ISFE, the Brussels-based organisation representing Europe’s video games industry and the European leaders of the global esports industry have united to launch ISFE Esports, a new group that brings together the key stakeholders and major players of one of the fastest-growing and most exciting industries in the world, with a global community of hundreds of millions of people who actively play, compete in, or watch esports each year.
Video games publishers, developers and their communities are the very foundation of esports. Their games and players generate an ecosystem that includes media services, tournament organisers, teams, professional players and fans. ISFE’s sister organisations in the U.S. (ESA), Canada (ESAC) and Australia and New Zealand (IGEA), are proud to support the launch of ISFE Esports and to be part of a global alliance with a united voice to represent the esports industry.
Olaf Coenen, Chairman of ISFE and Co-Chairman of ISFE Esports (alongside Alberto Guerrero, Head of Esports Europe, Riot Games) said: “With video games publishers, their games and their players at the very heart of esports, they are best placed to lead the growth and development of this new frontier for the video games industry, to meet its challenges, promote esports, and to provide an authoritative voice on the issues impacting their businesses”.
ISFE Esports initially brings together ISFE’s wide games publisher and national trade association membership (many of which also represent other important esports stakeholders) with major tournament organiser, ESL, key media service, Twitch and leading non-ISFE member publishers, Epic Games and Riot Games. The members of ISFE Esports are committed to growing the sector in a responsible way for the benefit of all related businesses, players and fans. They look forward to working with esports stakeholders across Europe to grow the potential of esports, to boost the flow of talent into the sector, and to promote a fair, inclusive and diverse esports culture.
“With the esports industry growing at such a fast rate, it is crucial that we publishers should bring to bear our many years of experience and, in particular, our rigorous standards for responsible gameplay for the overall good of the ecosystem and the protection of our players.” – Alberto Guerrero, Head of Esports Europe, Riot Games
ISFE Esports will:
- Bring together esports stakeholders to discuss and find common ground on key issues affecting the sector
- Seek to strategically align esports policy across Europe
- Coordinate and articulate the voice of esports so that the sector can be represented before European policy makers, regulators and other stakeholders
- Raise awareness of esports and of the opportunities it offers amongst policy makers and politicians
- Encourage and facilitate the exchange of views and intelligence, and the development of best practices
- Agree policy positions when required or appropriate
- Identify threats and challenges to the growth and development of the esports sector
- Aim to coordinate and liaise with like-minded groups and associations worldwide