G2 Esports has partnered with prepaid payment company paysafecard to launch a new interactive Fortnite talent show called Making The Squad. The show will document 20 amateur Fortnite players who will compete for a full-time contract from the G2 Esports organization.
Fortnite content creators who are at least 16 years of age have until Nov. 15 to apply to be one of those selected to participate in Making The Squad’s initial qualifying round. Entrants must apply through G2’s website by submitting a highlight video of their Fortnite skills as well as a self-recorded video explaining why they want to join G2 Esports.
“Supporting one of the world’s first international, interactive talent shows to find the next big influencer in Fortnite, is a fantastic way for us to connect the paysafecard brand with the esports community in an authentic, meaningful way,” said Oliver Wolf, VP of Marketing at paysafecard, in a press release on the G2 website.
The contest will span eight weeks and the top eight gamers will be invited to Berlin to compete in the finals. During the final competition, four of the most talented players will be awarded full-time streaming contracts to join G2’s new Fortnite content team. Making The Squad has also received backing from sponsors Logitech G and Esport Management.
Making The Squad contenders will partake in interactive online challenges as well as real-life tasks, according to the press release. Fans can watch the reality series through video content uploaded to G2’s YouTube and Twitch channels. The show’s judging panel will include Carlos ‘ocelote’ Rodríguez, the CEO of G2 Esports. G2 currently employs 58 players across 12 professional esports teams according to the organization’s website.
“At G2, we’ve always been focused on providing top quality entertainment to fans old and new,” said Rodriguez in the press release. “We are constantly dreaming up new ways to interact with the industry and provide pathways for talented pros dreaming of going big. This will be our first original content production, but we believe that the G2ARMY will really enjoy tuning in. We can’t wait to meet the newest entertainers for G2 Esports.”
SportTechie Takeaway
Fortnite, the most popular video game in the world, keeps getting bigger. Earlier this week, the NFL announced a deal with Epic Games to integrate NFL uniforms and other football-themed features into Fortnite gameplay. While Making The Squad’s arrival makes G2 the first esports organization to produce its own reality-based show, sports media company Overtime was first to launch a digital reality series that follows professional Fortnite gamers.