Data in esports has always been a weird area, as it is much easier to get lots of in game data than say in the world of sports, but few people have actually found a use for it. However, a new company called GRID aims to change all that by making in-game data accessible, engaging and commercially viable.
GRID is founded by Moritz Maurer, who previously worked for Genius Sports and helped develop the first in play betting system for esports. After leaving Genius Sports he has built GRID, and is now launching the platform alongside the FACEIT London CS:GO Major.
The GRID platform is being used at the Major to give fans further insight into matches by contextualising in-game events against historic data in real-time. These insights will be shown on stream to give viewers even more information than the casters alone can provide.
This is just one way the GRID platform can be used, with the team suggesting that in the future it can be used for things such as in game analysis and scouting for teams. Basically if esports’ money ball moment is going to happen, GRID will make it a lot easier. It is also aimed to help the gambling industry, by providing data solutions that improve upon what is already available.
When asked why he decided to leave Genius Sports and create the GRID platform, Maurer said:
“GRID´s platform is a vision shaped by a career pioneering in a rapidly growing, constantly evolving space with, given its digital nature, a massive potential for innovation. The understanding of esports-specific challenges for data solutions was developed through the establishment of a non-endemic player as market leader in the heavily data-reliant industry of sports betting.”
“In its infancy, esports as an industry had to deal with massive integrity related threats in the form of unregulated skin gambling; billions of dollars were being wagered in the form of cosmetic, in-game items. Having been involved in the unveiling and combating of this malicious influence to assist with the growth of esports, understanding the critical role official data will play in protecting esports and educating stakeholders became evident. This integrity-driven approach is now a major aspect of GRID´s core philosophy.”
“GRID aims to equip rights holders in the space with quality data solutions that are designed to harness the potential of their data assets for different purposes, i.e. improving fan experiences, leveraging the commercial potential of digital properties or driving engagement through data driven content. This is the defining aspect of GRID as a company in a space where various stakeholders leverage proprietary data for their own commercial good without any considerations for the rights holder.”
