Hi {{first_name | there}},
July was the month we pulled the curtain back on Ireland Esports Leagues — the biggest structural change we’ve made since taking on the Collegiate Series in 2022.
It’s more than a new name. It’s a unified system designed to connect the Schools, Collegiate, and Company Series, giving Ireland its first integrated esports ecosystem.
One identity. One framework. Built for scale, grounded in the communities it serves, and ready to deliver both competitive and commercial value.
And while IEL is built for Ireland, it’s also a blueprint — a competition model with education and community at its core, proven commercial pathways, and the flexibility to be replicated in other markets when the time is right (sooner than you might think).
Also worth a quiet mention…we’ve just inked a new sponsor for the Collegiate Series, with more to come on that one shortly 👀
Our short reads, long reads, successes, challenges…well you know the rest, they follow below 👇🏼
INDUSTRY NEWS
🗞️ In Focus – July’s global esports landscape underscored why launching IEL now makes sense:
Bigger, better events — The Esports World Cup set a new benchmark with 26 titles, a $70M prize pool, and mainstream cultural crossovers (Post Malone on stage, Spotify playlists, IMG production). Scale matters — and IEL is our scalable model.
Quality over quantity — Stream Hatchet data showed esports viewership up 6% year-on-year despite fewer tournaments. The takeaway? Well-structured, high-quality competitions keep audiences engaged — exactly what IEL is built to deliver.
Commercial validation — Renewed sponsorships from brands like Pepsi, Aramco, and Secretlab prove that strong ecosystems attract long-term partners. IEL gives Ireland a clear platform to pitch and deliver at that level.
Creator-driven engagement — Events putting content creators at the centre are unlocking new audiences. IEL’s structure allows us to bring creators into Schools, Collegiate, and Company competitions in a coordinated way.
Education as the cornerstone — Our relationships with schools, colleges, and universities aren’t just about competition. They’re pipelines for talent, trusted spaces for introducing esports to new audiences, and platforms for delivering social impact. IEL strengthens this network, making it easier for educators to connect with each other and with industry — and positioning Ireland as a leader in esports in education.
Why it matters: These global proof points reinforce that esports growth depends on scalable systems, consistent quality, and strong community anchors. Ireland Esports Leagues delivers that locally — a connected, competition-ready model with built-in education and commercial pathways. And because the framework is modular, it’s not just an Irish solution; it’s a blueprint we can replicate in other markets when the time is right.
🗞️ Updated Esports Marketing Statistics 2025 (7 mins 28 sec read time, Esports Insider)
🗞️ EWC 2025 Unveils Massive Prize Pool and Star Power (5 mins read time, PR Newswire)
🗞️ IMG enters the arena with Esports World Cup deal (2 mins 25 sec read time, Insider Sport)
🗞️ Wimbledon eChamps Winners Crowned (1 min 13 secs read time, Wimbledon)
🗞️ 100 Thieves Officially Exiting LTA After 2025 Season (1 min 17 sec read time, The Esports Advocate)
SUCCESSES
🚀 Ireland Esports Leagues (IEL) launch completed - Brand, platform, and positioning went live—connecting Schools, Collegiate, and Company Series under one scalable structure. It’s a first for Ireland and a blueprint for Nativz Gaming.
🚀 Collegiate Series briefings underway covering changes for 25/26, EA FC and Chess added to Company Series titles and Schools Series pilot momentum building with strong feedback from Computers in Education Society of Ireland members.
🚀 Hot on the heels of launching our Collegiate Advisory Committee in June, we’re now building our Schools Advisory Committee to strengthen our strategy and increase our impact connecting with Ireland’s community of teachers and administrators. If you are interested in getting involved (or know someone suitable) please let me know via email [email protected]
Ireland Esports Leagues launched — New brand, unified structure, and aligned operations across all three series.
Collegiate Series — Registrations for 2025/26 opened; new sponsor announced.
Company Series — Six-title expansion confirmed for 2025/26.
Schools Series — Pilot momentum building with strong educator feedback.
Nativz Esports Club — Academy now active in four titles, with player development flowing from IEL pathways.
Nemesis — Post-Office Showdown refinements in progress ahead of Q4 partner testing.
CHALLENGES
Delivering Ireland Esports Leagues wasn’t just a rebrand—it was a reset.
🧩 Balancing clarity with community – We needed a brand that could speak to educators, execs and players without alienating any one group. That meant messaging built on connection and clarity—not hype.
🧠 Updating ops in real time – With three series at different maturity levels, aligning tech, formats and workflows required a sprint—and a few caffeine-fuelled evenings.
📣 Rolling it out with intention – This was a story we wanted people to feel part of. It wasn’t about a big reveal—it was about inviting everyone into a bigger system built for them.
Browse our most recent Business Update newsletters:
NEEDS
This month, we’re asking for two things to help keep the momentum going:
📢 Help amplify the Ireland Esports Leagues launch — Share the story with your networks, whether that’s educators, execs, players, or policymakers. Every share helps us grow the reach and impact of the new system.
🏢 Spread the word about the 2025/26 Company Series — Registrations are open for Ireland’s Esports Company Series, now featuring six titles and a format designed for working professionals. If you know a business, startup, or alumni group that loves to compete, point them our way. It’s more than competition — it’s team building, networking, and a chance to connect through play.
METRICS
The following metrics are for the period of 1-30 July 2025:
Metric | Property | Result (v last month) |
|---|---|---|
Social Audience | All Official Channels | up (again) 0.27% 🔼 |
LinkedIn Audience | Nativz Group | 1190 up by 0.33% 🔼 |
Marketing Database | Collegiate Series | 1,516 total (-%) |
Marketing Database | Combined Total | 3,303 total (0.5%) 🔼 |
COMING UP (& UNDERWAY)
Take a look at what we've got coming up:
📅 31 August - Office Showdown Winter Series Early Bird Discount Ends
📅 Sep 2025 - Company Series, Office Showdown Winter Tournament Starts
📅 Oct 2025 - Collegiate Series Winter Tournament Starts
Thanks for reading. And thanks (in advance) for spreading the word.
Regards,
Kurt & the Nativz Gaming Team
OFFICIAL PARTNERS OF NATIVZ GAMING
