eSports
stc Group Announced as Elite Partner of First Esports World Cup to Create Unparalleled Gaming Experience
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced that stc Group, an engine of digital transformation, has been named as the Elite and Founding Partner of the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC), being hosted at the world-class venue, Riyadh Boulevard City, between 3 July and 25 August. The partnership was announced at an official signing ceremony attended by Faisal Alsaber, Group Chief Commercial Officer and Ralf Reichert, CEO of Esports World Cup Foundation.
Through this partnership, stc Group will provide seamless connectivity across all EWC venues, creating an unparalleled competitive gaming experience. With a remarkable track record of innovation and integration of advanced technologies in gaming across the region, stc Group will elevate both professional and enthusiast gaming esports competitions to new heights.
stc Group is also the naming partner for three key venues at the event, which will showcase dynamic and immersive digital and gaming experiences: stc Arena, stc Play Gaming Hall, and stc TV World Cup Studios. These venues will highlight stc Group’s pivotal role in the festival, reaffirming its commitment to advancing the esports industry in the kingdom. The stc Arena and World Cup Studios will host esports matches, while the Gaming Hall will serve as a hub for participants to join community tournaments and other activations.
“I’m proud to welcome stc Group, a telecommunications giant and digital pioneer, as an Elite and Founding Partner of the Esports World Cup,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of Esports World Cup Foundation. “stc Group is the digital backbone of our competitions and will bring the EWC content to local and global audiences. Through their festival activation, stc will enable fans visiting the EWC to stay connected with the special stc SIM Card. As one of the largest companies in the MENA region, their support means we’re not only going to offer exceptional digital access for fans and athletes but can take the Esports World Cup to the next level.”
Olayan Alwetaid, stc Group CEO, said: “Our partnership with the Esports World Cup is a testament to our vision for the future of gaming. We are thrilled to be deploying our seamless world-class connectivity, enabling the kingdom to become the premier global hub for gaming. stc Group is committed to bringing this event to life with innovative technological solutions, as well as showcasing the vast scale and scope of its services.”
During the EWC, stc play, the leading gaming platform for amateur and professional gamers, will feature engaging activities, including an ongoing prediction segment for all tournaments. Furthermore, with the stc play app, the participants can register for community tournaments taking place in the stc play Gaming Hall, one of the festival’s major venues.
stc tv, an industry-leading streaming service, will play a pivotal role in streaming all EWC tournaments on its platform, ensuring viewers can watch the action unfold in real-time. This partnership highlights the commitment of both stc Group and the Esports World Cup to advancing the growth of the gaming industry in the Kingdom, contributing to Vision 2030 objectives of becoming a premier gaming hub.
Mark your calendars for July 3, 2024, when the Esports World Cup will turn Riyadh into the heart of esports and gaming culture with an eight-week extravaganza. The Festival will showcase gaming activities, community tournaments, pop culture festivities, international experiences, and more. Fans can partake in these thrilling events and witness top athletes and clubs vie in 20 Game Championships for a share of over $60 million in prize money — the largest prize pool in esports history.
The post stc Group Announced as Elite Partner of First Esports World Cup to Create Unparalleled Gaming Experience appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
anime
G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25
The esports organisation’s second anime apparel collaboration will be sold exclusively via g2esports.com/shop.
G2 is launching a limited-edition G2 | One Piece capsule collection on June 25, with the drop available exclusively through the organisation’s online store at g2esports.com/shop.
The collection is inspired by One Piece’s Gear 5 Monkey D. Luffy and includes hoodies, zip-ups, t-shirts, caps, sleeves, and tote bags. According to G2, the items use a black-and-white palette and feature a minimalist embroidered logo alongside a custom G2 | One Piece Jolly Roger that combines the G2 samurai emblem with Luffy’s straw hat.
“At G2, we’re continuing to push the culture and fashion of esports beyond competition alone, and this One Piece collection is a natural extension of that,” says Sabrina Ratih, COO of G2 Esports. “We wanted to create a capsule that continues to elevate the esports fashion space – understated, premium, and stylish enough for everyday wear, while still carrying the spirit of adventure, ambition, and individuality that defines One Piece and G2 alike. Every piece is designed to bridge the gap between fandom and everyday style, and continuing our mission to redefine what esports fashion can be.”
G2 described the drop as its second anime collaboration, following a previous apparel collaboration with Solo Leveling. The company positioned the release as part of its broader effort to connect esports, anime, and streetwear.
One Piece debuted in 1999 and remains one of the largest anime franchises globally. G2 cited over 600 million manga copies sold and more than 1,160 episodes for the series.
The post G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases
EFG, Hero Esports and Niko Partners survey 8,000 fans across eight markets; 74% report ads and brand presence influence buying.
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports and Niko Partners have released a multi-country Gen Z esports study claiming around 400 million Gen Z consumers (20%) regularly engage with esports. The findings were published on 25th June 2026 in Cannes, France, in a white paper titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend.
The report is based on survey data from 8,000 Gen Z esports fans aged 13-30 across eight markets. It positions esports as a high-attention channel for brands: 85% of respondents said they notice branding in esports, while 74% self-reported that advertising and brand participation in gaming spaces influences their purchasing behaviour. The study also reports that 66% have bought a product following a collaboration or co-branding partnership with an esports team, game or player.
On consumption and fandom touchpoints, the study found 71% regularly watch gaming content, including 66% who watch gaming livestreams and 33% who watch or listen to gaming podcasts. It also points to offline reach: 21% said they regularly attend gaming conventions and esports events, with the average respondent attending at least one in-person event in the past nine months.
The white paper also breaks out claimed purchase categories linked to esports collaborations over the past year, led by food and beverage (33%), electronics (33%) and fashion (32%). Beyond core categories, it reports 28% bought esports-related collectibles, 17% purchased makeup, beauty, or skincare products, and 10% bought from partnered brands in other categories.
Niccolo Maisto, CEO at ESL FACEIT Group said: “Esports has evolved into one of the most effective channels for companies looking to connect with Gen Z audiences at scale. What makes it unique is not just its reach, but the depth of engagement and trust that exists between fans, players, teams, and events. This research shows that esports fans are highly invested participants, not passive viewers, creating an opportunity for brands that show up authentically and build meaningful and lasting connections with this key audience.”
Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports said: “This whitepaper confirms what we at Hero Esports have long believed: esports has evolved into a global cultural and economic force. The data shows an audience that is young, diverse, and deeply engaged. For brands, the message is clear—esports is no longer a niche market; it is the premier platform to connect with the next generation of consumers. We are proud to partner with Niko Partners and EFG to provide this blueprint for understanding and succeeding in this dynamic industry.”
Lisa Hanson, CEO at Niko Partners said: “Our data shows that, much like fans of other sports, Gen Z esports fans are incredibly passionate and have formed strong bonds within their communities. However, their media and consumer affinities extend well beyond gaming and esports, with our research revealing naturally connected interest areas that create valuable overlapping opportunities for brands and partners that show up authentically in this ecosystem.”
The post Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
How Not to Tilt When Facing Challenges: NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and GG.BET Have Released a Special Project about Mental Health
NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and NAVI’s title sponsor GG.BET have unveiled Tilt Management, a special project dedicated to mental health. The initiative consists of three in-depth articles covering demotivation, burnout, and dealing with hate – some of the most common mental health challenges faced not only by esports players, but also by their fans. The project places a strong emphasis on practical value, featuring real-life esports cases, proven advice and everyday practices, as well as self-support exercises readers can apply on their own.
Mental health is becoming increasingly relevant year after year, regardless of profession or lifestyle. Many of the challenges professional players experience are familiar to millions of people in their everyday lives. These include loss of purpose, poor work-life balance, conflicts within teams, vulnerability to criticism, and more. While esports professionals can rely on performance coaches and team staff for support, people outside the industry often have to seek professional help on their own – something that does not always happen. One of the key goals of the project is to support people who may not have access to professional guidance by explaining how different issues manifest themselves, offering practical tools for self-care and recovery, and highlighting when it is important to seek help from specialists.
The first article focuses on demotivation. It explains how to recognize its early signs, how to distinguish it from simple exhaustion, and what NAVI does to prevent players from reaching this state. Particular attention is paid to techniques that help regain focus, manage daily routines, and gradually restore energy.
The second article explores burnout both within and beyond esports. Readers can assess themselves using descriptions of the five stages of burnout and their symptoms, learn about NAVI’s approach to maintaining performance under a demanding schedule, and discover why variety in everyday life and taking smaller, more frequent breaks are essential elements of burnout prevention.
The final chapter of the project addresses hate and negativity. It explains why hatred and aggression ultimately say more about the hater than the target, how to establish healthy boundaries, and how to avoid being consumed by criticism – especially self-criticism. NAVI’s strategy for dealing with hate, combined with practical exercises, can help readers to challenge negative thoughts and distinguish constructive feedback from a stream of harmful negativity.
All articles from the Tilt Management special project are available on EGamersWorld.
The post How Not to Tilt When Facing Challenges: NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and GG.BET Have Released a Special Project about Mental Health appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Australia7 days agoFormer Star Entertainment Executives Mathias Bekier and Paula Martin Disqualified and Ordered to Pay Penalties
-
Alejandra Burato7 days agoRecord Attendance, Exciting New Releases, and a Resounding Success: This was Zitro Experience Peru
-
ArenaPlus7 days agoDigiPlus Wins “Digital Operator of the Year” Award at 2026 Global Gaming Awards Asia-Pacific
-
Amusnet7 days agoWeekend Reels | Week 25: Slot Drops & Trends
-
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma7 days agoElysium Studios Releases its Latest Slot Game “Hood and Loot”
-
Greece7 days agoSYNOT Games Announces New Partnership with Superbet
-
Bragg Gaming Group4 days agoMassive Gaming launches Blitzcrown titles on Superbet Brazil via Bragg Hub
-
BurraPay7 days agoByte Federal Announces Successful Launch of Custom-Built Integration Supporting BurraPay’s Historic Entry into America’s Regulated Gaming Market



