From the keyboard to the boardroom, this is the Business of Esports Minute! Every single week, I, Paul Dawalibi, the prophet of esports, will be bringing you my hottest takes from the week, basically everything you need to know about the business of esports all in about one minute. Let’s go.
This week, the FDA approved the first-ever prescription video game. Physicians can now prescribe Akili Interactive’s EndeavorRX to children between the ages of 8 and 12 who struggle with ADHD. The developers say the game stimulates neural systems that are intrinsic to attention function, and features adaptive algorithms that allow for personalized ADHD treatment. As I’ve said many times before, gaming has the power to creep into every single industry on the planet, from travel to education, and here we see it in healthcare.
Fortnite this week hosted their long-awaited event “The Device”. The event filled up just one minute after fans were told to arrive, and Epic announced it was full. Users were still able to watch the event via livestream instead of in-game, but it proved once again that Fortnite is a glimpse of the future of social networks and entertainment.
In corporate rumor news, AT&T is reportedly looking to sell its Warner Bros. gaming unit for $4B. Companies including EA and Activision Blizzard have supposedly shown interest in the asset, which includes IP such as Harry Potter and Mortal Kombat. It’s unclear why AT&T would want to sell a gaming asset when the general industry growth is so compelling, but the large price tag may be a clue. In my opinion, AT&T could be trying to capitalize on the current gaming hype to get top dollar for this asset.
Finally, it’s just worth a quick mention that Microsoft’s livestreaming platform Mixer announced today that they would be closing shop and merging into Facebook Gaming. It’s an announcement that took many by surprise. I can assure you that the Business of Esports will be breaking down this announcement in detail this week on the podcast and after-show, especially as more details start to emerge.
For far more detailed insight and discussion into the business of esports, as well as the most exceptional line-up of guests, please tune in every week to the Business of Esports podcast and every Wednesday evening into the Business of Esports after-show livestream. Also make sure to follow us on Twitter @bizesports and on YouTube at The Business of Esports.
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