Australia’s Getting A City-Based Esports League

Kicking off next year, the British-based Gfinity esports organisers will be partnering with a local company to create a league with eight franchises, based around most of Australia’s largest cities.

Mumbrella reports that HT&E Events will run partner with esports promoter Gfinity to run the Australian league, although the report doesn’t mention what or how many games will be involved. HT&E Events is a new company founded between Here, There & Everywhere (previous APN News & Media) and the Irish-based IKON Media & Entertainment.

According to the report, Sydney will have two teams, while Canberra, Darwin and Hobart won’t be represented at all:

Commencing in summer of 2018, the new franchise teams are Adelaide Photonics, Brisbane Deceptors, Melbourne Metattak, Melbourne Rebolte, Perth Subnets, Sydney Blue Surge and Sydney Opsydian.


Image: Gfinity/HT&E/Mumbrella

An online offshoot, called “The Challenger Series”, will supposedly launch in the third quarter of 2017 while acting as a feeder competition for the main event. The report also noted that franchise teams would compete in a weekly league that would be broadcast online:

Franchise teams will compete weekly at dedicated eSports venues, with each event broadcast live online and across other TV and media platforms.

Update (3:00 PM): A spokesperson for screenPLAY has confirmed that they are not involved with Gfinity’s esports league. Given Channel Seven announced their intention to broadcast their own league with screenPLAY’s initial announcement, that means Australia has two esports leagues planned for broadcast television in the next twelve months.

[referenced url=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/06/screenplays-esports-league-will-feature-two-games/” thumb=”https://www.kotaku.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/06/screenplay-promo-1-410×231.jpg” title=”ScreenPLAY’s Esports League Will Start With Two Games” excerpt=”Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Mini SNES this morning, it was revealed that the esports league for Channel Seven’s new gaming show, screenPLAY, would feature two games.”]

You can read more about the upcoming league over at Mumbrella.


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