It is the holiday season and I hope everyone has eyes on their favourite game or console, and so is Microsoft. Their recent purchase shows Microsoft’s keen interest in the gaming sector. Microsoft’s new major video game purchase is not a studio, but an eSports platform: Smash.gg is now part of the Microsoft Content management community. Smash.gg offers corporate services and support for amateur and professional gaming events.
“Since we began in 2015, our goal has been to build a fully active esports scene across the games people enjoy playing,” Smash.gg stated on its website.”Today, we’re excited to move to the next level in that quest by joining Microsoft to help strengthen our existing relationships and explore new opportunities. Smash.gg will continue as a self-service esports platform available to tournament organisers from all game communities.”
Smash.gg added a bit more on Twitter. “With this takeover, the Smash.gg community and tournament organisers will continue to benefit from this platform, while our team will now benefit from enhanced resources and support as part of the Microsoft Content Services team,” it stated. “For now it’s business as usual as our newly formed ally continues to support our community and event organisers. We’re pumped about this acquisition’s potential to further strengthen the esports industry and grow platform’s reach and scale.”
Microsoft also confirmed this acquisition news on twitter.
This isn’t as spectacular as the major Bethesda buyout as per investments go, but it’s a very fascinating strategic manoeuvre.
What Role does Smash.gg Plays in Esports?
Smash.gg was first founded to promote the Super Smash Bros. network, but has evolved from there to become one of competitive gaming’s most widely used platforms. The website says it currently serves more than 6,000 “active event organisers across a broad mix of games,” varying in size from the Brawlhalla Community Tournament Project to the Bud Light Beer League and EVO. It also delivers tournament planning, e-commerce, and fundraiser details and tutorials. That makes it more of a foundation than a marquee, but it’s a major player in professional gaming behind the scenes, and so is Microsoft now.