Hosting the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC 2025) in Riyadh tourism did not come as a coincidence in Saudi Arabia. Funded by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), which in turn is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), EWC 2025 boasts a staggering prize pool of over $70 million—the largest in esports history.. It is no longer a championship. It is a statement.
They intend to build Riyadh as a competitive gaming destination stop. And, according to what happened in EWC 2024, this move is already paying off.
EWC 2024 Was Just the Start, and Saudi Stole the Show
Last year, the numbers went through the roof. In excess of 500 million viewers tuned in online, with over 2.6 million fans showing up in person in Riyadh. These statistics made EWC 2024 the most-watched esports event of the year.
And Saudi Arabia’s presence? Team Falcons, based in Riyadh, ended up as the top-scoring team of the whole tournament. They even won the $7 million Club Championship, handed over by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself. This wasn’t just about a trophy. This was about showing the world: We’re here to lead.
Saudi Arabia’s Bigger Goal, Vision 2030 Through Esports
This is not a hype-generated investment. It’s all part of the kingdom’s larger Vision 2030 strategy. Saudi Arabia, by its Savvy Games Group (also PIF-owned), invested close to USD 38 billion into gaming and esports.
Here’s what the Vision entails:
- Development of 250 game development firms within Saudi Arabia
- 39,000+ new gaming industry jobs
- Adding 50 billion SAR to Saudi GDP through gaming
- Transforming the nation into an “international hub” of video game production and esports
The Support Behind It All
Saudi Arabia isn’t just putting on flashy events and calling it a day. Behind the scenes, it’s building long-term systems—like the $20 million Club Support Program, which helps teams grow sustainably.
As the EWCF CEO pointed out, this isn’t about short bursts of hype. It’s about lasting impact. The goal is to build something that survives beyond the headlines—a real, stable ecosystem.
What’s So Different About Saudi Arabia’s Esports Game Plan?
Entertaining Party Fun as never before
EWC 2025 is more than just another esports tournament. The atmosphere, the scale, the prize pool—everything is designed to wow. But it’s not just money being thrown around aimlessly. There’s strategy behind the spectacle.
The Numbers? Insane
The precedent was 2024 when the EWC brought in online viewers of more than 500 million. And two point six million individuals did go there like physically.
Big Bucks, Big Time
The Public Investment Fund and Savvy Games Group of Saudi Arabia have already injected in like $38 billion into the video gaming market. That is not a small amount, really!
Assisting the Clubs As Well
It is not only all about the players. There is this $ 20 million club support program that makes sure that groups of teams are becoming big and staying powerful rather than individuals.
The publishers are all in.
Saudi Arabia does not take a safe bet with one or two partners in mind. They made deals in progress with such giants as Activision, Riot, Capcom, and so on.
So, Who Wins EWC 2025?
Sure, maybe a Saudi team doesn’t end up lifting the biggest trophy. But truth is, Saudi Arabia’s already won in a much bigger way. They’ve somehow, pretty quickly, turned Riyadh into the place for esports. Like, it actually happened faster than most people thought possible. According to what the Crown Prince had said, the goal behind all this was to turn the passion of the younger generation into something real, something industry-grade. And yeah, that vision is kinda happening right in front of us.
They won’t win every match, sure. But if we’re talking about the larger competition, about who’s creating the most momentum in esports, then Saudi Arabia is already out front, and they’re not slowing down.
