IGN Gets into the eSport Business

IGN Entertainment, a video game focused company that has also made a move into the space of digital distribution recently, has announced that it is creating an eSports league of its own, aiming to get a piece of the competitive video gaming market.

The company has also announced that it is promoting David Ting as the general manager of the eSports division and vice president of the Research & Development department, with the aim of creating new technology and new business opportunities linked to video game competitions.

Roy Bahat, who is the president of IGN Entertainment, stated, “The time has come for video games, as a spectator sport, to go mainstream in Europe and the United States as has happened elsewhere around the world. David conceived this effort as a lean startup within IGN and has led it with vision and skill. He is the perfect person to take it forward as we double down.”

David Ting, the man who will run the entire operation added, “The time is ripe for eSports: the biggest game franchises are often more popular than other mass-market entertainment, and gamers are beginning to watch and learn from others. IGN will respect that each game’s fans have their own passions and promote the new sport of competitive gaming to millions of game fans in IGN’s audience.”

Until now Ting has also been in charge of the IGN Pro League, a gaming tournament that has launched in April of this year and will get a second season on July 14.

IGN has not announced what video games will be included in its eSports effort and it is not yet clear whether the company aims to create leagues based upon well-known franchises that already have established competitions, like Starcraft, Mortal Kombat or FIFA, or whether it will concentrate on developing new titles for competitive play.