Hall of Fame Gaming, Esports Illustrated in Content Pact

Credit: Hall of Fame Gaming/Esports Illustrated

Esports and gaming publication Esports Illustrated (ESI) announced a strategic partnership with Hall of Fame Gaming this week.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded by NFL Veteran DeSean Jackson and Packers LB Preston Smith, Hall of Fame Gaming describes itself a “lifestyle esports and content team” as an organization that seeks to combine the worlds of “gaming and sports” and serve as a “platform for gamers to showcase their skills and talents.” Created and operated by the GaudHammer Gaming Group (G3), Esports Illustrated is a joint venture in cooperation with Sports Illustrated owner Arena Group and part of its Fan Nation network.  

Under the terms of this partnership, ESI and HOF will collaborate on creating multiple content series featuring NFL stars DeSean Jackson, Antonio Gibson and Call of Duty Warzone professional player, Zsmit.

That content includes a competition called the “Da Gulag Madden Tournament,” a content series called “DeSean Jackson Learns Call of Duty Warzone ft. zSmit,” and an Apex Legends Tournament hosted in partnership with zLeague.

The Da Gulag Madden Tournament will see HOF Founder DeSean Jackson join Twitch streamer SL1M GHOST’s Gulag Tournament, where top-performing Madden NFL players play for cash prizes and recognition. The tournament will be hosted on ESI’s Twitch Wednesday (Aug. 16) at 8 p.m. ET.

Desean Jackson’s journey to becoming a Call of Duty Warzone contender while being coached by professional player zSmit will be chronicled in a four-part series that will be released every Friday at 7 p.m. ET starting Aug. 18, on ESI’s YouTube channel.

Finally, an Apex Legends Tournament hosted by HOF in partnership with zLeague called the Apex Legends Tournament Antonio Gibson Apex Duos Presented by HOF Gaming. Coverage of the tournament will be available on Esports Illustrated and will be broadcast beginning Aug. 31 at 8:00 pm ET on ESI’s Twitch channel.