Polluting industries including airlines and fossil fuel firms are major sponsors for the e-sports industry according to new research from campaign group Badvertising.
In findings seen by The Guardian, the group counted at least 33 large-scale deals between airlines, the US military and fossil fuel firms and the growing industry, in which competitive multiplayer video games are watched by spectators.
The industry also has links with the Saudi state (home to oil giant Aramco), vice president of the World E-Sports Federation is Faisal Bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud.
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Badvertising co-founder Andrew Simms told The Guardian: “Our research shows that polluting companies facing the mounting pressure to move away from fossil fuels are doubling down on e-sports sponsorship to maintain influence”.
It comes as advertisers are increasingly seeing the gaming industry as an opportunity to tap in to. The worldwide gaming market already generates £141.6bn ($183.9) of revenue but in-game ad spend is still an area the sector is tapping for growth.
Shell in particular has been criticised for creating a road trip game in Fortnite as part of marketing its new V-Power nitro plus technology.
UN Secretary António Guterres called for a historic ban on fossil fuel advertising in a major speech – “We need an exit from the highway to hell” he said, slamming the advertising sector for its contribution to climate change.