August 19, 2020 35 Comments
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Executive Platform

Ping, beware. The Cisco network has entered the Realm.

2 min read

Cisco is embarking on a new partnership with Riot Games, the developers of the world’s No. 1 PC video game, League of Legends. As the Official Enterprise Networking Partner of LoL Esports, Cisco technology will power the future of this fast-growing sport.

The Tournament Realm — that’s the private game server that League of Legends (LoL) Esports uses exclusively for pro-level, competitive matches at major global events. In case you are new to the LoL scene, here’s a quick crash course on the most popular esports game in the world.

League of Legends — a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed by Riot Games — is the No. 1 PC game in the world. And LoL Esports is the largest growing sport globally, reaching a record-breaking 21.8 million average minute audience (AMA) for the 2019 World Championship Final. In such a complex, competitive virtual environment, it should come as no surprise that League of Legends relies heavily on low latency (or more commonly known in the esports world as ping, which is how fast a player can send a command to the game and have its server respond) and a flawless connection for a smooth playing experience.

We all expect the best from our internet connection these days, as we rely on it more than ever before to offer ‘like being there’ connected experiences. The world’s premier esport league demands the best, highest performing network to deliver premier connected experiences, which is why I am thrilled to announce that Cisco has partnered with Riot Games to become the Official Enterprise Networking Partner of LoL Esports. This partnership represents an incredible opportunity for Cisco, and I hope that you are as excited as I am.

Cisco and esports is a natural fit. For starters, esports is the only sport in the world that is 100% dependent upon technology. Whether you’re a player at home or a competitor at the annual World Championships, every millisecond matters. Only Cisco’s speed, security and scale can deliver that on a global level, just as we’ve delivered on the largest stages in the world across sports and entertainment for years – from the Olympic Games to the U.S. Open to BottleRock Music Festival and more.

Just as important, however, is the incredible opportunity that this partnership represents for Cisco. Riot Games is also a Cisco customer, and as it enters its second decade as a worldwide leader in esports, it is doubling down on investing in technology and IP infrastructure.

Esports fans and players are loyal, highly engaged, digitally savvy and more tech-aware than the average consumer. They truly care about the success of the game, and they are engaged and interested in what makes it work. Working closely with Riot Games gives us the opportunity to increase Cisco’s brand and product awareness with a new audience, reaching the future generation of tech buyers and IT employees. We also know that many of our existing network buyers are engaged with this space as well, directly or indirectly. The ability to showcase Cisco’s innovation and role as the exclusive networking partner for the world’s leading esports organization is truly unmatched. (Another fun fact: many of our employees are also incredibly passionate about esports!)

Stay tuned over the coming weeks and months, as we’re lining up some exciting opportunities for Cisco employees to get involved. In the near term, you can catch Cisco during the broadcast of the 2020 League of Legends World Championships from September 25 – October 31, available on Twitch and YouTube.



Authors

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Patrick Morrissey

Senior Vice President

Service Provider - Americas