Guild Esports PLC (LSE:GILD, OTCQB:GULDF) has announced the creation of a men’s team to compete in Counter-Strike gaming tournaments.
Guild, which already fields a women’s team to play the first-person shooter competitively, suggested the release of a second version of the game this year provided “an opportune moment”.
Given lower entry costs to compete on Counter-Strike with the release of the new game and its less restrictive policies on advertising, fielding a new team can provide new sponsorship and revenue-generating opportunities, Guild continued.
“Counter-Strike is an iconic e-sport, with an immense fanbase and, more than ten years after launching, it continues to grow in popularity,” chief executive Jasmine Skee commented.
“Our entry into the men's competitions, underscored by the impending launch of Counter-Strike 2, aligns perfectly with our vision to consistently elevate our brand's presence on a global scale.
“We're eager to further tap into this burgeoning market, seizing the myriad of sponsorship and revenue opportunities it presents.”
Funding for the men’s team has already been provided from multiple sources, Guild added, with the team’s line-up set to be announced in “due course”.