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The Esports Advocate
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A wide range of prominent gaming and esports companies participated in the October 2023 New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh.
Market shift. The industry is showing a broader shift toward engagement with Saudi-backed projects.
Riot Games has confirmed that it is in active negotiations with the Esports World Cup Foundation regarding potential participation in the Saudi Arabian government-backed tournament series. While the company has not finalized any agreements, it is evaluating the inclusion of its titles, such as League of Legends, in the eight-week event scheduled for July in Riyadh. This development follows reports of an internal email suggesting that Riot might allow two teams from each of its leagues to participate in an exhibition format, though the company has not confirmed these specific details.
The company’s stated motivation for these discussions is to provide professional players and teams with additional competitive opportunities and new revenue streams, while addressing fan demand for more international and cross-regional tournaments. Riot emphasizes that any such events would be third-party operated rather than produced by the developer itself. This approach mirrors the company’s previous involvement in the Asian Games, which it views as a successful model for third-party collaboration.
The potential partnership highlights a broader shift in the global esports industry, where major stakeholders are increasingly engaging with Saudi-backed entities despite historical controversies regarding such associations. Numerous prominent gaming companies and esports organizations have already participated in related regional conferences, signaling a normalization of business ties within the Saudi market. While it remains unclear if these specific negotiations are subject to review by Riot’s internal Global Deals Council, the ongoing discussions reflect a changing landscape where the industry is prioritizing commercial expansion and international event participation over previous concerns regarding regional partnerships.
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