ATLANTA — March 24, 2021 — Ghost Gaming, the Atlanta-based esports organization and gaming lifestyle brand, has announced its collaboration with the Georgia Film Academy (GFA) and esports production company Skillshot Media to develop Georgia’s workforce for the growing gaming and esports industry.

As a result, Ghost Gaming establishes a relationship with students on Georgia’s public college and university campuses, who are eligible to participate in GFA’s Digital Entertainment, Esports & Game Development Certification.   Each semester the GFA, Ghost Gaming, and Skillshot Media will identify opportunities for students to have additional hands-on exposure and internships.

The collaboration kicks off this Spring 2021 semester, with GFA’s Fundamentals of Esports class, which includes twenty-six students designing and operating an invitational collegiate esports tournament in the popular game Valorant.  Three members of Ghost’s professional Valorant team roster will serve as coaches for the college teams competing in the final match on Thursday, April 8, with GFA students executing the event management, tournament operations, marketing, live-stream production, and on-air hosting and commentary.  

“The GFA is excited to collaborate with Ghost Gaming and Skillshot Media to offer students professional experience and exposure, leading to high-demand careers and the growth of the full eco-system within the digital entertainment, gaming, and esports industries here in Georgia.”  - Jeff Stepakoff, Georgia Film Academy Executive Director

Ghost Gaming has competitive teams and creators in the most popular competitive titles including Fortnite, Rocket-League, Valorant, Call of Duty Warzone and PubG Mobile.

“In relocating Ghost Gaming to Atlanta one key consideration was the availability of talent as we grow.  We’re excited to collaborate with the Georgia Film Academy and Skillshot Media to provide students additional industry learning opportunities and to help fill our own workforce needs” - Andrew Steinberg, Ghost Managing Partner

The GFA is a collaboration of the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia created to meet education and workforce needs for high-demand careers in Georgia’s creative industries.  Last year, Skillshot Media worked with the GFA to establish an esports pilot class at Georgia State University.  The initiative has quickly grown to include additional institutions and an expanded certification to include multiple new courses.

According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), esports has emerged as one of the fastest-growing industries in the state, with gaming having an economic impact of over $830 million last year.