Verizon powers a 5G future for gaming
June 14 2021 - 12:30PM
The power of 5G is transforming gaming. The speeds, low latency and
capacity of Verizon’s superior 5G network have huge implications
for developers, esports teams and fans. Verizon demonstrated its
leadership throughout the ecosystem today at the company’s
first-ever keynote presentation at E3. The presentation showcased
how Verizon 5G and Mobile Edge Compute (MEC) technology are fueling
innovations for developers, esports teams and fans with partners
Electronic Arts (EA), Dignitas, Riot Games and Team Liquid. Also
addressing the growth of the gaming community and the need for an
emphasis on more diverse representation, the company announced the
Verizon Game Forward Scholarship, a $1 million commitment with the
mission to increase female representation in the gaming industry
and bolster opportunity and presence in STEM careers.
“A powerful network is the foundation of the future of the
gaming industry, and that network is Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband,”
said Diego Scotti, Chief Marketing Officer at Verizon. “As we
continue to work with our partners to build the future of the
industry, we’re literally changing the game. 5G has massive
implications for developers, esports teams and fans. As that
ecosystem grows, a commitment to diversity, specifically around
female representation, is crucial to continued innovation. The
Verizon Game Forward Scholarship is an important action towards
achieving the equity the industry needs.”
Verizon 5G is powering a gaming revolution enabling fans to
download games in seconds, play data-intensive, multiplayer games
typically reserved for consoles on mobile and engage in totally
new, immersive ways. From battle-royale to major sports titles,
Verizon 5G is opening the door for innovations craved by the 190
million gaming fans in the US.
Verizon and EA are joining forces to launch a partnership that
will combine the power of Verizon 5G and the creativity of EA
developers to explore solutions that will create the most dynamic
player experiences in EA SPORTS Madden NFL Mobile — leveraging 5G
labs to test and optimize gameplay and establish new standards in
the future of gaming.
Verizon 5G will be crucial in creating fan-facing experiences
that will take fan engagement to new heights as we return to live
events. Verizon and Team Liquid are forming an innovation
partnership that will reimagine fan engagement around the gaming
industry’s biggest moments. In-person experiences will be more
immersive, giving fans new ways to experience their favorite
events, and enabling streamers to engage fans live from those
events for the first time. Virtual reality innovations will allow
fans to experience live events together, remotely, giving them the
best seats in the house with 360-degree views that put them in the
middle of the action.
Verizon is also activating with Dignitas to beta
launch a Dignitas NFT experience, taking fan and player engagement
to the next level. Starting today, 100 fans who engage with
Dignitas on their social channels will be selected to receive
unique, high fidelity NFT holograms of Dig’s Womens’ FPS team. The
NFTs can be viewed in augmented reality, allowing Dig fans to walk
around the NFT and even snap photos of them with their favorite
player's hologram to share with friends and family in real life and
on social media. Following the upcoming Game Changers tournament
June 24-27, these NFTs will be digitally signed by the players,
adding a new and personal layer to the fans’ experience. The
“Dignitas Collectibles” are available exclusively on Verizon’s beta
NFT platform, which allows fans to connect directly with
celebrities to request NFT autographs. These collectibles are
currently experience-based and cannot be traded or sold.
Building on Verizon’s long-standing commitment to DEI and the
need to address diversity as the gaming community grows, the
Verizon Game Forward Scholarship aims to increase female
representation in gaming and STEM. Support for the program is being
provided by Cxmmunity, a non-profit dedicated to increasing the
participation of minorities within the esports and video game
industry.
This fall, the scholarship will be awarded to a team of five
female students pursuing degrees in technology at five HBCUs:
Delaware State University, Dillard University, Howard University,
Morgan State University and Texas Southern University. The 25
scholarship recipients will also be guaranteed internships at top
tech and gaming companies, including Verizon and its partners,
ensuring an increase in the pipeline of female talent into STEM
careers.
The program will also fund the creation of tech centers on the
campuses of the partnering HBCUs, which will be accessible to the
entire school. The scholarship recipients will also receive access
to the Verizon 5G Gaming Center at the 5G Lab in Los Angeles, where
the frontiers of network-driven innovation in areas like esports
are being pushed and innovative, forward-thinking companies can
access the resources to build and scale the future of gaming.
Cxmmunity will help to develop scholarship criteria, select
qualified student recipients, and procure and manage all logistics
to install the tech centers at the five HBCUs. Verizon Game Forward
Scholarship is an expansion of the Future Fund, a $5 million fund
launched in 2020 to champion new and emerging female talent across
entertainment and technology.
Taking further action to support female representation in the
gaming industry, Verizon expanded its commitment to the Verizon VCT
Game Changers initiative, which elevates women and marginalized
groups within the esports community, inspiring the next generation
of players. In partnership with Riot Games, a new expansion to the
program, launching this fall, will provide training and mentoring
to the next generation of female esports casters, providing them
with the tools and insight to grow in their careers. Verizon VCT
Game Changers will also continue to provide competitive
opportunities for women through top tier tournaments, which will
offer prizes to top performing teams and be supported by the
professionally produced broadcasts of Riot Games. Verizon has added
exclusive mobile gaming offers to its extensive entertainment plan
inclusions for new and existing customers with six months of Apple
Arcade or Google Play Pass, ($4.99/mo. value) on us with any
unlimited plan, or 12 months on us with “Play More” or “Get More”
plans1,2. For more information about Apple Arcade and Google Play
Pass on Verizon visit verizon.com/applearcade and
verizon.com/googleplaypass.
1 12 months or 6 months Apple Arcade on us requires active line
on select Unlimited plans (must enroll w/Verizon by 8.19.21). Must
be 18 yrs or older. After respective 12 month or 6 month promo
period ends, subscription will auto-renew at $4.99+tax/mo unless
you cancel. Cancel anytime. One offer per eligible Verizon account.
Add’l terms apply.
2 12 months or 6 months Google Play Pass on us requires active
line on select Unlimited plans (must enroll w/Verizon by 8.19.21).
Must be 18 yrs or older. After respective 12 month or 6 month promo
period ends, subscription will auto-renew at $4.99+tax/mo unless
you cancel (For NM residents, Google Play Pass promo ends
automatically after 12 mos or 6 mos). Cancel anytime. One offer per
eligible Verizon account. Add’l terms apply.
Media contact:Emily
VickerEmily.Vicker@verizon.com
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