smash and Splatoon esports to high schools
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The greenest team in esports now has the perfect logoThe greenest team in esports now has the perfect logo
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The League of Legends 2021 World Championship will be in Shenzhen, ChinaThe League of Legends 2021 World Championship will be in Shenzhen, China
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Spotify is getting a weekly League of Legends esports news podcastSpotify is getting a weekly League of Legends esports news podcast
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Tech
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Riot suspends Valorant pro six months for failing to cooperate in sexual assault investigationRiot suspends Valorant pro six months for failing to cooperate in sexual assault investigation
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Dota 2’s The International returns in August with $40 million prize poolDota 2’s The International returns in August with $40 million prize pool
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The Call of Duty League’s champions are being honored at Verdansk Stadium in WarzoneThe Call of Duty League’s champions are being honored at Verdansk Stadium in Warzone
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The key to the Overwatch League’s 2021 season is a trip to HawaiiThe key to the Overwatch League’s 2021 season is a trip to Hawaii
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The Overwatch League is bringing back some live matches with a trio of events in ChinaThe Overwatch League is bringing back some live matches with a trio of events in China
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Activision Blizzard lays off about 50 employees, citing COVID-19’s effects on its esports leaguesActivision Blizzard lays off about 50 employees, citing COVID-19’s effects on its esports leagues
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Valorant pro Sinatraa suspended following sexual assault allegationsValorant pro Sinatraa suspended following sexual assault allegations
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Riot is bringing in-person League of Legends and Valorant tournaments to IcelandRiot is bringing in-person League of Legends and Valorant tournaments to Iceland
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Tech
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Valorant’s new tournament series is aimed at making its esports scene more diverseValorant’s new tournament series is aimed at making its esports scene more diverse
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This 26-year-old CEO is helping esports grow up

Evil Geniuses CEO Nicole LaPointe Jameson on reinventing the industry

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This sleek spaceship render is a planned esports arena in TorontoThis sleek spaceship render is a planned esports arena in Toronto
Design
Design
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The Call of Duty League will look very different in its second seasonThe Call of Duty League will look very different in its second season
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The challenge of redesigning a classic esports logo

How Ninjas in Pyjamas created a new identity

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Counter-Strike pros agree to safety protocols so they can return to LAN competitionCounter-Strike pros agree to safety protocols so they can return to LAN competition
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Epic pledges $20 million for Fortnite esports in 2021Epic pledges $20 million for Fortnite esports in 2021
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The Overwatch League’s 2021 season will start in AprilThe Overwatch League’s 2021 season will start in April
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After years of following pro sports, League of Legends esports leagues are ‘finally free to be ourselves’After years of following pro sports, League of Legends esports leagues are ‘finally free to be ourselves’
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