The inaugural Esports World Cup is set to showcase the power of competitive gaming to the world and propel Saudi to the top of this booming sector.

The rise of esports

With a worldwide fanbase of 530 million, esports, the blend of gaming and competitive sports, is changing the entertainment industry.

Supported by a thriving $200bn gaming industry, what began as informal online matches between friends has now become a global sensation televised worldwide.

“Gaming is the largest leisure activity of our time, a universal language spoken everywhere,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “This growth, generation by generation, has paved the way for esports to become the world’s fastest-growing and most in-demand sport.”

Now valued at $4.3bn, the esports industry is predicted annual growth of 7%, reaching $5.7bn by 2028. Armed with a highly engaged audience and accelerating digital innovation, experts in business, marketing, and publishing are discovering that esports isn’t just a fleeting trend – it’s a cultural and economic powerhouse.

The upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh is set to be a celebration of this extraordinary story. Hosted at Riyadh Boulevard City from July to August 2024, Saudi is not only gearing up to crown the very best in competitive gaming but also radically change the face of esports.

Setting a new standard

EWC is a watershed moment for esports.

For the first time in history, the EWC prize pool will exceed $60 million, which the 1500+ global competitors, across 21 game titles, can win a share of. The tournament is also primed to introduce a brand-new cross-game competition format that will not only reward individual title winners but also overall club performance, which will have its own $20 million dedicated prize pot.

THE ESPORTS WORLD CUP IN NUMBERS

• Total prize pool: $60 million
• Total participating athletes: 1500+ representing 60+ nationalities
• MVP Award: $50,000 per competition
• Venues at Boulevard City: 11
• Number of esports arenas: 4

EWC is also encouraging brand and business communities to embrace esports as a key industry to play in.

Providing new opportunities to engage with a demographic that has increasingly drifted from traditional media, over 20 major brands, media giants and traditional sports franchises will forge partnerships with esports teams across the tournament, giving global businesses a chance to leverage the sport’s immense popularity to connect with young consumers.

EWC will also be a tournament that crosses borders. With 24 diverse teams that encompass hundreds of countries, athletes will represent their clubs, not nations, for a month-long expression of global unity.

This ethos reflects Saudi’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to create more than 39,000 jobs and increase the sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP by $13.3 billion by 2030. The strategy also seeks to amplify new gaming voices from emerging markets in LATAM, Asia, and MENA. And with a calendar of on-the-ground activations, live entertainment, and competitions, EWC will provide endless opportunities for fans from around the world to engage with esports on a scale never before seen.

The Esports World Cup is a pivotal player in the growth and development of esports,” Reichert continues. “Not only because it boasts the world’s leading games, elite esports clubs, and life-changing prizes, but also because it brings together all the communities, players and athletes across different games worldwide.”

The future of esports

With the success of gaming representing greater cultural integration and economic diversification in the Middle East, Saudi’s hosting of the Esports World Cup marks a shift toward becoming a major player in the entertainment industry.

Over 67% of the Saudi population are gamers and the country’s gaming market is now valued at $1.8bn. This demographic landscape, coupled with investments in VR/AR technology, and collaborations with traditional sports, has created fertile ground for esports growth, enhancing the gaming experience for everyone.

Saudi’s commitment to gaming and esports – seen through its world-first National Gaming and Esports Strategy and landmark tournaments such as the Esports World Cup – is mirrored by its substantial investment in infrastructure. In 2022, Savvy Games Group, the gaming arm of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced plans to invest $38bn to transform Saudi into a global gaming hub. And in 2024 the government announced a $120m fund targeting the esports sector.

As the stage is set for the opening ceremony of the Esports World Cup, the staggering rise of competitive gaming shows no signs of slowing down. And with Saudi championing the industry, esports continues to be an attractive new proposition for gamers and sports fans alike.