Scal, ambassador of Asura, unveils the behind-the-scenes of an Esport team on the rise. Between competitive ambitions and content creation, we dive into the heart of an authentic and promising Esport project.
Scal, the emblematic ambassador of the Asura team, shares with us the origins, ambitions and values of an Esport structure in full growth on the French scene. Based in the Alpes-Maritimes, Asura became widely recognized thanks to Super Smash Bros Ultimate and an approach that combines sports performance and content creation. The recent arrival of the European player Mezcaul marked a major turning point for the team, enhancing its ambitions and strengthening its visibility. Amidst competitive challenges, community engagement, and strategic vision, Scal reveals the behind-the-scenes of a team aiming to unite players while staying true to its regional roots and authentic identity. Discovering an human-sized ambitious Esport project.
Interview with Scal:
Can you briefly introduce the Asura team and what it means to you?
Scal: “The Asura team is an Esport team based in the Alpes-Maritimes, present in several video games, but mainly in Super Smash Bros Ultimate. For me, it’s almost like family. They are very good friends with whom I share the same ideas and vision of things.
What is the philosophy or mindset you are trying to convey at Asura?
The philosophy is clear: we wanted to be a cool team, one that people would want to follow. A team appreciated not only in terms of sports but also in terms of visuals. Unlike other teams that interact very little with their presidents, we have the privilege of being able to exchange a lot of ideas, allowing us to progress very quickly.
How does the team integrate into the Esport scene on the Côte d’Azur and more broadly in France?
In the Smash Bros community, it integrates very well. We were even nominated among the best teams of the year by the streamer IB and his ‘Awards of the Year‘. We are somewhat known in the Alpes-Maritimes, a bit less on the regional level, but we are especially recognized for our content creation and our ability to attract a broader audience. At the national level, we are still very small, but our goal is to make a name locally and within a specific niche around Super Smash Bros Ultimate.
In your opinion, what is the place of Asura today in the French competitive Smash scene?
Our wish is above all to unite a group and give a voice to those who don’t necessarily have it. Initially, we established ourselves in Lyon, which had an extremely active scene, but too little known in our view. We allowed them to express themselves more with the recruitment of Gin, Mocra, and Rehann. We primarily want to unite around us.
Does Asura have ambitions to assert itself more internationally, particularly in Europe or even beyond?
Not necessarily. It’s already important for us to make a place for ourselves in France, and it would upset our fans who seek representation in the national circle. Our ambitions are therefore departmental, regional, and national.
You recently recruited Mezcaul, one of the best European players. How did this collaboration come about?
The recruitment of Mezcaul happened very naturally. At the very beginning, he hesitated between Asura and Oplon. His choice was initially for the Oplon team due to its wider reach and larger budget. But in parallel, we continued to have good exchanges, mainly because he is quite close to Hugzbo (player and videographer for Asura), Gin, and me. When the Oplon project lost momentum and he no longer found the values he was looking for, his integration with us happened naturally.
What does the arrival of a player of this caliber represent for the team and its image?
It was a shock to some, others saw it coming after his departure from Oplon. No one thought we would have the budget to recruit him. We went all out for Mezcaul, aware of the importance of this recruitment, and we are truly proud of it.
Are there other recruitment or development projects you can already share?
Currently, we have cleared the board on many games. I think we’re going to focus on Smash Bros and content creation. Asura is about esports, but it should not be forgotten that it is also about a lot of content creation. We are not looking to recruit other players at the moment, as Mezcaul already represents a lot in terms of budget and investment. We don’t want to overshadow Mezcaul or Gin.
What is your exact role within Asura as a content creator and ambassador?
My role is mainly to maintain a constant image as an ambassador through my videos, my appearances on stream, etc. The idea was really that people would think of Asura as Scal’s structure, even if that’s not entirely the case. I participated in a large part of the foundation. Today, the structure is doing very well and evolves on its own. My role also consists of being a figure for the team and giving advice to always progress.
How do you manage to reconcile content creation with following the team in competition?
Since I am very present on Smash Bros, I can easily follow what is happening. I know the national scene very well, so it’s natural for me to reconcile content creation and team follow-up. The most demanding part is keeping up with other Asura projects, like the creation of tournaments or jerseys. As an image of Asura, I even lost 15 kg in three weeks to take photos of the new jerseys. I try to invest as much as possible.
Do you think content creation has become indispensable for developing an Esport structure today?
Content creation is indispensable. Today, you have two choices: either you have a big budget and focus fully on sports performance, or you focus on content creation. We inspired ourselves from BMS, one of the best French teams. We are smaller than them, but we aim to join their ranks.
Where do you see yourself with Asura in two or three years, knowing that a new Smash is being prepared?
I think I’ll stay with Asura for a good while. I feel really very good here. I’ve been part of several structures before, but Asura is a team with which I have a deep connection, going beyond the professional.
Do you have a message for Asura’s fans and those who follow the Smash scene?
To Asura’s fans, thank you very much for supporting the project. I know there are many of you in the Lyon scene and in the Alpes-Maritimes. We always try to innovate despite our limited means. We want to be the people’s structure, and I find the fans give it back well.”
