As we all know, PlayStation has long dominated the European console market – specifically, in countries such as France and Germany, where Sony's systems are nearly unbeatable – and while these countries are incredibly important regions, they are often overlooked due to the focus on commercial trends in English-speaking markets such as the US and UK.
PlayStation's success in Europe is, of course, down to a lot of factors, but at a fundamental level, the company has always been keen to raise its profile through partnerships. For decades, it has partnered with the UEFA Champions League, Europe's most prestigious football (soccer, for Americans) competition, and now the company has renewed that partnership for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
This is a pretty big deal, because the next Champions League will literally be bigger than ever before. The tournament will be significantly overhauled, with a total of 36 teams in a new league structure that will see them advance to the knockout stages much later than usual. Essentially, there will just be more Champions Leagues. More teams, more matches, more TV coverage. And, by extension, more marketing for Sony and PlayStation.
“A committed partner of the competition for over 27 years, SIE and the PlayStation brand will continue to offer innovative fan engagement activities, exclusive content and unique experiences across platforms, including continuing as a sponsor of Player of the Match, UEFA Champions League Fantasy Football and eChampions League,” the official press release read.
Are you surprised at all that PlayStation has renewed its partnership with the Champions League? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
(Source: uefa.com)
Robert (Rob if you're lazy) is an Assistant Editor at Push Square and has been a PlayStation fan ever since Tekken 2 introduced him to the wonderful world of video games back in the '90s. Though he still takes fighting games seriously, RPGs are his true passion. Witcher, Persona, Dragon Quest, Mass Effect, Final Fantasy, Trails, Tales – he's played them all! Some might say a bit too much.
