Hi-Rez Partners With Emory University On Esports Study, Will Investigate if Esports Helps a Game Grow

When it comes to esports, Hi-Rez is definitely all in. In fact, they're so invested they've decided to partner with Emory University -- an Atlanta-based research university -- to do a formal study on esports.

The study will look into industry assumptions about esports. One of the assumptions being addressed is that a developer supporting esports around its games actually helps grow the game base and keep it alive.

To determine if this assumption is correct, Hi-Rez will be working with Professor Mike Lewis, Emory University's director of the Marketing Analytics Center. Some of Lewis' prior research delves into traditional sports, so this shouldn't be too much of a stretch for the professor's team. In fact, when Lewis spoke to PC Gamer, he noted an interest in "understanding fandom", something he feels Hi-Rez can help him with.

For players wondering what -- if any -- of their information Hi-Rez will be sharing with Emory, Lewis noted that the team won't be accessing any individual information aside from country of origin.

For Hi-Rez's part, they feel a better understanding of an esport's relationship to its game will not only help them make better business decisions regarding their own game but also allow them to provide better services to game developers looking to their subsidiary Skillshot for esports related services.