ESL Gaming and 433 announce strategic partnership to boost global profile of Virtual Bundesliga

Partnership with the leading digital and social media soccer content specialists will feature highlights, recaps, quizzes and more

STOCKHOLM/COLOGNE/NEW YORK, June 3, 2021 ESL Gaming, the world’s largest esports company, has today announced a strategic partnership with 433, the Home of Football and the world’s leading social soccer community, that will focus on increasing the global visibility and experience of the bevestor Virtual Bundesliga by DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga.

Kicking off with the upcoming VBL Grand Finals by bevestor on June 4-6th, the partnership will feature premium short form video-on-demand formats and further innovative social content stories on the 433 esports channel

In addition, the entire next season of the bevestor Virtual Bundesliga will be accompanied by 433 with English-language highlight content, with 433 also delivering engaging content via Instagram including recaps, goals of the day, and quiz games.

“With over 65 million social media followers worldwide, 433 not only represents the largest digital soccer community in the world, but it is also a perfect fit for the bevestor Virtual Bundesliga,” said ESL Senior Vice President Global Business Development Bernhard Mogk. “Partnering with 433 emphasized our international goals for the bevestor Virtual Bundesliga, providing further engaging social content for our global eFootball community.”

433’s followers include global soccer stars such as Robert Lewandowski, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Sergio Ramos. In addition, 433 has partnerships with the Bundesliga, The FA and clubs such as FC Barcelona, Manchester City, and Arsenal among others.

Juul Manders, CEO of 433 said: “eFootball, and esports in general, are a vital part of the 433 community. We’re extremely excited to partner with the world’s largest esports company. Through this unique partnership with ESL Gaming, we’ll be able to deliver the best content to our followers on 433esports, living up to our name as the Home of Football.”

In addition to the partnership on the bevestor Virtual Bundesliga, ESL will also be working on other projects with 433 to target other gaming verticals in addition to eFootball. Further information will be announced in due course.

* * *

ABOUT ESL GAMING

ESL Gaming is the world’s largest esports and gaming lifestyle company. Since 1994, the company has been shaping the industry and leading esports and gaming innovation on a global scale across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline esports competitions, and through premier gaming lifestyle festivals. The company operates high-profile, branded international leagues and tournaments under the ESL Pro Tour, including ESL One, Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL Mobile, ESL Pro League, and other preeminent, stadium-size tournaments. ESL Gaming also produces and hosts DreamHack Open tournaments, ESL National Championships, grassroots amateur cups, matchmaking systems, and DreamHack’s gaming lifestyle festivals — which feature everything gaming under one roof. ESL Gaming is part of MTG, the leading international digital entertainment group. More information is available at eslfaceitgroup.com.

ABOUT 433

433 is the world’s largest digital soccer community. With over 65 million followers on various social media platforms, the company generates over 5 billion impressions per month on its main Instagram-account alone, making @433 the biggest account in the world. 433 creates and shares content at an unmatched pace, aiming to positively impact the world through football. For more information visit www.by433.com or follow 433 at www.instagram.com/433, www.facebook.com/official433 or www.twitter.com/433.

ABOUT THE VIRTUAL BUNDESLIGA:

In 2012, the DFL became the first professional football league to have its own eSport competition when it launched the VBL in partnership with EA SPORTS. The VBL is still the only eSport competition of a professional football league to be directly integrated into the EA SPORTS FIFA game series. The VBL has enjoyed steadily growing popularity since its launch, with around 130,000 participants taking part last season. In 2018, the decision to launch the VBL Club Championship with the clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in addition to the VBL Open competition for individual players was taken in response to the increasing popularity of the VBL, the growing relevance of eSport in general and the DFL’s focus on football simulation games. The two competitions are brought together, first in the VBL Playoffs and then in the VBL Grand Final. The DFL has also been cooperating with ESL Gaming, the world’s largest eSport company since 2020. With its expertise in building up and expanding ecosystems in conjunction with digital sport, the DFL would like to further develop and professionalise the VBL.

Contact us

EFG owns a portfolio of brands in different categories. We are leading the industry with numerous online and offline competitions, digital platforms as well as gaming lifestyle festivals.