Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Facebook Live aims to beat Twitch at its own game with help of pro gamer Stephen Ellis

By

Facebook Live has made no secret of its all-conquering ambition to become the go-to game-streaming hub for gamers everywhere. There’s just one small obstacle that stands in the way of its goal; a platform known as Twitch, which currently boasts a massive legion of viewers.

To help it reach the heights that Twitch has already scaled, Facebook has made the strategic decision to hire an individual who has an in-depth understanding of gaming. Stephen “Snoopeh” Ellis has been assigned the role of e-sports strategic partnerships manager at the social network.

Recommended Videos

Using the hands-on experience Ellis gained from his pro gaming days on the e-sports circuit — and his extensive list of contacts — he will work to bring developers and players, and their streaming content, to Facebook. Ellis was reportedly recruited in May, and is working under Facebook’s head of games partnerships for North America, Guy Cross, reports TechCrunch.

Stephen %22Snoopeh%22 Ellis_LinkedIn
Stephen “Snoopeh” Ellis, via LinkedIn Image used with permission by copyright holder

In the short time that Ellis has been at the social network, several major gaming initiatives have been pushed through. On May 13, it was announced that publisher Activision Blizzard was expanding its MLG.tv streaming platform to broadcast events and its e-sports tournaments using Facebook Live. Less than a month later, on June 6, it was announced that Blizzard would be integrating Facebook login and Facebook’s Live API into all its games, including massive-selling titles World of Warcraft, and Overwatch.

Related

During his pro-gaming peak, Ellis gained acclaim for successfully competing in e-sports tournaments, playing one of the most-popular games in the world, League of Legends. Since putting down the gamepad, Ellis has worked as an adviser for gaming analytics firm Repable, and as a VP at e-sports betting company Unikrn. “I’m going to help shape the future of e-sports and gaming,” he declares on his LinkedIn profile.

Facebook’s own outlook when it comes to game streaming is certainly promising. With an existing audience of 1.65 billion users, Ellis shouldn’t have a hard time luring games studios to the social network. Additionally, as a former professional gamer, he understands what other gaming enthusiasts seek from a live-streaming platform. With Ellis in tow, you may end up seeing a lot more gaming content on Facebook Live in the near future.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Saqib Shah
Saqib Shah
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Saqib Shah is a Twitter addict and film fan with an obsessive interest in pop culture trends. In his spare time he can be…
All GTA Vice City cheats: PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC
Grand Theft Auto City's main character stands in front of a neon sign.

The past has never looked so good. That applies not only to Grand Theft Auto: Vice City -- Definitive Edition itself, but also the 1980s-inspired style of the titular city. This entry was a blast from the past when it was first released, and it's downright retro today. Thanks to the face-lift this remastering has provided, it has never been easier to go back and relive the story of Tommy Vercetti and his quest for revenge in this visually overwhelming take on an exaggerated version of a crime-infested '80s city.

As much love as this entry received when it came out for its story and characters -- it's still often considered one of the best games released on that entire generation of consoles -- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City pushed open-world games in a whole new direction. In keeping with series tradition, which continues to be the case, this title was jam-packed with cheats that can completely change how the game is played. This game has far more than any other in the recently released trilogy, making it ripe for revisiting to see what crazy antics you can cause. There are even a few new ones not included in the original, so even die-hard fans will want to see our full list of all the Grand Theft Auto: Vice City -- Definitive Edition cheat codes.

Read more
Where to find the Coin Case in Pokémon Infinite Fusion
Casino in Pokémon Infinite Fusion.

Every Pokémon trainer knows that when you reach Celadon City, there's one essential stop — the casino! By playing slots and blackjack, players can earn enough coin to trade for rare Pokémon and powerful TMs next door.

If you enter the casino immediately, you'll be sent away because you lack a Coin Case. No one in the casino will give you one and getting one isn't a part of any main quest, so you'll have to go hunting for it throughout the city. If you're thorough, you won't miss it. But we're here to save you a bit of time.
Where to find the Coin Case in Pokémon Infinite Fusion

Read more
Can’t wait for Assassin’s Creed Shadows? Play these games instead
Yasuke in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

Ubisoft unveiled Assassin's Creed Shadows last week, giving us our first real glimpse at the first Assassin's Creed game to be set in Japan. Its Feudal Japan setting is something that fans of Assassin's Creed have craved for a long time, and while it's awesome that Ubisoft is finally delivering that concept, some other games did beat it to the punch. Many other developers have noticed how fruitful a historical Japan setting can be, from its feudal era all the way until the West started to intervene in the Edo period. As a result, there are quite a few games that I can recommend you check out while you're waiting for Assassin's Creed Shadows' November 15 launch.

The five games I'm recommending all range in size. Three of them are AAA action games, all set in different eras of Japanese history that immerse players in different ways. Meanwhile, the other two games I'm spotlighting are more experimental titles that, while not directly comparable to Assassin's Creed Shadows from a gameplay perspective, are still well worth your time if Japanese history and culture intrigue you.
Ghost of Tsushima

Read more