Asia
Esports World Cup 2024: Indian Esports Industry Reacts to its Potential as Game-Changer for Country’s Video-Gaming Ecosystem
In a landmark announcement, Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia declared the creation of the Esports World Cup, set to kick off in the summer of 2024 in Riyadh. The event promises to reshape the Esports landscape and enable the sport to usher in a new era of opportunity and competition for gamers worldwide.
The Esports World Cup will be replacing Gamers8, a renowned Esports festival held in Saudi Arabia. In this year’s edition of Gamers8, there were 20 different competitions across titles such as League of Legends, Fortnite, DOTA 2, FIFA 23, Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG Mobile and Starcraft II amongst others.
Furthermore, the event boasted an unprecedented prize pool of $45 million, marking the largest in the history of Esports tournaments. While the titles for the Esports World Cup are yet to be announced, the tournament will include the most popular games in the world across all genres and have the largest prize pool in Esports history, as per the official announcement.
The recently published “India Games Market Report 2023” by Niko Partners states that India is predominantly a mobile-first market, with 96.8% of total gamers playing on smartphones or tablets. With the opportunity to compete in such a high-profile tournament with substantial prize pools, Indian Esports athletes are expected to diversify into various gaming titles that are not that popular within the community, in order to secure a spot at the tournament. This, in turn, will contribute to the growth and diversity of the Esports industry in the country.
Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India and VP of Asian Esports Federation, said: “The announcement of the Esports World Cup is indeed a historic moment for the global Esports community. This tournament will serve as a catalyst for change and growth, both on the global Esports map and in India. For a country with a predominantly mobile-focused gaming culture like ours, this event’s massive prize pool and diverse title offerings will undoubtedly motivate our Esports athletes and aspiring gamers to broaden their horizons and branch out to different titles. We see the Esports World Cup as an exciting platform that not only celebrates Esports but also unites the industry’s stakeholders on a global scale.”
According to data from Gamers8, the 2023 edition of the tournament recorded a cumulative viewership of 1.3 billion, with peak concurrent viewers reaching 1 million. The total views reached 2.09 million, and the impressions stood at 3.8 billion. The event also roped in prominent names such as Adidas, Pepsico, Aramco, Razer and many more global brands as official sponsors.
The Esports World Cup’s magnitude is expected to surpass these numbers, providing high visibility and prestige to Indian athletes participating in the tournament. This will undoubtedly lead to attracting more investments from sponsors, legacy brands, and venture capitalists, which will bolster Indian players and the community.
“Esports has always transcended borders and united passionate gamers from around the globe. With the announcement of the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, the Indian Esports ecosystem is on the verge of a transformative journey. The tournament will not only serve as a platform for our incredibly talented players to showcase their skills on the world stage but also foster international collaboration, promote the growth of Esports in India, and inspire a new generation of gamers to chase their dreams. The Indian Esports community is ready to make its mark and this opportunity is the catalyst we’ve been waiting for. Let’s rise, break boundaries, and redefine what it means to be a part of the global Esports family,” said Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder of S8UL and Founder & CEO of 8Bit Creatives.
Esports in India has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, with notable achievements in international competitions. In the Asian Games 2022, the nation fielded a historic 15-member contingent, competing in titles like DOTA 2, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, League of Legends and EA Sports FC Online. Prior to that, Esports also made an appearance at the Commonwealth Esports Championships in Birmingham 2022 where India’s DOTA 2 team even clinched a remarkable bronze medal.
In the 141st session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held in Mumbai recently, IOC President Thomas Bach announced their plans regarding the creation of the Olympic Esports Games. With Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Esports World Cup, India’s Esports talents will have another global platform to showcase their skills.
Mayank Prajapati aka MiKeYROG, who represented India in Street Fighter V: Champion Edition at the recently concluded Asian Games 2022, said: “As an Esports athlete, I see this as a window of opportunity for every gamer across India to proudly represent the country and make a name for themselves on the global stage. Much like in traditional sports World Cups where previously lesser-known athletes rise to prominence and lead their nation to glory, this could be the moment for Esports athletes to shine. The Esports World Cup has the potential to motivate Indian players to push their limits in various titles, thus expanding the talent pool and propelling the entire sector to newer heights.”
International Game Technology announced that it will showcase an exciting portfolio of locally attuned gaming innovations for the Asia-Pacific market at G2E Asia 2024 at The Venetian Macao, June 4-6. The products within IGT’s G2E Asia 2024 portfolio are designed to enhance player entertainment, drive performance, and enable operators to diversify their gaming floors with research-backed solutions.
“It’s great to see G2E Asia return to The Venetian Macao in 2024. With Asia being a growth market for IGT, we are excited to connect with our customers and present a localized games and systems portfolio that can create new opportunities for IGT and our customers throughout the region,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Gaming APAC.
“IGT’s G2E Asia 2024 portfolio is anchored in exciting new link and standalone games that build on the momentum of many of our highest performing titles in the region of the last year. G2E Asia 2024 will be the debut of Cash Cove Frenzy, an action-packed multi-level progressive based on one of IGT’s most popular titles in the region, and Jetsetter Gold Link, a new-to-Asia game that can help our customers diversify their gaming floors. We will also spotlight the many operator and player benefits of IGT ADVANTAGE, our highly scalable casino management system that has strong market penetration in Asia and beyond,” said Charles Seo, IGT Senior Director of Commercial Strategy, Asia.
G2E Asia 2024 attendees will have the opportunity to experience an array of IGT solutions in the Company stand A801.
The post IGT Showcases New Locally Attuned Link Games and Systems Innovations at G2E Asia 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GR8 Tech, an award-winning iGaming solutions provider, will exhibit at SiGMA Asia on June 3-5, marking a significant expansion into the region. Attendees can visit GR8 Tech at stand D806, where they will have the opportunity to explore the provider’s comprehensive ecosystem of solutions, featuring the flagship GR8 Sportsbook, the robust GR8 Casino, and innovative standalone products, including but not limited to CRM, Sportsbook iFrame, Feed, and Payment Gateway.
“SiGMA Asia provides us with a unique platform to connect directly with local operators and stakeholders, and we are excited to demonstrate how our technology can help them achieve greater profitability and efficiency,” said Evgen Belousov, CEO of GR8 Tech. “This is a milestone moment for GR8 Tech as we bring our advanced betting and casino solutions to one of the most dynamic gaming markets in the world.”
Additionally, GR8 Tech, in collaboration with BETER, will host an exclusive invite-only party on June 3. This event is a perfect opportunity for valued clients and partners to relax and network in a festive setting, celebrating our continued partnerships and future successes.
Meet GR8 Tech at SiGMA Asia: Unlock the New Horizons
High-Performance Products and Interactive Demonstrations
The technological prowess of GR8 Tech’s diverse product suite will be on full display at SiGMA Asia. The attendees will be able to take a closer look at the comprehensive GR8 Sportsbook and Casino platform and vital standalone products like CRM, Sportsbook iFrame, Feed, Payment Gateway, etc., on demo screens at the stand. Each solution and product seamlessly adapts to address the specific needs of the Asian market, ensuring that all functionalities – from handling high betting volumes to integrating seamlessly with various payment systems – are tailored to enhance user experience and operator profitability.
Particularly, the provider’s flagship GR8 Sportsbook, known for its high stability and performance, offers a wide selection of content that caters to the diverse preferences of players across Asian countries. It also features unique margin management capabilities designed to maintain competitiveness and profitability in the region’s aggressively low-margin environment.
“GR8 Sportsbook is engineered to meet the specific needs of the Asian market, from its mobile-first design to its ability to handle high betting volumes without compromising user experience,” added Oleksandr Feshchenko, CRO at GR8 Tech. “We are proud to showcase how our platform can transform sports betting operations.”
Connect with GR8 Tech
To ensure a personalized experience, GR8 Tech invites interested parties to book a meeting with their team, taking advantage of an excellent opportunity to discuss how GR8 Tech’s solutions can elevate business success in the region.
The post From LatAm to Asia: Meet GR8 Tech at SiGMA Manila appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino gaming experiences, has entered the Filipino market after signing with SG8, a leading operator in the country.
A total of 46 Wazdan games will be made available to SG8 players and those across the Philippines for the very first time, including favourites 9 Burning Dragons, 9 Burning Stars™ and a host of the 9 Coins™ series such as 9 Coins™ Extremely Light, 9 Coins™ 1000 Edition and 9 Coins™ Grand Platinum Edition.
A renowned operator in the Philippines since 2006, SG8 is PAGCOR licensed and has quickly emerged as a player-favourite within Southeast Asia due to its diverse slot, live dealer and sportsbook offering, set to be enriched by Wazdan’s innovative iGaming content.
The Philippines marks the latest market entry for Wazdan, further establishing its presence across Asia following the landmark deal. More partnerships in the country are expected to be announced in due course.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said: “The Philippines boasts an incredible amount of iGaming potential and so we are delighted to enter the market with SG8, a leading player within the country.
“We’re bringing a range of our top-performing titles to its platforms and are eager to see how Filipino players react to our innovative mechanics. We are in no doubt this is the beginning of a flourishing collaboration.”
Heng Chin Sheng, CEO at SG8, said: “It’s an honour to welcome Wazdan to the Filipino market for the first time as part of this deal – we’ve seen the reception to its innovative slots across the world and are delighted to bring them to our players.”
“Leading titles such as 9 Burning Dragons and 9 Burning Stars™ are just a few of the 46 Wazdan titles that we are sure our players will embrace, and we look forward to seeing the results!”
The post Wazdan secures Philippines market entry with SG8 partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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