In an initiative aimed at the electronic sports sector, Microsoft bought the Smash.gg platform. With the transaction amount kept confidential, the official announcement was made on Smash’s Twitter.
In an official note, the platform ensures that the acquisition means that everyone “will continue to benefit from the Smash.gg platform”, adding that their own team will take advantage of “additional resources and support as part of the Microsoft Content Services team. ”.
Launched five years ago, Smash promotes live and online championships for games like Call of Duty (COD) and Super Smash Bros. Three years ago, the company managed to capitalize around 11 million dollars (56 million reais at the current price) in a round with investors that included Spark Capital, Accel and Horizon Ventures.
Some time later, the platform still obtained another 3 million dollars (around 15 million reais) from Spark Capital, Caffeinated Capital and Lowercase Capital. While Microsoft continues a phase of expansion in the global market.
About Microsoft
After finalizing Mixer’s operations in the middle of this year, the American corporation closed a collaboration agreement with Facebook Gaming to unite platforms. This new commercial arrangement allowed xCloud gamer streaming to be integrated with the Facebook service.
Growth of bets in the eSports sector
Microsoft’s investment only corroborates the unprecedented growth phase that eSports are experiencing in 2020.
Driven by the need for millions of people in all parts of the world to stay at home longer and with the suspension of traditional forms of live sports in part of that year, electronic sports reached a record audience.
Although the sector has experienced an expansion process in recent years, this development has been intensified in recent months. The betting market has come to see the full potential of eSports, while the public has become even more engaged in electronic competitions.