Gfinity extends partnership with Microsoft Azure-based Blackbird

E-sport firm Gfinity is extending its partnership with Forbidden Technologies to continue using its Microsoft Azure-based video editor Blackbird for another 12 months. The firm uses the solution to clip film which is then distributed to gaming fans worldwide. 

Gfinity designs, develops and delivers e-sports solutions for game publishers including Microsoft and EA Sports and rights holders such as Formula 1 and the English Premier League. It creates entertainment-based content to support tournament and competition play, offering fans a deeper engagement with teams, players and the game. Gfinity utilises Blackbird to log and clip video content from the live streams of its events that feature games like FIFA 19, Street Fighter V and Rocket League. These game highlights are then distributed across social channels such as Gfinity’s gaming portal.

“E-sports is one of the world’s most exciting and fastest growing industries,” said Graham Wallace, global chief operating officer at Gfinity. “The core fan base is young and demanding. They want high-quality real-time content that tell stories about the games they love and the teams and players they follow. This ‘reason to care’ content is what we create and through our partnership with Blackbird ensure it is seamlessly delivered in the best format for their different devices. An e-sports revolution is taking place, great content is king and Gfinity is at the epicentre.”

Gfinity was Blackbird’s first customer in the e-sports industry, using the technology to create highlights of Gfinity’s Elite Series, featuring some of the the world’s leading e-sports teams. Since then, Blackbird has expanded its involvement into the US industry where it was used to drive fan engagement for the live pro-celebrity Fortnite event in Los Angeles, California in 2018.

“E-sports is a rapidly growing sector, with revenue expected to reach almost US$1.8 billion in 2022 and we are delighted that Gfinity has expanded its relationship with Blackbird,” said Ian McDonough, CEO of Forbidden. “It is an industry which plays to Blackbird’s strengths – the need to rapidly log and clip game highlights for distribution across websites and social media channels is key to audience engagement. Esports is an exciting sector where we see more opportunity to increase the take up of Blackbird.”

Blackbird is exhibiting on the Microsoft booth (#SL6716) at this year’s NAB Show in Las Vegas from 8 to 11 April.