Game Changer Or Ethical Dilemma: Saudi Arabia's Role In Esports Revival
Saudi Arabia is making bold moves taking on a significant role in the Esports industry. While some have reservations, there is also a prevailing belief that this could be just what Esports needs.
Saudi Arabia Hosts EWC
The Saudi Arabian government kicked off the Esports World Cup on July 3rd. This eight-week event will challenge the gaming abilities of some of the top contenders in the world of Esports. CNN noted that it boasts an impressive cash prize pool of 60 million dollars, making it one of the largest payouts in Esports history.
This isn’t a new territory for Saudi Arabia. Last year, the country hosted another esports tourney, Gamers8, which had a prize pool of $45 Million. But why is this beneficial for the worldwide community of Esports?
Esports Feel The Burn
In 2023, The New York Times ran an article reporting on the state of Esports. And things were looking grim. As the Times noted,
“Unable to turn a profit, team owners were cutting costs by laying off employees and ending contracts with star players. And in some cases, they were selling their teams, sometimes at a loss.”
There's no denying that it was a foreboding indicator for the professional sports league. So, with the downturn, one question reigned supreme. Would things turn around? Or would Esports be a thing of the past?
Saudi Arabia Revitalizes Esports
The advancements in Saudi Arabia give hope to those who dream of a successful career in the gaming industry, showing that there is still a chance for a bright future.
With the EWC, the sport is seeing a resurgence in interest from premium brands.
Just a month ago, there were clear signs of growth pointing towards positive future developments. CNN notes,
“In June, Warner Bros. Discovery—CNN’s parent company—and the Esports World Cup Foundation agreed to a new partnership which includes Eurosport, CNN and other WBD platforms.”
If this is all good news, why is there any concern?
Saudi Arabia/Sportswashing/Esports
Saudi Arabia has been accused of sportswashing. Sportswashing is the act of using economic power in sports to paint a rosier picture of the country globally so that the other non-favorable social-political issues are ignored.
The Saudi Crown Prince does not attempt to deny the allegations. According to CNN, he is more concerned with the financial gains from their investments than the terminology used to describe them. His main focus is on increasing the country's GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
Is Esports Expecting An Upturn?
Well, according to the Esports World Cup Foundation CEO, Reichert, this is a great move, citing that the massive money Arabia is investing is what the industry needs.
“It’s a country which is investing in [esports] on a scale that no one else is at this point in time and that is fantastic for the sport. Everything we ever dreamt of, to be honest.”
The Sunny Side Of Esports
Leagues go or grow predicated on capital investment. With Saudi Arabia's willingness to invest, expansion is possible, which is a cause for celebration for gamers and fans. It's not merely that Saudi Arabia is investing capital but massive amounts of funds, giving this league the injection, and it needs to be taken seriously. It's hard to argue against the immediate benefits of this
.
The Future Of Esports
However, ignoring the ethical implications of relying on Saudi Arabia to lead the revitalization of the industry could pose problems in the future. I, for one, would hate to see the hopes and dreams of so many ride on the inclination of one country.
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