GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — A local esports company is holding camps in Grand Rapids this summer to help support the rapid growth of the sport.

Jump Ahead Play Fuel summer camp will be held every Friday and Saturday from June 20 to Aug. 1 at Burton Middle School. The camp is free to all kids 10 and up in Kent County.

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“I’m very excited for the culture of esports that we’re building,” said Dee Jones, the chief energy officer at Jump Ahead L3C, the company hosting the camp.

He said that kids will get educated on digital finances; ‘shoutcasting’ commentary; cryptocurrency; name, image and likeness rights and more.

“I truly want them to know that people care,” Jones said of what he hopes kids get out of the camp. “People care about their education, people care about their goals, their dreams, the things that they look to achieve to get out of poverty, to change their lives, to break those barriers. To show their parents that you can actually get paid from gaming, have a career and potentially earn six or seven figures.”

Universities around the country are putting more resources into building esports programs, leading to the formation of competitive teams, new facilities and even scholarships.

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Josiah Dunning played on Ottawa Hills High School’s esports team. It earned him a scholarship to Davenport University.

“It was an athletic scholarship, which confused me when I saw it the first time,” Dunning said.

Dunning is a part of a growing number of students who are using their talent for video games to help play for college. In Michigan alone, several schools now offer partial esports scholarships, including Michigan State, Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan.

“We’re actually increasing opportunities and kids around our community are directly benefiting from this,” Jones said.

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CORAL SPRINGS, FLA — Lander’s Kajsa Lindqvist was named a second-team All-American by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) on Friday. Flagler’s Stella Jelinek and Henriette Stranda had previously been named first-team All-Americans, giving the PBC three in total.

Flagler’s Jordyn Jodgson and North Georgia’s Jadin Ware were also named honorable mention All-Americans.

A junior from Göthenburg, Sweden, Lindqvist played every round for Lander in 2024-25, with one victory and nine top-10 finishes, tied for most in the PBC. She shot par or better in 13 of her 36 rounds for a 73.03 stroke average, third in the league. Ranked #13 in the nation by Scoreboard, she shot seven-under 65 twice during the season, the two lowest rounds (relative to par) by any PBC player.

Lindqvist finished in fourth place at the NCAA South Regional with rounds of 73-69-74, earning one of the two individual spots in the NCAA National Championships. At the nationals she finished in a tie for fourth after shooting one of those 65s, jumping 11 spots on the leaderboard in the final round.

A three-time PBC first-team All-Conference selection, Lindqvist earns her first All-America honor.

School’s out for summer, and for some kids, that means heading off to camp.

An e-sports summer camp was held at Omaha’s Quest Forward High School this week.

English teacher and eSports coach, Angee Henry, originally took the coaching gig to help ensure students had something to do after school.

“They said, ‘There’s no coaches in the building, will you coach?’ And I’m like, ‘Well, I coach track,’ and they said, ‘Oh, then you can coach e-sports,” Henry said.

She immediately saw how passionate the students involved were, and how competitive a skill it can be.

Her first year on the job, her team finished third overall in a Super Smash Bros. Class D competition.

“I think looking at it as a sport, because we look at it as a game sometimes. You know, football is a game, but it has respect in there and just respecting it, and knowing that athletes are participating in something serious,” Henry said.

Maximus Johnson is one of 14 students who participated in this week’s camp.

He said his favorite part was learning from other players and being part of a team.

“Here it feels like you’re actually playing together for the same reason, and you have the same values on why you’re playing,” Johnson said.

Johnson loves video games for the creativity they offer, but he picked up more than just victory royales during camp.

“I’m learning teamwork and skills that have to do with strategy, that’s been really fun and useful. I think it’d be cool to play e-sports for a living, but even then, I’m still learning very good values here,” Johnson said.

Johnson said as much as he loves gaming, he recognizes the need to still be physically active and get outside. He added that this camp included interactive factors like warmups and a real-life outdoor version of Mario Kart.

Coach Henry shared her message to all: E-sports can level up students’ lives.

“It can take them to college, it can take them into IT jobs,” Henry said.

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Free companions, wearable kicks, and a player-powered map put the spotlight on Minecraft’s newest crossover

Minecraft x Adidas drops free fashion-fueled update

Jump into the gaming fashion frontier

Minecrafters can now express and build their in-game character thanks to a major collab with Adidas that combines blocky creativity with streetwear fashion. Launched April 1, 2025, the “Minecraft x Adidas” crossover is not a skin pack or merchandise collection; it’s a digital expansion for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition that includes companions, functional gear, and narrative-based gameplay.

At first glance it doesn’t feel like branded product placement; it feels like a natural extension of the player-first philosophy that’s at the heart of Minecraft. Players aren’t just wearing Adidas they’re creating with Adidas.

Free DLC is part style, part functionality

The partnership kicks off with the Adidas Adventurer Add-On, free downloadable content from the Minecraft Marketplace. This isn’t just a reskin of jerseys and leggings. This drop comes with new gameplay systems, functional companions, and movement-based gameplay for player-driven exploration.

Here’s what’s in:

• Three in-game Adidas-themed companions:

  • The Coach: Finds ore, boosts mobility, and tracks quests.

  • The Mascot: Gathers food and resources while managing player hunger.

  • The Teammate: Provides combat support, buff effects, and lava protection.

• Digital sneakers and armor inspired by real-world Adidas shoes.

• • Loot boxes with collectible gear:

• A playable map called “Play at the Speed of You,” with parkour zones, puzzles, and exploration quests.

These aren’t just cosmetic. Companions actually affect gameplay, offering everything from pathfinding to inventory management. It’s a low-key but effective way to marry fashion with function.

Beyond branding: A nod to Gen Z values

This collaboration does more than just get Adidas into Minecraft. It acknowledges how gamers think about identity, mobility, and customization today.

For Adidas, this is part of its Originals initiative a campaign aimed directly at Gen Z players who value digital self-expression. For Mojang, it’s an experiment in player-led storytelling. And for the Minecraft community, it’s another example of how the game continues to evolve with you.

The real-world apparel drop reflects that, with Adidas tracksuits, T-shirts, and sneakers featuring Creeper eyes, Enderman prints, and pixel-themed colorways.

 Real style makes real steps

Notice the difference? Unlike other brand partnerships that had visuals only, this DLC directly affects how the game feels. Each companion has its own AI behaviors and abilities in-game. Each quest system has been reworked to account for the new objects. The map itself has been designed for replayability with challenges that are shaped by the player’s speed.

This is not another collaboration; it’s a playable sneaker campaign.

Now even the loot boxes are tied to movement. When a player moves, they get loot the faster they run, the higher the loot box gain. Complete the parkour zones to earn gold tier loot boxes. The way a player moves in the game is dictated by the physical game system, not the branded environment.

What this means for gaming x fashion collaborations

Brand collaborations like Minecraft x Adidas are becoming a regular thing, but very few are actually a true experience between brand visibility and overall gameplay value. With them adding this DLC for free, it shows that Mojang has left you, the player, be and not turned you into a customer. Instead of dollars earned, it might mean endorsements as a result of community creativity and self-expression.

For Adidas, the only repayment they cared about was relevance. For Minecraft, it’s just another feather in the cap. For the players it’s simple: just download the game, get some gear, and start running!

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Hacksaw Gaming — a Malta-based game developer — is planning to go public on the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, a move that signals robust confidence following a period of sustained expansion. The company, known for its innovative slot and instant win games, is looking to capitalize on its significant market penetration and increasing financial success.

Strategic Move Reflects Strong Market Position

This anticipated initial public offering (IPO) comes as Hacksaw Gaming continues to solidify its footprint in the highly competitive iGaming sector.

Hacksaw Gaming has carved out a stylistic niche, focusing on distinctive art, innovative features (like “Dare2Win” scratchcards and unique slot mechanics), and high-volatility gameplay that appeals to a specific segment of players. This has allowed them to grow in a highly competitive market that features developers such as NoLimit City, Push Gaming, and Relax Gaming.

“Hacksaw’s Board of Directors and management consider the IPO on Nasdaq Stockholm to be a logical and important step in Hacksaw’s development.” — Hacksaw official statement

Hacksaw Gaming’s consistent performance and growing portfolio of popular titles like “Wanted Dead or a Wild” and “Stack ‘Em” likely played a role in this decision. The platform was also well-poisitioned to expand The company’s commitment to delivering high-quality, mobile-first content has resonated with operators and players alike, securing key partnerships and expanding its global reach.

This strong market position provides a solid foundation for a public offering, enabling Hacksaw Gaming to leverage increased financial flexibility to accelerate product development, enhance its technological infrastructure, and pursue new strategic partnerships that will further cement its standing as an industry leader.

Implications for Sweepstakes Casino Platforms

Hacksaw Gaming’s public offering could also have significant implications for the burgeoning sweepstakes casino market. Hacksaw titles are already featured on several prominent sweepstakes platforms, including Stake.us, McLuck, High 5, and RealPrize.

With the increased capital and visibility from an IPO, Hacksaw Gaming could further invest in developing content specifically tailored for this fast-growing sector. This might involve creating more games optimized for the sweepstakes model, or even exploring exclusive partnerships that could give sweepstakes casinos a competitive edge.

Enhanced financial stability could also allow Hacksaw to dedicate more resources to compliance and legal navigation within this complex and evolving market, potentially leading to more secure and diverse game offerings for sweepstakes players.

Future Prospects and Industry Impact

Hacksaw Gaming’s journey to the public market is expected to generate considerable interest within the gambling industry. A successful IPO could provide the company with substantial resources to accelerate its development pipeline, explore new sweepstake casino markets, and potentially pursue strategic acquisitions.

This move could also set a precedent for other privately held iGaming providers experiencing similar growth trajectories, highlighting the increasing maturity and investment potential of the online gambling landscape.

Beyond immediate financial gains, a public listing will elevate Hacksaw Gaming’s brand profile, making it an even more attractive partner for operators and a magnet for top industry talent. The capital raised could be instrumental in funding ambitious new projects, including the integration of emerging technologies like VR/AR into their game offerings or venturing into new gaming verticals.

Ultimately, Hacksaw Gaming’s foray into the public market signifies a significant milestone for the company and underscores the dynamic evolution of the global iGaming sector.