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RONDA ROUSEY RAISING THE PROFILE OF ESPORTS IN FACEBOOK GAMING

Ronda Rousey’s recent partnership with Facebook Gaming continues in a line that reinforces the idea that video gaming – and specifically streaming as a video gamer – is becoming a more appealing choice. While Rousey may be better known as a former UFC fighter, her interest in video games is about to earn her extra popularity.

Facebook Gaming is one of the main video gaming streaming platforms competing for a share of the massive streaming market for video games with the Amazon-owned Twitch, Google’s YouTube and Microsoft’s Mixer.

The platform has been trying to add a number of high-profile personalities turned gamers to promote itself, including the Vlog Squad who used to stream on YouTube in the past. 

Rousey, or The Rowdy One, as she is known since she debuted in her fighting career back in the 2008 China Olympics Games, has shared her love for gaming in the past, but this is the fighter’s first definitive move towards establishing herself as a video gaming personality.

Streaming for Fun

Rousey’s first stream debuted on February 18, 2020 when she played from home in bed with a cameraman behind cadre who kept conversing with her. Her stream was available from her official Facebook Page and it quickly collected over 21,000 likes – the currency of real value at Facebook.

While playing, Rousey told anecdotes as well as engaged with fans and answering questions. Her adventures took her to Pokémon Sword and Shield two popular, even if not entirely massive video games in the West. 

Rousey also played for a good cause as well, vowing to donate all funds generated through the stream for Australian bushfire relief efforts. 

Why Rousey, Why Now and Why Facebook?

The decision behind recruiting a popular personality is not strange to any platform. Twitch long co-existed with Tylor “Ninja” Blevins, before the streamer and his wife decided to pack up and leave over alleged meddling on the part of the Amazon-owned company. 

Yet, a clear formula to success has been established. Video games, and particularly esports, generate massive prize pools. In 2019, the prize pools across various video games competition reached $177 million, Esportsbettingtop.com reported.

But even more important than the actual tournament prizes are the interest that generates, and with it the new-found marketing opportunities. Therefore, the currency of value is not really a like or a Twitch sub, but rather the number of followers a streamer can pull in.

Facebook Gaming have been aware of Rousey’s own proclivity for gaming and the amiable personality that easily wins her fans over. Signing her up to stream on the platform is a clever move to capture those diehard gamers who are also Rousey’s fans.

Naturally, Facebook expects to pull in many non-gamers, successfully leveraging the name of the former UFC fighter.

As to Ronda herself, she released an official statement to announce her partnership with Facebook Gaming, arguing that “Game streaming is one of the rawest and most authentic mediums, and the time is right for me to jump into the stream exclusively on Facebook Gaming.”

With her first stream a success, more events are coming down the line for The Rowdy One and her fans. 

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