Did you know Manchester City has an esports team?

You may not have noticed, but esports has become just as respected and almost as popular as traditional real-world sports.

Esports athletes train for and compete in major tournaments all around the world, and many countries have their own esports teams. Do not underestimate how big esports is becoming. According to Statista, the industry will generate a revenue of around £1.5 billion by 2022.

One growing trend in recent years has been for established football clubs to launch esports teams in an effort to keep up with the millennial generation. Most football club esports teams play FIFA football video games, but some play other games. For example, FC Copenhagen plays in Counter-Strike competitions while Schalke 04 have played in League of Legends esports tournaments. As for our local Manchester City FC, the club has been competing in FIFA esports events since 2016.

An Overview of the Manchester City Esports Team

Manchester City began creating its own esports team when it signed Kieran Brown in 2016. The club soon started competing in the FIFA eWorld Cup, which includes playing video games from Electronic Arts’ FIFA franchise. The FIFA eWorld Cup structure is similar to the real-life World Cup in that it includes qualification and knockout stages. People even bet on the outcomes of the games.

While many people enjoy playing online puzzle games, video games, and MMORPGs, as well as casino games like those available at Casumo UK, few have what it takes to become an esports superstar. But Manchester City now has two dedicated players who are regarded as some of the greatest esports athletes in the world: Shaun “Shellzz” Springette and Ryan Pessoa. Shellzz represents Manchester City by playing games on Xbox while Pessoa represents the club by playing games on PlayStation. They represent Manchester City at major esports events around the world. City also now has esports teams based in South Korea and China.

Since the esports team’s founding, they have experienced successes and losses in a similar vein to the main Man City club. But the esports team has most definitely made large strides forwards in recent times to enhance its standing in the world of esports. After City began collaborating with its social football partner Nexen in South Korea, the club started competing in numerous competitions, including the global FUT Champions Cup. In 2019, City went on to collaborate with FaZe Clan, which is one of the largest and most popular esports organisations on the planet.

A New Season Brings New Shirts

It is obvious that Manchester City is serious about its esports team, as is evident with the launch of bespoke esports shirts for its professional FIFA players to wear in the current 2020/2021 season. The Puma shirts are the club’s first for esports. They feature a paisley design that was inspired by Man City’s third kit. Puma has confirmed that it will be continuing to produce more products for the Manchester City esports team over the course of this year.

Manchester Is Backing the Rise of Esports

It is not just Manchester City football club taking esports seriously. Manchester, the city itself, is also backing the rise of the industry. For example, the company behind the renowned online esports site GGRecon is based in Manchester, and Manchester University started providing an intercollegiate esports competition in the spring of 2020. The university is now equipped with state-of-the-art gaming stations in two conference centres. Players compete in video game competitions like League of Legends, Super Smash Bros., and Rocket League. Maybe soon, Manchester University will create FIFA esports players who are good enough to be part of the Manchester City esports team.

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