The gaming business is booming in lockdown. Verizon is doubling down with FaZe Clan

With COVID-19 cutting into revenue from wireless and advertising, Verizon is doubling down on one sector of the tech industry that’s booming during quarantine: video games.

Verizon plans to announce Tuesday that it has become a lead sponsor of FaZe Clan, one of the world’s most popular and influential video gaming organizations. The move comes just a month after Verizon announced a long-term partnership with the professional North American league for League of Legends, the world’s most popular esport, which is owned by Riot Games (which is, in turn, controlled by Tencent).

Partnering with FaZe Clan, which recently surpassed 1 billion views on its YouTube channel, associates Verizon with the group’s more than 80 online influencers and FaZe’s professional teams in games including Fortnite and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The sponsorship is focused on Verizon’s 5G wireless services.

This article was written by Seth Schiesel. You can read the full piece on protocol.