Esports consulting firm Foundry IV and sports recovery brand Hyperice have announced a joint initiative called “Move.” The partnership seeks to prioritize health and wellness programs for professional esports athletes to help elongate their gaming careers.
The two brands will perform studies evaluating the duration of game play to find preventive solutions relating to muscle relaxation, stress reduction, and mobility for esport athletes. Educational workshops teaching gamers how to use Hyperice devices will also be provided, and select high profile esports events will now include Hyperice mobility and recovery rooms.
“As our primary initiative, we will put gamers’ health and wellness as a first priority, they are the lifeblood of this sport,” said Tobias Sherman, founder and CEO of Foundry IV, in a statement. “If we can improve and maintain their health, we can improve their performance and career longevity, which will in turn advance the state of gaming as a whole.”
Foundry IV was established last November and recently announced a campaign to redefine esports as “New Sports.” Its venture with Hyperice begins Aug. 1.
Hyperice recovery products will now be available on-site at competitions, as will customizable recovery kits for athletes. The company’s best known product is a vibrating foam roller called Vyper. Hyperice has previously partnered with star athletes such as Blake Griffin, Patrick Peterson, and Lindsey Vonn.
“The esports space has grown at an incredible rate, and thus the competitive landscape is advancing,” said Jim Huether, CEO of Hyperice. “Through this partnership with Foundry IV’s New Sports Federation, ‘New Sports’ athletes will now have access to the same tools, technology and methodology as their favorite, elite NBA, NFL, and MLB athletes. We are confident we can improve the state of the sport and elevate growth and participation.”
SportTechie Takeaway
Esports athletes spend hours upon hours competing in a mentally stressful, but physically undemanding, environment. Monitoring the health effects associated with that will be interesting. Foundry IV’s campaign to rebrand esports as “New Sports” seems like an attempt to further grow the industry. Partnering with a company that delivers recovery technology for traditional sports makes a lot of sense for an esports industry seeking to have its athletes benefit from the same amenities as traditional professional athletes.