To download cover: http://bit.ly/1JzOIel

On the cover: This year’s Call of Duty cover star isn’t the black-helmeted soldier you’d expect—it’s Seattle Seahawks star and gaming fanatic, Marshawn Lynch. Here’s the story of how a gamer-turned-motion-capture performer put his stamp on the blockbuster franchise that has captured his imagination and will soon carry his likeness, giving him the distinction of being the first athlete to appear in a Call of Duty game. The Mag’s Sam Alipour provides this exclusive account of the making of his character in “The Whole Game is Beast Mode.”

eSports Issue Features

PewDiePie

The Mag tracked down the elusive Felix Kjellberg, aka PewDiePie, to understand how he became the face of the live-streaming movement and the King of YouTube. By Wayne Drehs

Faker

A profile of the South Korean prodigy, Faker, the first global superstar of eSports who now carries an entire gaming-mad country on his back. By Mina Kimes

Women in Gaming

A lifelong gaming enthusiast explains why she refuses to let Gamergate drive her out of the industry she loves. By Latoya Peterson (a co-production with espnW)

Why I Game: Kevin Durant and Patrick Peterson

First-persons by the NBA’s Kevin Durant and Patrick Peterson of the NFL on why they are such avid gamers.

eSports Data Dive

A comprehensive analysis of the growth and reach of eSports, done in conjunction with FiveThirtyEight. By Ben Casselman

Photo Act: Major League Gaming

In advance of X Games Austin and in conjunction with xGames.com, we released our photo act on MLG’s recent Dota 2 tournament in Columbus, Ohio. By Hallie Grossman

Additional eSports Issue Highlights:

Horse Racing: In “The Luckiest Jockey on Earth” The Mag’s Tim Keown explores Victor Espinoza’s remarkably Zen outlook in advance of his historic third shot at the Triple Crown atop American Pharoah.

In “The Luckiest Jockey on Earth” The Mag’s Tim Keown explores Victor Espinoza’s remarkably Zen outlook in advance of his historic third shot at the Triple Crown atop American Pharoah. NBA : The Mag’s Jordan Brenner provides an analytics-driven look at why the Timberwolves should definitely draft Karl-Anthony Towns with the top pick and definitely not trade the spot.

: The Mag’s Jordan Brenner provides an analytics-driven look at why the Timberwolves should definitely draft Karl-Anthony Towns with the top pick and definitely not trade the spot. Golf: The Mag’s “Numbers” columnist Peter Keating studies the psychological reasons why some golfers choke where others come up clutch.

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Media Contact: Carrie Kreiswirth at (646) 547-4686 or [email protected]