Get ready for a thrilling showcase of gaming excellence as the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience returns for its second year.
This event, the biggest national mall-based gaming tournament ever held in South Africa, will consist of eight qualifier events at Hyprop Malls nationwide over the next four months, culminating in a grand National Final at Canal Walk in Cape Town this September.
According to Christie Stanbridge, Hyprop’s Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager, the tournament aims to make esports accessible to everyone, regardless of age, breaking down barriers and eliminating the stigma that gaming is only for a specific age group.
The goal is to bring people from diverse backgrounds together to enjoy games and experience the excitement of e-sports.
Jason Probert, General Manager: Digital Services at MTN South Africa, expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Hyprop on this milestone tournament, stating that it showcases the growing gaming culture in South Africa and brings communities together through gaming. MTN is dedicated to promoting digital innovation and creating unique experiences for gamers nationwide.
What can gamers of all ages and skill levels expect?
The second MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience, featuring EA FC 24™ as the game played throughout the main events, promises to be an exhilarating competition appealing to a wide age range, from casual players to experienced pros. Additional competitions and activations will take place at each mall event, ensuring there is something for everyone.
Gamers can participate in the ultimate showdown by joining online and in-centre heats to earn a spot in the National Final. The online heat, battled out on the ACGL platform, offers a chance to secure a place in the top four and advance to the Mall Finals.
Players can also sign up at various Hyprop Malls to participate in one of the seven heats held from Friday to Sunday. The top four players from each heat will progress to the Mall Final, alongside the four online qualifiers.
This year, a select number of mall heats are dedicated to scholars, ensuring representation from e-sport schools.
Check the respective mall’s websites for all the details.
- Somerset Mall Online Qualifier: 9-Jun
- Somerset Mall Event: 14 to 16 Jun
- Rosebank Mall Online Qualifier: 16-Jun
- Rosebank Mall Event: 21 to 23 Jun
- The Glen Online Qualifier: 23-Jun
- The Glen Event: 28 to 30 Jun
- Clearwater Mall Online Qualifier: 7-Jul
- Clearwater Mall WM Event: 12 to 14 Jul
- Woodlands Boulevard Online Qualifier: 14-Jul
- Woodlands Boulevard Event: 19 to 21 Jul
- Table Bay Mall Online Qualifier: 4-Aug
- Table Bay Mall Event: 9 to 11 Aug
- Capegate Online Qualifier: 18-Aug
- Capegate Event: 23 to 25 Aug
- Canal Walk Online Qualifier: 8-Sep
- Canal Walk Event: 11 to 15 Sep
Hyprop Malls hosting the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience will offer an array of exciting competitions and interactive activities
In addition to the main e-football tournament, attendees can participate in various smaller competitions and engaging activations, creating a vibrant and immersive gaming atmosphere for both participants and spectators.
The grand finale, held at Canal Walk, will showcase all the thrills of the Mall Events along with extra high-stakes competitions. The top eight finalists from each mall will battle it out for the champion’s title and a portion of the R50,000 prize pool, divided as follows:
- 1st Place: R25,000
- 2nd Place: R15,000
- 3rd Place: R7,500
- 4th Place: R2,500
Win with MTN and Battle+
MTN will host a Beat Saber competition, offering Xbox Series S consoles as prizes. Beat Saber is a VR rhythm game where players slash the beats of energetic music as they fly towards them in a futuristic world.
The game will be played on Battle+, MTN’s e-sport platform, available on play-MTN for all MTN subscribers. On Battle+, users can watch exclusive videos, participate in tournaments, and compete in challenges to earn rewards.
Computer Mania Pop-Up Shops
Computer Mania, a premium retailer at the malls, will host pop-up shops where attendees can purchase all the products on display. Exclusive to the Shift Gaming event, shoppers can find the latest gaming gear at great prices.
PC Gaming Zone
Compete for prizes and bragging rights in popular competitive games such as Fortnite™, Rocket League, Minecraft, Flight Simulator, and Cities: Skylines II.
Utilize the latest gaming tech with PCBuilder’s performance-optimized prebuilt gaming PCs, engineered to deliver stunning visuals, lightning-fast speeds, and unrivaled gaming performance for gamers of all levels. Alternatively, build your dream gaming PC using the PCBuilder custom build tool.
Keyboard Rebuild Race
Celebrate Redragon’s launch of even more gaming keyboards in 2024 by participating in the highly popular Redragon Keyboard Rebuild Race to test your finger speed. A brand new Redragon gaming keyboard will be given away daily to the participant with the fastest time.
The Toyota Gaming Engine SuperSprint (GT 7)
The player with the fastest daily lap will win a R1,000 Gift Card. An additional R5,000 Gift Card will be awarded to the overall fastest player who signs up for The Toyota Gaming Engine at MTN Shift Gaming Experiences.
Fighting Cup
Daily one-day cups will be held for popular fighting games like Brawlhalla, Tekken, and Street Fighter 6. Winners will receive R1,000 Mall Gift Cards, while runners-up will be awarded R500 Mall Gift Cards.
Additionally, the online and LAN Call of Duty Tournament returns with a R60,000 prize pool up for grabs. The final will take place at Canal Walk in September.
Join us in celebrating the spirit of gaming across South Africa at the MTN SHIFT Gaming Experience, offering something for everyone, from hardcore gamers to those seeking fun.
More info about Hyprop
Hyprop is a JSE-listed Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) focused on creating spaces and connecting people by owning and managing dominant retail centres in mixed-use precincts in key economic nodes within South Africa and Eastern Europe. For more information, visit www.hyprop.co.za.
Watch this space for updates in the Events category on Running Wolf’s Rant.
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