OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws add GameStop as video game retail partner
North American esports organisation OpTic Gaming – and its Overwatch League franchise Houston Outlaws – have announced that GameStop will act as their official video game retail partner.
The deal includes OpTic Gaming and Houston Outlaws’ players and personalities getting involved with GameStop Live clinics, aiding amateur players with their aspirations of making it into esports on a professional basis.
Chris DeAppolonio, EVP of Partnerships at Infinite Esports & Entertainment discussed the partnership: “For over a decade, GameStop has been an ancillary supporter both of our brand and fans. Now through this partnership, OpTic Gaming can help curate GameStop’s success in esports. We look forward to bringing new and exciting opportunities for the Greenwall both in and out of GameStop stores.”
GameStop will also allow fans of OpTic Gaming and its Overwatch League brand – dubbed the GreenWall – to meet those who represent the organisation in-person through “exclusive opportunities”.
Ryan “OpTicJ” Musselman, President of Infinite Esports & Entertainment added: “GameStop has been a core part of our early retail gaming experiences. This partnership is a testament to our roots, and to OpTic Gaming becoming a powerhouse within the gaming and entertainment space.”
OpTic Gaming is also partnered with SCUF Gaming, DXRacer, Mountain Dew AMP Game Fuel, and Turtle Beach. Most recently, it announced a partnership with Nissan alongside FaZe Clan. Houston Outlaws is partnered with Turtle Beach and DXRacer too, as well as T-Mobile.
Frank Hamlin, Chief Marketing Officer for GameStop also commented: “The DFW area is becoming the epicenter of esports and we are excited to partner with a storied franchise such as OpTic Gaming – who also share our local roots in North Texas. Through this partnership, we are hoping to provide access and resources to the amateur community that’s looking to learn new techniques and strategy from the very best in esports.”
GameStop is ramping up its esports efforts, also announcing today that it has acquired the naming rights to compLexity Gaming’s new headquarters and partnering with Team Envy.
Esports Insider says: It’s starting to seem like GameStop is a fan of North Texas, considering all three organisations it has partnered with today are all based there. It’s cool to see a mainstream brand get involved with esports in such a big way but we’ll have to see if it has spread itself too thin or not over time.
