What WePlay Holding does

WePlay Holding is a privately held multi-brand entertainment and esports holding company founded in 2011 in Kyiv, Ukraine by Yuriy Lazebnikov and Oleg Krot, with its operating headquarters now in Los Angeles and a registered entity (WePlay Esports Media, Inc.) in California. It operates three core businesses: WePlay Studios, a premium content production company that blends live broadcasting, augmented reality (AR), computer graphics (CGI), and venue/stage design into turnkey solutions for studios, brands, and agencies; DashFight, an all-in-one fighting-game community media hub distributed across web, iOS, Android, Twitter/X, and YouTube with 730,000+ monthly active users and 2,500+ unique editorial materials; and Esports Transfers, a B2B analytics platform valuing professional esports players via a proprietary EPV-1 algorithm that scores 18 metrics across leadership, skills, stability, experience, and media presence. The company also owns tournament IP including the WePlay Academy League (CS:GO) and the WePlay Ultimate Fighting League (WUFL), the latter backed by a reported $25 million total investment and featuring boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk. Marquee enterprise clients include the NFL (NFL Tuesday Night Gaming via Enthusiast Gaming), OTK (largest US streamer network), DAZN (WUFL Season 1 broadcaster), MEGOGO, and 1xBet, supported by AWS-based cloud infrastructure with data centers in Germany, Luxembourg, and Lithuania.

The company's technology foundation is a proprietary production stack spanning live-streaming workflows, AR overlays, CGI broadcast graphics, and physical stage/venue fabrication, complemented by the DashFight cross-platform media hub and the Esports Transfers valuation engine. Recognitions include a 2022 Sports Emmy nomination for Outstanding Esports Championship Coverage and multiple 2023 Webby, MUSE Creative Awards (two Golds), NYX Video Awards (multiple Grands and Gold), and International Design Awards (Gold and Silver in Broadcast Design).

Revenue derives from a diversified mix of streams: (a) B2B professional-services fees for content production and design work; (b) tournament organization, broadcast rights, and live-event monetization; (c) brand integrations and sponsorships inside esports content (e.g., 1xBet, DAZN); (d) DashFight advertising, sponsorships, and premium content around the fighting-game community; and (e) Esports Transfers platform access and analytics services for esports organizations. Go-to-market is hybrid: enterprise field sales targeting studios, holdings, brands, and agencies for production work, layered with event-driven demand generation through owned tournaments and branded gaming shows (e.g., NFL Tuesday Night Gaming, WUFL). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; all enterprise contracts appear custom-quoted. In May 2023 the company rebranded from WePlay Esports to WePlay Studios to reflect a strategic pivot from pure-play esports tournament organizer toward broader entertainment production.

Name

WePlay Holding

Legal name

WePlay Esports Media, Inc.

Website

https://weplayholding.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

WePlay Holding is a privately held multi-brand entertainment and esports holding company operating WePlay Studios (premium AR/CGI content production), DashFight (fighting-game media hub with 730K+ MAU), and Esports Transfers (esports player analytics), serving global brands, studios, agencies, and sports leagues such as the NFL and DAZN.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Esports content production and tournament organization

NAICS

Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Esports Broadcast & Production (Tournament Streaming, Observers, Remote Production) (MPAFAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Esports Leagues & Circuits (MPAFADAA), Game Streaming & Spectatorship Platforms (BPAMAKAI)

Keywords

• Esports content production
• Esports tournament organization
• Fighting game media platform
• Esports player analytics
• Live broadcast production

Headquarters

HQ city

Inglewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Content Production Services: Full-service content production for studios, holdings, brands, and agencies worldwide including filming, video editing, sound design, game footage editing, art direction, brand identity, animated brand elements, CGI, 3D motion, 2D/3D animation, 2D motion design, 3D modeling and product renders.
2. Esports Tournament Organization: Development, production, and organization of international esports tournaments and gaming-themed shows. Includes streaming services, event management, and venue fabrication.
3. Brand Integration and Sponsorship: Targeted brand integrations within esports content and events, leveraging large viewership and engagement metrics.
4. Fighting Game Media Platform: DashFight platform monetizes through advertising, sponsorships, and premium content related to fighting game community (FGC). Platform reaches 730,000+ monthly active users.
5. Esports Analytics and Valuation: Esports Transfers platform provides player valuation data, market analytics, and scouting services. Revenue derived from platform access and B2B analytics services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

WePlay Holding operates a portfolio of esports and entertainment businesses centered on WePlay Studios' turnkey content production services (live streaming, AR, CGI, stage and venue design) for global studios, brands, and agencies. Supporting businesses include DashFight, a fighting game community media hub, and Esports Transfers, an esports player valuation analytics platform. The company also organizes international esports tournaments such as WePlay Ultimate Fighting League and WePlay Academy League.

Product overview

WePlay Holding is a multi-brand esports and entertainment holding company operating a portfolio of complementary businesses. The core offering centers on WePlay Studios, a world-class content production company providing turnkey solutions for live broadcasts, augmented reality, computer graphics, and location design. Supporting the production business are: DashFight, a fighting game media hub reaching 730,000+ monthly active users across web, mobile (iOS/Android), and social platforms; Esports Transfers, an analytics platform valuing professional esports players using a proprietary algorithm; and WePlay Ultimate Fighting League, an international fighting game tournament series. The holding also organized the WePlay Academy League CS:GO tournament series, establishing a talent pipeline. The ecosystem is designed to serve brands, investors, nonprofits, and industry experts through integrated entertainment and gaming experiences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WePlay Studios: Top-notch production company blending gaming, technology, and storytelling to create engaging and iconic content for viewers worldwide.
• DashFight
• Esports Transfers
• WePlay Academy League
• WePlay Ultimate Fighting League (WUFL)
• NFL Tuesday Night Gaming

Products and services

• WePlay Studios Production Services Turnkey esports and gaming content production services for global studios, brands, holdings, and agencies. Delivers live broadcasting, augmented reality, computer graphics, 3D modeling, animated brand elements, stage design, and venue fabrication, plus brand integrations.
• DashFight All-in-one fighting game online media hub serving the fighting game community. Provides news, guides, tournament summaries, highlights, video-on-demand, brackets, game analytics, and player profiles via web platform, mobile apps (iOS/Android), social media pages, and YouTube channel.
• Esports Transfers Esports market analytics platform that calculates professional player market values using a proprietary EPV-1 algorithm. Tracks 18 metrics across five parameters: leadership, skills, stability, experience, and media presence. Used by esports organizations and teams for scouting and transfer decisions.
• WePlay Ultimate Fighting League (WUFL) International fighting game esports tournament series featuring boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk. Developed, produced, and organized by WePlay as a flagship league property with broadcast and sponsorship integrations.
• WePlay Academy League CS:GO esports tournament series launched in 2021, featuring Ukrainian esports talent, broadcast online even during wartime from Kyiv.

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lawrence Drapson / 1500 or Nothin'minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2024WePlay Studios and Lawrence Drapson (from 1500 or Nothin') announced collaboration to create more cultural opportunities for content creators, combining creative and music expertise.
• Enthusiast GamingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022WePlay Studios became official production partner of Enthusiast Gaming in 2022 to broadcast NFL Tuesday Night Gaming - a weekly show where NFL stars and professional gamers compete in Fortnite, Rocket League, Fall Guys and Madden. WePlay handles technical production, CGI elements, AR for broadcasts, content design, and live streaming.
• One True King (OTK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022WePlay Studios became official production partner of OTK, the largest streamer network in the USA. The companies planned to create exciting gaming shows together, combining OTK's influencer network with WePlay's production capabilities.
• American Chamber of Commerce (ACC)minorOthersMember of American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, demonstrating commitment to international business standards and cross-border commerce.
• IAB UkraineminorOthersMember of IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) Ukraine, indicating participation in digital advertising industry standards and best practices.
• UPEAminorOthersMember of UPEA (Ukrainian Gaming Industry Association), participating in industry advocacy and development.
• MegogominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Megogo, a major streaming platform, to create quality sports broadcasts in Ukrainian language. WePlay Esports provides production capabilities while Megogo offers distribution platform.
• OTK (One True King Network)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOTK is the largest streamer network in the USA. WePlay Studios serves as their official production partner for gaming shows and content creation.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAWS is used as the primary cloud infrastructure provider. WePlay uses AWS data centers, with the primary data center located in Germany, for website hosting and data storage.
• 1xBetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership between leaders in esports and betting industry. 1xBet serves as sponsor for WePlay Esports tournaments and brand integrations.
• DAZNminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDAZN served as official broadcaster for WePlay Ultimate Fighting League Season 1, distributing fighting game esports content to their global sports streaming audience.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Riot Games Esports: Publisher-run global esports league operator (LoL, Valorant). Comparable as a broad incumbent with in-house broadcast production and league operations, though in a vertically integrated model that competes with third-party producers for sponsorship dollars.
• Red Bull Media House: Large media and event production arm running Red Bull's global sports and esports content operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent producing high-quality sports/esports broadcast content and branded tournaments at scale, though as part of a much larger brand portfolio.
• Capcom Pro Tour: Publisher-operated competitive circuit for Capcom fighting game titles. Comparable as the publisher-run alternative to WUFL and Combo Breaker, sitting in the same FGC market where DashFight operates as a media hub.

Direct peers

• BLAST: Premier esports tournament organizer and broadcast production company running high-profile CS events. Direct competitor to WePlay Studios in tournament-level production and broadcast operations for global esports properties.
• PGL: Esports tournament and broadcast production company with a similar project-based production model across Dota 2 and CS:GO. Closely comparable as an independent studio delivering turnkey production for major tournament organizers.
• ESL FACEIT Group: Operator of ESL Pro League, DreamHack and ESL tournament productions. Closely comparable as a top-tier esports tournament organizer and broadcast production house competing for the same enterprise sponsorship and broadcasting budgets as WePlay Studios.
• EVO (Evolution Championship Series): Premier fighting game tournament circuit, now operated within PlayStation's RTS organization. Most direct peer for WUFL and DashFight because both target the same FGC audience and operate fighting-game-specific event and media properties.
• DreamHack: Esports event organizer and LAN festival operator (now part of ESL FACEIT Group). Comparable as an event/tournament production competitor with deep fighting-game and FPS community activations similar to WePlay Academy League and WUFL.

Others

• FITE TV: Combat sports and esports streaming/distribution platform. Comparable as a distribution-layer peer in how WePlay's WUFL content reaches viewers through DAZN and similar streaming partners, though FITE operates the platform layer rather than producing the content itself.

Emerging players

• Combo Breaker: Independent US-based fighting game major event operator within the FGC ecosystem. Comparable to WUFL and DashFight's event-side business, though narrower in scope and without WePlay's full broadcast production infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/weplayholding
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/nfltng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/yura-lazebnikov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WePlay Holding