The break room was buzzing at Skillshot Media. The new eSports production company, a subsidiary of video game developer Hi-Rez Studios, is already hosting its second tournament since opening in early May.
The break room’s vending machines are filled with snacks and energy drinks to keep up players’ stamina; a large television playing a live stream catches their attention as they refuel. Skillshot is hosting the best players from around the world at the newly-launched 1,600 square foot space for both a one-day and weekend-long Paladins tournament.
This group is part of the 200 professional eSports players traveling from across North America, Europe, South America, Southeast Asia and Australia for weekly LAN competitions — and that’s just in the month of May. Skillshot Media began to nurture Hi-Rez Studios’ rapidly expanding eSports community, over 45 million strong, that generates over one billion views for both multiplayer online battle arena game SMITE and team shooter game Paladins.
