UK-based esports organisation Resolve Esports has acquired fellow UK organisation Barrage Esports.
As a result of the acquisition, and subsequent merger, Resolve will take over all of Barrage’s esports and business operations. Resolve has also entered into discussions with Barrage’s existing partners to explore the possibility of working with them.
Resolve has paid an additional fee to compensate for Barrage’s existing members of staff who won’t be joining. Several of Barrage’s staff members will be continuing within the organisation.
To honour Barrage’s legacy, 50 limited edition Resolve/Barrage esports jerseys will be created, with all profits from the shirt sales going to Barrage’s charity partner, SpecialEffect. Resolve may also incorporate Barrage branding within some of their activities in the future.
Resolve will be giving up one slot in the UKEL and one slot in the UKLC to allow the event organisers to pass these opportunities to other UK organisations and grow the ecosystem. Resolve will also review Barrage’s North American team operations and have a conversation about what happens here in the future.
Resolve founder Ilias ‘Rai’ Pajoheshfar said: “It has always been our intention to compete at the highest level and the journey so far has been a brilliant one.
“When Barrage kindly presented us with this opportunity, we felt an obligation to ensure the UK continues to be represented and after careful consideration, we felt the timing was right.
“We would like to thank Barrage for their hard work and service to UK esports, and will honour their legacy.”
Jeff Simpkins, who is stepping down as MD of Barrage Esports, said: “I reached out to Ilias and Resolve as I felt it was time to make a decision about Barrage’s and my own future in esports. I specifically reached out to Ilias as he is someone I have known for a couple of years now, who I have had a good rapport with and trust, as well as being wise beyond his years.
“I wanted to ensure that whatever decision was made, the history of Barrage was entrusted to people who would value it and be able to truly build upon it. I feel, from the discussions I’ve had with Ilias and the team at Resolve, that they will do that. From those discussions, several of the existing Barrage staff members will also be moving to Resolve whilst others will be moving on to other places both in and outside of esports.
“To all those who have supported Barrage, have been part of our journey and specifically supported or helped guide myself over the years, thank you so much. It has been an absolute honour and I can’t properly encapsulate in so few words how much that has truly meant to me. I hope you will now give Resolve, Ilias and the team the same support that you have offered Barrage and myself as they now take over the mantle.
“This may technically be the end of Barrage’s journey, but part of it will always live on in Resolve.”
By Niji Narayan
Niji Narayan has been in the writing industry for well over a decade or so. He prides himself as one of the few survivors left in the world who have actually mastered the impossible art of copy editing. Niji graduated in Physics and obtained his Master’s degree in Communication and Journalism. He has always interested in sports writing and travel writing. He has written for numerous websites and his in-depth analytical articles top sports magazines like Cricket Today and Sports Today. He reports gaming industry headlines from all around the globe.