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Kagiso Media makes a play in e-sports

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 25 Nov 2016
The first Mega8 eSports tournament will take place in early December.
The first Mega8 eSports tournament will take place in early December.

Kagiso Media launched an e-sports platform this week called Mega8 eSports, after acquiring Cape Town-based software developer, Critter.

The price of the acquisition was not revealed. However, Critter is now a shareholder in Mega8.

Mega8 will host regular tournaments with "ample" prize money.

Chief innovation officer at Kagiso Media Vincent Maher says: "While the e-sports industry in South Africa has grown somewhat recently, with local tournaments featuring better prize pools, it is still a relatively young industry.

"It is poised for an explosion in growth with improved Internet speeds now more widely available. Predictions suggest that by 2019, it will be a R3 billion industry."

The first tournament, called The Summer Invitational, will take place from 2 to 4 December.

Top Dota 2 teams across SA will have the opportunity to participate on the new platform and compete for R50 000 in prize money. The online tournament will be streamed live via Twitch.tv and YouTube.

Mega8 will thereafter launch official seasons and regularly host tournaments, starting in 2017.

Maher says the company aims to build the local gaming industry.

"With direct links to large media and broadcasting corporations, Kagiso Media intends to grow the local audience. We also hope to turn our local gamers into sports icons, much like top gamers are viewed in other parts of the world."

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