US – FaZe Clan, one of eSport's most prominent organisations, is unveiling a new talent incubator that ensures all future members are aligned with its core values.

Dubbed the FaZe Academy, its in-house talent management team will use the platform to mentor new FaZe Clan recruits, with members working through a variety of gaming and content creation lessons as part of its programme The Journey. Beginning with a five-day immersive bootcamp, the programme covers areas such as cultural and sensitivity training, mental health awareness, content strategy and creation, and audience development.

Candidates then complete a three-month apprenticeship before being firmly accepted into the group. ‘FaZe Academy is seeking the best in the world – from the undiscovered charismatic vlogger to the elite multi-hyphenate global content creator who is already making waves,’ explains Jaci Hays, COO of FaZe Clan.

As we explore in our microtrend Accredited Influencers, the influencer model is being upended as it gains status as a legitimate career path, with training and dedicated content creation programmes becoming more common.

Chinese consumers are willing to go back to physical drinking and entertainment venues in the post-Covid era.

Research by CGA in China reveals that nine out of 10 consumers in the country have already visited bars, restaurants or karaoke bars since the end of China’s lockdown. The study also shows that 42% of drinkers plan to visit on-trade venues more often in 2021 than they did in 2019, while 64% are now confident enough to visit large-capacity venues.

But as Chinese consumers return to their favourite spots, they’re also changing their habits – three in five drinkers say they would try to make healthy drinks choices when returning to bars, opting for low-calorie, low-sugar or nutritional drinks.

While some consumers in Asia may prefer virtual hospitality opportunities in 2021, those heading to physical locations are open to exploring new drinks and flavours, often with a health-conscious edge.