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RIYADH: By the time the second and final day of the New Global Sport Conference 2025 ended in Riyadh, the city had truly come alive.

Leaders, influencers, creators and gamers all shared one clear message: �������� is not just hosting the conversation on the future of gaming and esports — it is shaping it. With electric energy buzzing through every corridor, the closing day felt less like an ending and more like a launchpad for what is to come.

As Peter Moore, former CEO of Liverpool FC, told Arab News: “�������� is the only country in the world that has an esports strategy as part of Vision 2030.” Speaking during one of the sessions, he added: “Esports will open the Kingdom’s arms to the world … I leave here blown away by what this country can do.”

Among the many standout discussions was “Content for the Next Generation: Revolutionizing Platforms, Formats, and Fan Engagement,” where Toshimoto Mitomo, chief strategy officer at Sony, spotlighted the impact of the MENA Hero Project — a program that has already drawn more than 200 applications from local developers and is now helping five projects prepare for commercial launch.

“Our role is to incubate creators so their games can reach global markets,” Mitomo said. “We’re enabling a vibrant ecosystem powered by local ingenuity and global ambition.”

The final session of the day — and of the conference —had attendees packing the room: “Blurring the Lines Between Games and Cinema.” Hosted by Rolling Stone’s senior gaming editor Christopher Cruz, the panel featured legendary game creator Hideo Kojima and acclaimed filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. Together, they explored the merging worlds of interactive entertainment and cinema, touching on advancements such as artificial intelligence, 3D graphics, and online connectivity that are redefining how stories are told.

Kojima, reflecting on ��������’s bold investments in gaming, praised the Kingdom’s forward-thinking approach: “The country I look at and they’re kind of creating something for the future. I feel so envious of this country. Everyone’s looking at this future … You have everything you need to create something new — art, movies, games. Let’s create the future together. And I want to play that, and I want to see that.”

Throughout the day, a range of sessions highlighted the global momentum of gaming and esports. Panels such as “Power Moves: Next-Gen Dealmakers in Gaming & Esports Investments” and “Content for the Next Generation” explored how innovation, technology, and investment are rapidly expanding opportunities — not just for players and developers, but for entire communities.

When the final applause echoed through the venue, it was clear that NGSC 2025 had achieved more than just two days of dialogue. It had galvanized a movement. Attendees left with notebooks filled with ideas, pockets full of LinkedIn connections, and a sense of shared purpose.

In just two days, Riyadh had established itself as more than a meeting ground; it had become the nerve center of a global industry in motion. NGSC 2025 did not simply end — it launched a new chapter, proving that �������� is no longer just part of the game. It is helping to define its future.

RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation today announced the Esports Nations Cup, a landmark tournament where the best esports players in the world will compete not only for professional glory with their clubs, but also for the honor of representing their countries. 

The ENC introduces national pride to the global esports stage in a recurring format and is the first event of its kind at this scale.

“Nation vs. nation competition is the ultimate expression of sport,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “The ENC makes this a reality for esports, giving every fan a flag to rally behind and every player the pride of representing their country. It’s a stage to create heroes, inspire the next generation, and, together with our partners and stakeholders, build the national ecosystems that will accelerate the growth of esports worldwide.”

The inaugural edition will be co-developed with publishers and video game companies — Electronic Arts, Krafton, Tencent and Ubisoft. These partners bring the scale and insight essential to building a global competition for national teams that reflects the values and integrity of each game. Each will help shape their game’s national ranking systems, qualification pathways and event formats, ensuring the ENC resonates with their fans and meets the highest standards of competition.

The ENC will feature national teams from all major regions: North America, South America, Europe, MENA, Africa, Asia, and SEA & Oceania, competing in both team-based and solo-player formats. A multi-layered qualification model will balance competitiveness and inclusivity, combining global rankings, regional qualifiers and wildcard entries, including solidarity placements, to ensure a broad and representative competitive stage in every game. All players will receive guaranteed prize money, with equal placement rewards across all games, ensuring fairness for players. The Esports World Cup Foundation will work with relevant stakeholders in each region to shape how teams are formed and represented.

The ENC will be hosted every two years, providing a dependable structure for players, coaches and esports organizations, and confidence for publishers, clubs and partners to invest in long-term national team programs.

As the newest addition to the EWCF portfolio, the ENC builds on the momentum of the Esports World Cup — the world’s largest multi-title esports event — and extends its mission to a new layer of global competition. While the EWC unites the best clubs, the ENC unlocks a new frontier powered by national identity and regional representation.

The ENC will debut in Riyadh, ��������, in November 2026, before moving to a rotating host model, bringing national esports teams to fans and cultures worldwide.

The Nations Cup announcement was made at the New Global Sport Conference in Riyadh, where 1,500 industry leaders convened to discuss the convergence of gaming, esports and sport.