Tag: fan engagement

TechPulse

Viswanathan Anand Inaugurates Global Chess League’s Experience Centre in Plano, Dallas

Tanisha Cardozo

The Global Chess League (GCL) inaugurated its new Experience Centre in Plano, Dallas, with five-time World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand leading the launch. Designed to merge chess, technology, and innovation, the centre provides an interactive environment where players, fans, and innovators can explore AI-driven analysis, digital platforms, and cutting-edge tools to enhance the game.

Overlooking Plano’s skyline, the facility features spaces for tournaments, live game analysis, digital chess innovations, and community engagement. Anand emphasized the centre’s role in expanding the reach of chess, making it more engaging and interactive while inspiring the next generation of players through technology.

The centre will collaborate with universities, chess federations, and technology partners to advance AI applications in chess, develop digital coaching tools, boost fan engagement, and integrate esports. Peeyush Dubey, Chairperson of the GCL, described the centre as a “living ecosystem” for the global chess community, bringing together players, fans, clubs, universities, and partners to co-create the future of chess.

Since its opening, the Experience Centre has hosted events such as the Texas Women’s State Chess Championship, featuring competitors from 13 countries. It is expected to continue hosting tournaments, interactive programs, and chess-tech showcases for enthusiasts, students, and partners.

The launch demonstrates the growing integration of strategic sports with digital innovation, providing a unique hub where technology and chess converge to inspire players and fans alike, shaping the future of the game on a global scale.

TechPulse

Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Enters Fortnite With Playable Mode and Creator Assets

Tanisha Cardozo

Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters is officially stepping into the metaverse with a full-scale integration into Epic Games’ Fortnite, blending streaming, gaming, and K-pop fandom in one dynamic collaboration. The crossover launched on October 2 and will run through November 1, allowing Fortnite players to dive into a brand-new game mode and experience the world of KPop Demon Hunters firsthand.

In the newly introduced “Demon Rush Mode,” fans can team up with the elite demon-slaying crew HUNTR/X to defend the mystical Honmoon from relentless waves of faceless demons. Players can also take on the personas of fan-favorite characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey—complete with custom outfits, accessories, and signature items like spicy ramyeon, which has already become an iconic part of the film’s visual branding.

In a major move for user-generated content, Netflix is also enabling Fortnite creators to design and publish their own games using official KPop Demon Hunters assets. These assets are now accessible through Fortnite’s creator tools and are fully licensed, giving fans a creative outlet to expand the universe of the film inside one of the world’s most popular games.

The collaboration reflects the increasing convergence of entertainment platforms—bringing cinematic universes to life within interactive digital spaces. With K-pop’s global influence, Fortnite’s massive user base, and Netflix’s storytelling reach, this partnership positions KPop Demon Hunters not just as a film, but as a living, playable IP.

This isn’t Netflix’s first foray into gaming, but it’s one of its boldest, tying in a culturally resonant title with a gaming ecosystem known for its crossovers and community engagement. With a rising number of users exploring Fortnite Creative, the timing couldn’t be better for fans to interact with the KPop Demon Hunters universe in new and imaginative ways.

Whether you’re a K-pop stan, a Netflix binge-watcher, or a Fortnite creator, KPop Demon Hunters in Fortnite is a crossover that promises energy, creativity, and plenty of demon-slaying fun—one spicy ramyeon at a time.