What Happened
Microsoft is set to launch an eSports league for its popular racing game Forza Motorsport. Simply named Forza Racing Championship, the new official tournament will be run by Microsoft with no third-party collaborations but invites anyone to compete for real prizes. Although details are scarce at the moment, the matches are scheduled to kick off with Forza Motorsport 6 this summer.
What Brands Need To Do
Today, the top video game titles each captures tens of millions of hours of consumer attention monthly on Twitch, making eSports an important media segment that brands should not miss. Created by Turn 10 Studios and published by Microsoft, the Forza series is among the most popular Xbox games, with Forza Motorsport 6 selling over 1 million copies within the first four months of its launch. Given its popularity and Microsoft’s marketing push, this new Championship league should be a hit among game lovers, and presents brands, especially auto brands, a valuable sponsorship opportunity to reach the young, male-skewing audience that eSports typically attracts.
Sources: Engadget