2009 UKeSA Open Division

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

15th January 2009 (London, UK) – The United Kingdom eSports Association (UKeSA), the official governing body for competitive gaming in the UK, today announced a wide reaching partnership with the UK’s leading games media company, Future centred on the forthcoming national open videogame championships.

The partnership will mean that the Open Division games played in Season One of the UKeSA national league will each be directly aligned with Future’s market-leading games media brands. Competitions will be played on PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii platforms. New games released which have an online competitive element will feature immediately in the Open Division and offered as part of a wide range of Future supported activities.

“We are delighted to be working with and promoting the UKeSA,” said Richard Keith, Publisher for Future’s games portfolio, “offering UK industry and gamers a responsible, media friendly framework for competitive gaming is the first step towards aligning the popularity of video games with the true recognition of this pastime. By catering for all gamers, professional and amateur alike, it’s a real home for eSports, and it’s an important step forwards that Future want to be a part of.”

“Future has been extremely supportive of UKeSA from the outset and is fundamentally involved in our efforts to provide a coherent structure for gamers and the Industry to directly interact through competitive gaming.” Ray Mia, Chief Executive of UKeSA said today. “Future editorial talks to over nine million active gamers every month. This partnership will augment the call-to-arms for gamers throughout the country to compete in the national Opens, whilst effectively placing Future’s far-reaching editorial machine ringside to report the action.”

Season One for the 2009 UKeSA Premiership, Championship and Open Divisions is due to start in February and will be featured online (IPTV/VOD) and in print, the professional levels will also have significant coverage on television, with the events culminating at a Gaming Exhibition in London in April 2009.

About UKeSA:

The United Kingdom eSports Association (UKeSA) provides an independent framework for Government, Industry and Community eSports interaction within the UK. UKeSA also provides access to and acts as a conduit for regional and international eSports organisations and subsidiary frameworks (pan European eSports Associations and the International eSports Federation IeSF). UKeSA seeks to adhere to a set of globally recognised founding principles of traditional sports by blending eSports with culture, education, and respect for the fundamental ethical principles of professional sporting competitions.

More information about UKeSA can be found at www.ukesa.com or by emailing info@ukesa.com.

About Future

Future plc is an international special-interest media group with offices in the UK and USA. Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today it creates over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events, with strong portfolios in the technology, games, music, automotive and sports sectors. Over 130 international editions of Future's magazines are published under licence by publishing partners in 30 other countries around the world. Future employs around 1,300 people worldwide. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR).

For more information

Future Publishing: Will Guyatt, Media Relations Manager, 01225 822517.

UKeSA: Caroline Miller, Indigo Pearl, 0208 964 4545 info@indigopearl.com