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Sorare, the blockchain-based maker of fantasy sports games, struck a deal with the most watched football league in the world: the English Premier League. The game releases cards based on players from all 20 football clubs of the EPL. These will debut alongside new gameplay features such as league-specific leagues, concept-based gameplay, and a salary cap mode.
“The way supporters follow their favorite teams and players is evolving and the Premier League is always looking for ways to engage with fans. Sorare’s digital maps and innovative online play represent a new way for them to get closer feel at home in the Premier League,” said Premier League CEO Richard Masters.
Sorare got his start in soccer when the NFT based fantasy sports title launched in 2018. Today, the company has deals with nearly 300 football clubs in 50 different leagues. These include top names such as Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga, Germany’s Bundesliga and the United States’ MLS. This network effect between the various top leagues helps keep fans engaged.
In addition, Sorare partnered with FIFA to launch a free-to-play version of the game for the 2022 World Cup. Over 585,000 fans have signed up for Sorare during the partnership.
Sorare has expanded into several sports. The company signed deals with the NBA and MLB that allowed Sorare to reach football, basketball, and baseball fans.
The Premier League is looking for an NFT partner. Reportedly, talks with rival ConsenSys for a four-year deal worth more than $450 million fell through during the crypto winter. While the Premier League’s caution has likely cost itself some revenue (around $118 million a year), this partnership appears to be aimed at long-term fan engagement. Sorare’s gameplay and slow but steady growth helped avoid the stigma of a speculative get-rich-quick asset.
This deal indicates that NFT and blockchain partnerships will be valued very differently in 2023 than in 2022.
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