The Esports World Cup demonstrated a future in which competitive video gaming blends with traditional sport and entertainment on a global scale. Adrian Pennington reports.
In many ways the competition to win the Esports World Cup was a sideshow to the bigger picture laid out in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia of a future that fuses sport, gaming, music, social media, fashion and film with esports at its epicentre.
While the Saudi-backed Team Falcons defended its title on home soil, the seven-week tournament was a showcase for how culture verticals, both virtual and physical, are already mixing.
“Esports and gaming are no longer boxed in as being purely a standalone experience,” said Mike McCabe, COO of EWC organiser Esports World Cup Foundation. We see it as something much bigger.”
You are not signed in
Only registered users can read the rest of this article.
RTS Convention: “The prize for standing still simply isn't an option”
AI was largely sidelined at the annual RTS gathering where the fate of public service media took precedence. Adrian Pennington reports.
Content Everywhere at IBC2026: AI moves from hype to action
Companies from across the Content Everywhere ecosystem highlight what they see as some of the most promising industry developments at IBC2026, while calling out areas where they think the industry has room for improvement.
How virtual sets are changing the shape of podcast production
One podcast session can now feed a much wider content package spanning audio and video. Rob Chandler, Founder, CEO, The Dean Street Podcast Studio, explains how that changing demand shaped the studio he built in central London.
.jpg)
Innovation Awards: Collaboration and open standards triumph
The winners of the IBC Innovation Awards were revealed at an event at the Amsterdam RAI, honouring collaborative projects tackling some of the industry's biggest challenges.
.jpg)
IBC2026: What to look out for on Day 4
As the final day of IBC2026 draws near, visitors seize the last opportunity of the year to network, solidify partnerships, and soak up the last of the available innovative learnings across IBC2025’s 14 halls
