The Shift Gaming Experience, the self-proclaimed “largest national mall-based gaming tournament ever held in the country,” (we’re not fact-checking that) from MTN and Hyprop has returned for a second round in 2024. Eight qualifiers — online and in-person — will take place over the next four months and determine who will end up in the tournament’s National Final at Canal Walk and walk away with all the bragging rights.
“The goal of our national gaming tournament is to create a vehicle for making esports accessible to everyone, breaking down barriers and removing the stigma that gaming is only for a certain age group. We aim to ensure that people from all walks of life can come together to play games and participate in the thrilling world of esports,” remarks Christie Stanbridge, Hyprop’s Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager.
Shifting into second
You’ll need to be proficient in EA Sports FC 24, the Shift Gaming Experience’s main title of choice, if you’re after the tournament’s big paycheck. The player who can beat out all the rest will walk away with R25,000, while second place will “only” get R15,000. Is it even worth turning up for third and fourth place, whose winners will leave with R7,500 and R2,500 respectively? (If our sarcasm was missed, then yes, yes it is).
Online ‘heats’ will be played through the African Cyber Gaming League (ACGL) platform. “Players can sign up at the various Hyprop Malls to participate in one of the seven heats held from Friday to Sunday. The top four players from each heat will move on to the Mall Final, joining the four online qualifiers,” a press release reads.
In-person and online event qualifier locations and dates:
- Somerset Mall online qualifier – 9 June
- Somerset Mall event – 14-16 June
- Rosebank Mall online qualifier – 16 June
- Rosebank Mall event – 21-23 June
- The Glen online qualifier – 23 June
- The Glen event – 28-30 June
- Clearwater Mall online qualifier – 7 July
- Clearwater Mall WM event – 12-14 July
- Woodlands Boulevard online qualifier – 14 July
- Woodlands Boulevard event – 19-21 July
- Table Bay Mall online qualifier – 4 August
- Table Bay Mall event – 9-11 August
- Capegate online qualifier – 18 August
- Capegate event – 23-25 August
- Canal Walk online qualifier – 8 September
- Canal Walk event – 11-15 September
efootball not your thing?
It’s not all focused on EA Sports FC 24. MTN, in partnership with Computer Mania, will be hosting tournaments across Fortnite, Minecraft, Rocket League, Flight Simulator and Cities: Skylines II. These will be at Computer Mania’s pop-up shops around Hyprop’s malls and will allow competitors to use PC Builder’s “performance-optimised prebuilt gaming PCs.”
There’s also the Fighting Cup – daily tournaments that pit players against one another in Street Fighter 6, Tekken and Brawlhalla. R1,000 mall gift vouchers are up for grabs to winners, while runners-up will leave with R500 vouchers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Hyprop to bring this tournament to life. This event is a testament to the growing gaming culture in South Africa, and we are proud to support an initiative that not only showcases incredible talent but also brings communities together through the power of gaming. MTN is committed to driving digital innovation and creating unique experiences for gamers across the country,” says Jason Probert, MTN’s Digital Services general manager.