EPT
ByuN, Scarlett, and Lambo have been signed as the first three players.Shopify esports program lead TLO posted the following letter regarding the foundingof the team on its official website:
The last two years of my life have been filled with changes. I got married, became a step-father, and moved to Canada. I also concluded a 10-year-long professional career with the only team I ever played for professionally. Most recently, I joined Shopify’s esports program.
COVID-19 brought even more change. I don’t think there’s been a single three-month period in the last 10 years where I didn’t travel to an esports event in some capacity. I was looking forward to spending time meeting my co-workers and getting to know Shopify in a physical space, but that’ll have to wait a while longer. Nonetheless, I’m happy to have been able to connect, albeit remotely, with a number of talented people here. It’s striking how kind and thoughtful every single person I’ve spoken to at Shopify has been. Universally, each of them offered their support and shared their excitement when they heard about our plans to start Shopify’s own esports team. It feels good to know the company is excited by our vision to not only sponsor esports events, but be a genuine part of the community.
Being given the opportunity to lead a professional team is a dream come true. It’s a role that comes with a lot of responsibility and unknown territory to explore for us as a business, and myself as a person. I suspect many mistakes will be made along the way, and I can’t wait to learn from each and every one of them.
Despite its popularity, esports is still a recent phenomenon. It’s explosive growth is happening in a time where media has shifted from passive consumption to a direct and interactive experience. With that comes a fan base that is more invested, more passionate, and more savvy than fans of other popular entertainment. I believe the only way to truly understand esports and it’s subcultures is to actively engage in it.
We want to take a deep dive into what makes esports so great; the human stories that are told in-game and off-screen. The wit. Discipline. Endless pursuit of mastery. What better way than to begin this journey than with three legendary players, playing a game so historically important for esports. After all, it is arguably the game that started it all.
We are the Shopify Rebellion.
COVID-19 brought even more change. I don’t think there’s been a single three-month period in the last 10 years where I didn’t travel to an esports event in some capacity. I was looking forward to spending time meeting my co-workers and getting to know Shopify in a physical space, but that’ll have to wait a while longer. Nonetheless, I’m happy to have been able to connect, albeit remotely, with a number of talented people here. It’s striking how kind and thoughtful every single person I’ve spoken to at Shopify has been. Universally, each of them offered their support and shared their excitement when they heard about our plans to start Shopify’s own esports team. It feels good to know the company is excited by our vision to not only sponsor esports events, but be a genuine part of the community.
Being given the opportunity to lead a professional team is a dream come true. It’s a role that comes with a lot of responsibility and unknown territory to explore for us as a business, and myself as a person. I suspect many mistakes will be made along the way, and I can’t wait to learn from each and every one of them.
Despite its popularity, esports is still a recent phenomenon. It’s explosive growth is happening in a time where media has shifted from passive consumption to a direct and interactive experience. With that comes a fan base that is more invested, more passionate, and more savvy than fans of other popular entertainment. I believe the only way to truly understand esports and it’s subcultures is to actively engage in it.
We want to take a deep dive into what makes esports so great; the human stories that are told in-game and off-screen. The wit. Discipline. Endless pursuit of mastery. What better way than to begin this journey than with three legendary players, playing a game so historically important for esports. After all, it is arguably the game that started it all.
We are the Shopify Rebellion.
