HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., today announced the HyperX Showdown, a series of online gaming events that will feature celebrities from the worlds of entertainment, music, sports and gaming. Well-known streamers are also scheduled to participate and play during this series of gaming events. The eight weeks of unique entertainment will include music, sports and gaming stars playing games like Call of Duty: Warzone, NBA 2K, Fortnite, Madden, and others. The first gaming event is scheduled to air on Tuesday, June 16 at 4 p.m. ET featuring two influential global music stars, Afrojack vs. Nicky Romero, paired with two pro players from the London Royal Ravens playing Call of Duty: Warzone. The HyperX Showdown will be available to watch at www.twitch.tv/hyperx.
“HyperX is thrilled to bring together a diverse mix of athletes, entertainers, artists and gamers for the HyperX Showdown,” said Dustin Illingworth, influencer marketing manager, HyperX. “Given the current situation of people staying home and not being able to visit sports or esports events live, we wanted to create a unique entertainment experience for our community – and the world at large – to enjoy and experience together.”
Across a planned eight weeks of programming, look for music artists like Afrojack, Nicky Romero, Offset, Future, Young Thug and sports stars like Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Pittsburgh Steelers), Dele Alli ( Tottenham Hotspur F.C.), Philip Forsberg (Nashville Predators), DeMarcus Cousins (NBA All Star), Mikal Bridges (Phoenix Suns), Onyeka Okongwu (2020 NBA Draft Prospect), Cole Anthony (2020 NBA Draft Prospect), and Joc Pederson (Los Angeles Dodgers), along with more to be announced.
HyperX has partnered with StockX – the world’s first “Stock Market of Things” for sneakers, apparel, accessories and collectibles – to host a series of sneaker giveaways during the live stream. The leading resale marketplace will work in collaboration with participating celebrity players to identify their favorite sneakers and offer up two pairs per episode. Fans who sign up for the live stream will have the opportunity to win one of the coveted pairs.
“At its core, StockX is all about access – access to the products that people love and may not otherwise be able to find,” said Tom Woodger, vice president of cultural marketing, StockX. “As the world continues to adjust to a new normal rooted in digital experiences, we’ve remained committed to finding innovative ways to consistently provide that access and this partnership is a unique opportunity to celebrate the convergence of cultures that stem from the fast-growing community of gaming – ranging from mainstream sports and entertainment to street and sneaker culture.”
Special HyperX Showdown episodes include an all-female event and an NBA Rookie Challenge, alongside more traditional one-on-one and duo-style gameplay. At the end of the eight weeks, the athlete who best embodies the HyperX competitive ethos will be named a brand ambassador for the year to come.
Excel Sports Management is collaborating with HyperX for the HyperX Showdown series, providing their sports expertise and influence during the weekly events. Excel will procure talent and provide strategic guidance pertaining to the development and management of each event involving high-profile athletes.
“At Excel, we’ve embraced the crossover between traditional sports and esports, especially at a time when athletes have pivoted to digital media to engage with their fans during league suspensions,” said Matt Davis, vice president, Excel Sports Management. “We facilitated the relationship between HyperX and StockX as a way to bring two likeminded brands together to produce engaging content, and we’ve since taken on the role of procuring talent to participate and drum up excitement for the events each week.”
HyperX will also provide technical and logistical support to help the athletes setup their gaming studios or rigs. HyperX is the first gaming brand to embrace esports and gaming, investing resources in bringing sports and entertainment personalities’ gaming rigs up to speed, ready to participate online and interact with their fans while gaming.
