diversity-in-gaming
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HiDef, Inc.
HiDef, Inc. is a San Diego-based mobile game studio building social, creative-first games aimed at players of all backgrounds. Founded in 2019 by interactive-entertainment veterans - including game designer Jace Hall, industry operator Anthony Castoro, three-time NBA champion Rick Fox, and former Obama aide Dr. David Washington - the company launched publicly in 2021 with $9M in funding and a mission to make games with meaningful social impact. HiDef partnered with Unity to power its titles and with Snap Inc. to build a Bitmoji-based dance-and-music social game.
Evil Geniuses
Evil Geniuses is one of the oldest and most storied esports organizations in North America. Founded in 1999 as a Quake clan, EG built a legacy across Dota 2, StarCraft, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, and Valorant, most famously winning Dota 2's The International 2015 for a then-record payout and Valorant Champions 2023. Now headquartered in Seattle and owned by Chicago investment firm PEAK6, the company runs competitive teams, a content-creator roster, youth and community programs, and a direct-to-consumer merchandise line.