The Global Gaming League, the first multigaming league, launched its new SZN Zero series last month. The event debuted a revamped format to shake up competitive gaming with the help of music stars T-Pain and Ne-Yo, all under the inclusive motto “Everybody Games,” setting the stage for what could be the future of esports.
The event featured guest host and caster Flavor Flav, Norwegian caster Wirtual (Øyvind Iversen), co-hosts Adam Waheed and Nick Antonyan, influencer Bryce Hall, and streamers Asher “Ash” Lara, Guapo Jay, JFlocka, Vardan Antonyan, and Diamant Blazi.
The birth of a competitive rivalry
In the weeks leading up to the showdown between T-Pain’s Nappy Boy Grizzlies and Ne-Yo’s Gentleman’s Gaming Team, the celebrity team owners began trash-talking each other on social media. Their internet beef started when the Tallahassee native poked fun at Ne-Yo’s lips and his signature hat look, prompting the singer-songwriter to clap back by teasing T-Pain’s youthful appearance.
But the friendly feud actually began earlier, when Ne-Yo reached out to T-Pain, a longtime Twitch gamer, about teaming up. According to the “Stay with Me” artist, the Auto-Tune star did not take the proposal seriously at first. Even their mothers (Mama Pain and Mama Ne-Yo) later jumped online to defend their sons, adding an extra layer to the competition.
“The stakes are high anyway, but moms having to chime in and make sure everybody understands, then yeah, it would raise the stakes a little bit,” Ne-Yo told Blavity. “I can’t lose in front of my momma, so now I gotta win.”
Ne-Yo’s gaming team advances to the championship round
The rivalry continued, with Ne-Yo’s team winning the tiebreaker in Tekken 8, securing their spot in the championship round, which is set for November at the Palms Casino Resort. The GGL will continue with SZN One in 2026.
The season opener featured a distinct format that differs from other existing esports competitions. A typical GGL matchup consists of a pre-show live performance, first round (fight game), live entertainment intermission, second round (shooter game), halftime show, third round (sports game), sponsored intermission, fourth round (retro game) and final winner selection, according to the GGL website. The setup aims to keep both players and fans engaged.
Saturday night’s lineup included T-Pain and Ne-Yo’s teams, made up of active and casual gamers, influencers and artists:
Team T-Pain: Nappy Boy Grizzlies: Babyface Kiddo, Dan Rue, Jump Maan and Kat Gunn
Team Ne-Yo: Gentleman’s Gaming Team: Ask Joshy, Avexys, Kaash Paige and Tyla Yaweh
Key moments from SZN ZERO’s inaugural competition
The arena was packed with fans, celebrities and gamers eager to see which team would take the crown. GGL founder and Grammy-nominated producer Clinton Sparks opened the event, introducing both team owners and their players. Judging by crowd reactions, Nappy Boy Grizzlies were the crowd’s favorite and Gentleman’s Gaming Team were the underdogs.
The event was livestreamed on the GGL’s official YouTube channel and other platforms.
Highlights of the night included live performances by Rich the Kid and LiAngelo “GELO” Ball, as well as the debut of “Global” by Is0kenny, GGL Music Group and Sparks.
Official match results:
- Round 1 — Tetris: Ask Joshy vs. Kat Gunn. Team Ne-Yo wins.
- Round 2 — TrackMania: Babyface Kiddo vs. Kaash Paige. Team T-Pain wins.
- Score tied 1-1
- Round 3 — Tony Hawk Game: Jump Maan vs. Tyla Yaweh. Team T-Pain wins.
- Round 4 — Call of Duty: Dan Rue vs. Avexys. Team Ne-Yo wins.
- Score tied 2-2
Ne-Yo won the tiebreaker, and Avexys was named MVP.
What is the Global Gaming League?
The GGL is “where gaming, music, fashion, sports, celebrity, and culture converge for an unparalleled live, in-person and virtual, interactive and engaging sporting entertainment experience,” per its website. Its “Everybody Games” mantra redefines what esports look like, emphasizing inclusivity and making space for a diverse roster of gamers from different cultures, regions and skill levels.
Why are Black gamers and creators still underrepresented in the gaming industry?
In 2025, Statista reported that the global games market had a projected value of $522.46 billion. That figure is influenced by various factors, including market locations, the types of gaming, gender differences and social entertainment. While the industry appears diverse in some areas, Black gamers, who make up 15% of the industry’s player base, have remained underrepresented despite their strong presence and growing influence, according to Iris Yim, principal and chief strategist at Sparkle Insights.
The Entertainment Software Association’s 2023 report showed that Hispanic (79%) and Black Americans (77%) were more likely to engage in gaming as a hobby than their white counterparts (62%), per GamesIndustry.biz. Despite this, white Americans still make up a larger portion of the overall gaming community in the United States, according to Statista.
Black gamers and content creators often use platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and Twitch to build their presence and connect with audiences. However, major brands still have work to do when it comes to fully supporting and representing Black gamers through diversity and inclusion efforts. GGL, Sparks and T-Pain, who also serves as director of strategy at GGL, aim to change the narrative by pushing the culture forward in new and inclusive ways.
How is the Global Gaming League different from other esports leagues?
“We wanted to build something that brought gamers from different backgrounds and cultures together in a unique way that was equally fun and competitive,” Sparks said earlier in August, per a news release. ”With SZN Zero, we will introduce an authentic and relatable form of entertaining competition that will converge music, fashion, celebrity, and culture bringing the biggest form of entertainment in the world — video gaming — to the masses.”
T-Pain and Ne-Yo aren’t the only musicians stepping into the gaming world. Travis Scott, Lil Nas X, Offset, Soulja Boy and Megan Thee Stallion are just a few artists who have contributed to video games in various ways. The GGL is projected to be one of the largest sporting leagues, but according to T-Pain, it takes more than talent to be part of the initiative.
“Those [who] want to get into the gaming league, I would say, ‘stop trying.’ … We don’t [just] accept, we find you,” T-Pain told Blavity. “It’s not like an acceptance thing, like ‘whoever is in the front,’ or ‘whoever is the best player’ — it’s personality, camaraderie, it’s so many other factors other than ‘are you good at gaming?’ … It’s different factors of what we do.”
Meanwhile, Sparks believes GGL is destined to be right up there with other major sports leagues.
“Being right next to WWE and UFC and NFL and NBA. … And being in the same breath as those people, and bringing the integrity of competitive sports, but also the entertainment and what we’re bringing, much like WWE and UFC,” Sparks told Blavity.
