16 November 2023 | Purchase, N.Y.
In partnership with G2 Esports and Riot Games, the Academy will equip attendees with unparalleled exposure and knowledge about the growing esports gaming industry while advocating for its inclusive future.
Mastercard announced today a unique opportunity for gaming and esports enthusiasts worldwide to apply to its first-ever Gamer Academy. The exclusive developmental program is looking to give ten aspiring gamers career guidance, networking opportunities, and all-important skills in esports, toward building a more inclusive gaming.
An impressive figure of over 3 billion people globally identify as gamers, thus drawing a vast array of age groups, genders, and backgrounds. Surprisingly, gamers above 45 years old outnumber those under 18. Additionally, nearly half of the gamers worldwide happen to be women. Despite these facts, several individuals find it challenging to carve out a professional path in this domain.
“Being a global sponsor of some of the rapidly evolving esports, we’ve experienced the extraordinary passion shared by both players and fans,” said Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard’s CMO. “As we launch the Mastercard Gamer Academy, we take pride in our commitment to boost the exponential growth of esports and contribute to the vibrant and diverse future of gaming.”
The pioneering Mastercard Gamer Academy is set to commence in early 2024, with its participants expecting to benefit from:
- Free trips to prominent esports events, taking them behind the scenes at notable championship events and G2 Esports’s base in Berlin.
- Guidance from expert esports professionals, from the G2 Hel, Gozen, to the renowned League of Legends and Valorant teams.
- Mentorship programs both in-person and digital, focusing specifically on mental resilience, health, and allyship among others.
- An exhaustive education program that covers aspects like brand interaction, event planning, marketing, content creation, and much more.
The Academy’s curriculum will be encapsulated into series of episodes to give the fans a peek into the diverse opportunities within the gaming and esports industry. Mastercard cardholders will have exclusive early sneak peek access on Priceless.com.
Powering the initiative is the top-tier global esports entity, G2 Esports, a known advocate for women representation in esports, boasting four women-led teams across various channels.
Romain Bigeard, General Manager of League of Legends at G2 Esports emphasizes that the aspirational academy extends community spirit among gamers while exploring varied facets of esports and gaming. By doing so, they aim to create a clearer vision for individuals eyeing professional roles in the industry.
Mastercard has been a long-standing supporter of gaming and esports as evidenced by its partnership with League of Legends, the most coveted esport worldwide, back in 2018. The company also extended sponsorships to include the Valorant Champions Tour and VCT Game Changers recently.
The Academy is welcoming applications via their website where aspiring participants should fill in an online form and submit a video that demonstrates their passion for gaming and esports. The last date for submission is 17th December 2023. The program is accepting entries worldwide for individuals aged 21 and above. Some restrictions and limitations apply. For complete contest rules and application details, visit mastercard.com/gameracademy. The official program sponsor is G Esports Holding GmbH.