Team EnVyUs, one of the biggest North American teams with representation across eight different eSports, is about to get a whole lot bigger. After rumors floated around last month regarding a move for the North Carolina-based organization, EnVyUs confirmed that they have received an eight-figure investment from Hersh Interactive Group and will be relocating to Dallas. EnVyUs began in 2007 as a Call of Duty team, but since then they've broken out on the world stage several times over multiple games. In 2015 they officially entered the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene, and in year one took home their first major, Dreamhack Open Cluj-Napoca, over rival crew Fnatic. They've been an absolute force to be reckoned with in Overwatch, taking home the top prize at Apex Season 1 and MLG Vegas 2016—which makes it fitting that they will represent Austin-Dallas in the upcoming Overwatch League. And although they're currently sitting at 6th in the North American League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), they've proven their mettle in MOBAs, winning the top prize at the 2016 Smite World Championship. Their investment comes from Kenneth A. Hersh, an energy tycoon and corporate financier born and bred in Dallas. While buying stock in these early days of eSports will surely pay dividends, Hersh seems determined to put some of those resources towards developing the community in a healthy, positive way. According to Dot Esports, Hersh is focused on understanding player health and developing a program to "educate players and staff on managing the mental fatigue of competition and to prepare for their career and what comes after." With mental health issues already a concern for many teams and pros and notable players retiring after being burned out, proper work/life balance and conditioning are an important frontier that the industry needs to explore. EnVyUs is ambitious as a team gets, and with new squads being formed to tackle emerging games like Rocket League, they have an opportunity so solidify a position as the premier North American team. If Hersh also makes good on his promise to research and develop health and wellness procedures in the greater eSports community, then this may prove to be one of the most important deals in the young history of the industry.
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