sponsorships Archives

AppWizard

December 27, 2025

Gabe Newell wanted this cult-classic FPS to be one of the first games to launch on Steam, but its creator said “ehhh” nah

Steam was launched in 2003 as a platform for updates to Valve's games and became a full-fledged storefront in 2005. Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve, reached out to Adrian Chmielarz in the early days to feature the game Painkiller on Steam, but Chmielarz was hesitant as they did not hold the rights to the game. Painkiller's Black Edition was eventually released on Steam in 2007. The emergence of digital storefronts like Steam has transformed game development, allowing smaller developers greater access to audiences without the need for traditional publishers. Steam has revolutionized video game distribution, despite challenges like game discoverability, and has become essential to the PC gaming ecosystem.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

Jonas Martensson: Minecraft figure on LIV Golf and Cleeks role

Jonas Martensson, former CEO of Mojang Studios, is now the general manager of Cleeks GC in LIV Golf. He transitioned from gaming to professional sports management, focusing on team building and brand identity. Cleeks GC features players like Richard Bland, Adrian Meronk, and Frederik Kjettrup, with an average team age of 37. Martensson aims to develop future talent and create a strong fan base through a team-centric model. LIV Golf has secured significant sponsorships, including a multi-year deal with HSBC, and operates lucrative individual and team events. Martensson envisions expanding LIV Golf's reach with fixed event locations in Northern Europe.

AppWizard

June 30, 2025

Betting companies can now sponsor Riot esports

Riot Games has allowed betting companies to sponsor its esports events, a decision made by John Needham, the president of publishing and esports, to create a more sustainable environment for professional gaming. This move responds to the existing prevalence of unregulated betting activities in the esports ecosystem. Riot is implementing "guardrails," including a vetting process for sponsors and integrity checks for teams, to maintain the sport's integrity. The change follows a demand from teams for a reevaluation of Riot's previous cautious stance on betting sponsorships. The esports betting market is growing, with a reported global betting turnover of .7 billion for League of Legends Esports and Valorant Champions Tour in 2024, although around 70% of bets are placed in unregulated markets.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

SBJ Power Up: the MLB’s Minecraft memorabilia play

USOPP has added three new partners: Saatva, Archer, and Pennymac, bringing its total agreements to six since the start of 2024. These partnerships are in the lower tier of USOPP's sponsorship levels. Earlier in the year, USOPP announced a second-tier partnership with AECOM. M&T Bank Stadium will undergo a three-year renovation project with a budget of million, which includes the installation of over 12,000 square feet of LED displays. ANC is managing this installation, with work starting this summer to complete it before the 2025 NFL season. Key upgrades include a 216-foot video display at Gate A, fine-pitch signage in field-level clubs, new signage for the Hospitality Village, and the replacement of over a hundred TVs with larger screens. After the 2025 season, a 2,300-square-foot transparent mesh LED display will be added to the stadium's northwest plaza, along with additional high-resolution displays at various locations.