Association of the German games industry establishes eSports association

• New eSports.BIU association to foster success and recognition of eSports
• Stakeholders in the eSports ecosystem welcome to join
 
Berlin, Germany, 24 June 2016 – The association of the German computer and video games industry is increasing its involvement in eSports: the Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware) has responded to the wishes of its members to see an increase in activities in this important future area by founding a new association called eSports.BIU. The members of BIU as well as the members of its industry networking platform BIU.Dev and BIU.Net will henceforth work together on further establishing eSports in Germany. They will focus on having eSports recognised as a form of sport and on simplifying visa requirements for eSports athletes. The topic of eSports will also feature more prominently in the BIU’s political communications in order to raise awareness of the great potential that eSports offer. Overall, eSports.BIU sees itself as the primary point of contact for politicians, society and other eSports stakeholders with regard to this topic.
 
[quotation cite=”Dr Maximilian Schenk, Managing Director BIU”]The future belongs to eSports – no other sport is growing at such a rapid pace anywhere in the world.[/quotation]‘The future belongs to eSports – no other sport is growing at such a rapid pace anywhere in the world. It has become increasingly important in recent years – not only for the gamers and spectators, but also for the entire games industry,’ says the BIU’s Managing Director Dr Maximilian Schenk, explaining its increased involvement. ‘With eSports.BIU, we are offering the rapidly growing ecosystem comprising games, competitions and broadcastings a central platform for dialogue and decision-making and are making ourselves the first port of call in Germany with all matters relating to eSports.’
 

BIU.Dev, BIU.Net and BIU members working hand in hand

In its early stages, eSports.BIU already boasts 13 members, including Crytek, Yager, ActivisionBlizzard, Bandai Namco, Electronic Arts, Gameforge, Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony, Ubisoft and Wargaming. BIU.Dev and BIU.Net members are also involved in the new association and have equal rights, namely ESL (Turtle Entertainment) and Freaks 4U Gaming, two of the main international organisers of leagues, tournaments and broadcastings. Any companies that are substantially involved in eSports production can become involved in eSports.BIU. The activities of eSports.BIU are coordinated by a board comprising six members: Maxi Gräff of Microsoft, Michael Haenisch of Freaks 4U Gaming, Thomas Jaskiewicz of Ubisoft, Martin Lorber of Electronic Arts, Arne Peters of ESL and Tom Putzki of Wargaming. In its capacity as a platform, eSports.BIU will also seek regular dialogue with eSports teams and clans and with other eSports stakeholders. A prime example of this is the eSports.BIU Summit being held on 8 July 2016 during ESL One at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, which will be attended by, among others, representatives of the football clubs Schalke 04 and VfL Wolfsburg, and also of SK Gaming.
 
‘eSports are rapidly becoming more and more professionalised. To date, the immense interest in eSports in Germany has tended to be looked upon with astonishment, rather than being acted upon. By founding eSports.BIU, we are bringing the various stakeholders together and can then jointly shape the topic of eSports in Germany better than before,’ says Arne Peters of ESL, who is on the board of eSports.BIU. ‘We intend to strike up a dialogue with more stakeholders in the eSports ecosystem in the months to come, in order to further strengthen eSports in Germany,’ says Peters.
 
For more information on the eSports.BIU Summit, go to http://www.thebizcom.com/#!programm/cee5
 
Information on the BIU
BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware e. V. (Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software) is the association of the German computer and video games industry. Its 26 members are developers, publishers and providers of digital games, and they represent over 85 per cent of the German market. The BIU is, for example, the sponsor of gamescom. As an expert partner for media and for political and social institutions, the BIU answers all questions on the topic of digital games.
 
Press contact:
Martin Puppe
BIU – Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware e. V.
Charlottenstraße 62
10117 Berlin
Germany
Tel.: +49 (0)30 2408 77920
Fax: +49 (0)30 2408 77911
Email: puppe@biu-online.de
Twitter: @game_eV
Facebook.com/BIUeV

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