From sponsorships to industry-wide announcements, Insider Sport has you covered when it comes to the world of esports.
This week’s edition highlights the latest developments in the esports sector, including the Esports World Cup (EWC) being accused of not paying all staff, teams, players and talent which featured in its inaugural edition in 2024.
First reported by Esports.net on 27 February and amplified by Esports Insider, sources say they are yet to be paid for their contributions to the EWC. These payments include invoices for production staff, payments for social media posts and even prize payouts for winning competitions.
Taking place between 3 July and 25 August 2024, the event was marketed as the biggest esports event to ever take place. The EWC consisted of 22 different esports titles and featured a combined prize pool of over $60m – the largest prize pool in esports history.
Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), a non-profit organisation funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), managed and spearheaded the event. It symbolised the Middle East’s first major entrance into esports, which it plans to build upon and transform as it has done with traditional sports like boxing.
While Esports.net could not confirm the exact total amount owed, the publication reported that individuals are owed sums ranging from several thousand to six figures.
Reacting to the news, the EWCF provided a statement: “Over 99% of the payments have already been paid, including $60m of the total prize pool for over 400 participating teams in various jurisdictions and financial systems.
“We are working with all involved parties to finalise the remaining transactions as quickly as possible, but while the overwhelming majority of payments have been processed, minor delays can occasionally occur due to bank processing times, administrative checks, or recipient verification.
“The EWC remains fully committed to ensuring all payments to our talent, production partners, clubs and players are completed, as we continue to support the growth of the esports ecosystem globally and work towards its long-term sustainability.”
Saudi Arabia expands gaming empire with Niantic acquisition
In other Saudi-related news, PIF announced it will acquire Niantic‘s gaming division for $3.5bn.
The division is known for the popular mobile game Pokémon Go, which remains one of the highest-grossing mobile games with 30 million monthly active players.
The acquisition includes Niantic’s other games, such as Monster Hunter Now and Pikmin Bloom, and its development team. These will become part of Scopely, a major mobile gaming company bought by PIF subsidiary Savvy Games Group for $4.9bn in 2023.
Scopely most recent project is Monopoly Go! which partnered with the Six Nations rugby tournament earlier this year.
As noted above PIF’s latest investment is part of its broader strategy to expand Saudi Arabia’s gaming industry, which includes stakes in major publishers like Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive.
Ireland launches Esports Centre in the heart of Cork
Moving away from the Middle East, Ireland has opened its first dedicated esports complex, the National Esports Centre.
Opened in the city of Cork, the centre aims to be a hub for professional esports athletes, gamers, developers, gaming researchers and others. It currently features a WYLDE Academy powered by Virgin Media, a dedicated Sim Racing Lounge in collaboration with Williams Esports and a tournament zone for national and international esports competitions.
The centre is a product of a €1m investment, as Ireland looks to grab a slice of the growing esports sector for itself.
Steve Daly, Chair of Ireland Esports and CEO of WYLDE, said: “The National Esports Centre is a game-changer for Ireland, both nationally and internationally. This facility will drive the esports industry and ecosystem in Ireland forward through innovation, education and community engagement, all within a world-class facility here in Cork.
“Our focus on dynamic teaching environments, collaborative learning and innovation, sustainable career pathways and a responsible culture will ensure that the National Esports Centre stands at the forefront of esports development both in Ireland and globally.”
