Olympic Esports Games to Debut in Saudi Arabia in 2025: What You Need to Know

Saudi Arabia is taking another step in establishing itself as a key player in Esports by hosting the inaugural Olympic Esports Games, co-organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to grow its esports scene and attract international audiences.

This event represents a significant milestone for competitive gaming, as it bridges esports with the Olympic tradition, further formalizing esports as a legitimate sporting event, comparable to the Winter Olympics and the Paralympics. This development challenges the stigma surrounding video gaming as a profession.

Plans for the event were first announced toward the end of the 2024 Paris Olympics, with the IOC selecting Saudi Arabia for its “expertise in the field of esports with all its stakeholders,” according to IOC President Thomas Bach.

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“By partnering with the Saudi NOC, we have also ensured that the Olympic values are respected, particularly regarding the game titles on the program, the promotion of gender equality, and engagement with the young audience that is embracing esports,” Bach stated.

With over eight months to go before the start of the inaugural event, here’s what we know so far:

Why Saudi Arabia?

The partnership between the IOC and Saudi Arabia’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) spans 12 years. However, it is unclear whether the event will be held in Saudi Arabia throughout the partnership’s duration. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, an avid gamer, currently chairs the Saudi Esports Federation.

Through this initiative, Saudi Arabia seeks to capitalize on its growing gaming community, which includes 23 million gamers globally, and the “significant growth” of esports within the Gulf nation, while emphasizing gender equality as part of its Vision 2030 initiative.

Saudi Arabia has become increasingly involved in the global esports industry, recently hosting the Esports World Cup and partnering with the Esports Awards, the most prestigious ceremony in competitive gaming, where esports legends like Faker and N0tail have been recognized.

Since 2018, the Kingdom has successfully hosted over 100 major international sporting events, showcasing both male and female athletes across a range of sports, including esports, football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian events, and golf, attracting more than 2.6 million spectators. However, this has sparked scrutiny, with some alleging that the Kingdom’s involvement in sports is part of its efforts to commit “sportswashing” or the use of sport to redirect public attention away from unethical conduct. This tactic is often criticized in traditional sports.

Will the Philippines Attend?

While no game titles have been confirmed for the tournament, the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO), the country’s national sporting association for esports, is already preparing to send players.

“We still don’t know which titles will be featured, but PESO is all-in on mobile [games]. We have a great chance. We cannot miss this opportunity, and for the first time, our chances of winning a medal in esports are much closer,” PESO Executive Director Marlon Marcelo said at a press conference last September, as quoted by the Manila Bulletin.

Saudi Arabia’s investment

Saudi Arabia has made substantial investments in the esports sector, focusing on both infrastructure and partnerships to position itself as a global esports hub. The country’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy, spearheaded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and entities like Savvy Games Group, aims to contribute around $13.33 billion to its GDP by 2030, while targeting 39,000 new jobs in the esports industry.

Meanwhile, the Esports World Cup in Riyadh offered a $60 million prize pool, featuring established esports titles, and a funding program encouraging global esports organizations with the likes of Team Liquid, FNATIC, Team Falcons, and the Philippines’ very own Blacklist International to recruit players to participate for the three-month long event.

One of the key infrastructure investments is the launch of “Savvy Games Group,” which oversees multiple acquisitions, including ESL and FACEIT for $1.5 billion and Scopely for $4.9 billion. These acquisitions help to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s esports infrastructure and global positioning. Additionally, Saudi Arabia is home to major gaming events like the Esports World Cup, which further cements its status as a gaming hub. The $60 million prize pool of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh showcases the Kingdom’s commitment to the competitive gaming ecosystem.

On the partnership front, the Kingdom is working with international entities to boost its esports presence. Savvy Games Group collaborates with global companies to foster innovation and talent in the esports space. Initiatives such as “GGFORALL” promote inclusivity and tackle discrimination in the esports community.

Former Initiatives

The IOC has previously explored competitive gaming, recognizing its growing popularity, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when many traditional sporting events were halted.

Four years ago, the IOC held the Olympic Esports Series in Singapore, which faced criticism for its lack of representation of mainstream esports titles, instead featuring virtual sports like Archery, Baseball, Chess, Cycling, Dance, Motor Sport, Sailing, Taekwondo, Tennis, and Sport Shooting. The only widely known esports title included was the Battle Royale game, Fortnite.

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