Northwood University is hosting an esports webinar on February 16th that will feature industry professionals who will discuss the future of esports. The webinar is free for students and registration is open now on Handshake.
Northwood University said on its website, “Join us for an informative session with several industry leaders to learn more about where they see the Esports industry heading, where the internships are, and other relevant topics, including The Future of Gaming in the Metaverse.”
Esports webinar panelists include Dan-Cho, senior talent recruiter at Activision/Blizzard, Patrick Barthe, from sales and partnerships at Atomic and Mythos and Jamie Collyer, senior gaming recruiter for MSFT.
Northwood University is a private business school in Midland, Michigan. The University boasts a robust esports program that has already won two national championships. According to the Northwood University website, its esports program is open to both professional gamers and individuals new to competitive gaming. The University offers a BBA in Esports Management and the program provides students the opportunity to game competitively while earning a degree.
Esports Industry Growth
Esports is a developing industry and companies such as Activision Blizzard are showing interest, and investment in esports is growing. The esports group 100 Thieves recently raised $60 million, while Yesports has secured $2.25 million in seed funding for its esports platform. Likewise, Dubit recently raised $8 million for esports in Roblox. The Esports Awards, an annual award ceremony that honors innovation and top performance from players, media, and more, adds credence to the industry. In 2021, the Esports Awards gave out awards in thirty-five categories.
Currently, Northwood University’s esports competes in League of Legends, Overwatch, Call of Duty, Fortnite and more at the varsity level. Competitions include in=person LAN events as well as online tournaments.The esports industry is lucrative, earning $1 billion in 2021 with estimates suggesting it’ll reach $1.6 billion by 2024.
Jack Brassell is a freelance journalist and aspiring novelist. Jack is a self-proclaimed nerd with a lifelong passion for storytelling. As an author, Jack writes mostly horror and young adult fantasy. Also an avid gamer, she works as the lead news editor at Hardcore Droid. When she isn't writing or playing games, she can often be found binge-watching Parks & Rec or The Office, proudly considering herself to be a cross between Leslie Knope and Pam Beasley.