Telecommunications company Spark is venturing into the world of gaming with the announcement of ‘Spark Game Arena’, a nationwide tournament.

Working alongside Aotearoa’s leading esports tournament organiser, Letsplay.live, gamers across the country will be able to battle it out in a Fortnite competition to be in to win a share of $30,000.

This prize pool marks the largest offer in a Fortnite tournament played in New Zealand.

The launch of the Spark Game Arena marks an ambition for Spark to venture into the growing world of gaming.

“While this will be our first time hosting an esports tournament and there will undoubtedly be learnings as we go, gaming is a natural extension of our entertainment strategy and embodies our guiding kaupapa of Hello Tomorrow,” says Spark’s Director of Marketing and Data, Matt Bain.

Read more: A sneak peek into the growing gaming industry set to hit the billion-dollar mark

“We have been getting customers closer to music for nine years now with our money can’t buy VIP music experiences and our partnerships with Spotify and Spark Arena. Just like Spark’s music offering, Spark Game Arena will be all about bringing New Zealanders closer to the things they love, and we know we love to game in this country.”

New Zealand’s gaming industry is set to surpass $1 billion in the next few years, and with recent research by Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) showing that 79 percent of Kiwis play video games, this seemed like the right direction for Spark.

In 2022 alone, the New Zealand gaming industry grew 50 percent.

“We’re excited to be trialling something new working alongside Letsplay.live, an organisation that knows New Zealand’s gaming sector well and is well placed to help us deliver The Rise Cup,” says Bain.

Alongside the tournament, Spark is also expanding its partnership with Digital Natives Academy in hopes to help tamariki and rangatahi increase digital skills and provide access.

Those interested in the tournament can register here.