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Stellar Blade’s wide selection of outfits has players seeking to unlock them all. While the Bunny outfit has emerged as an early favorite, the Black Pearl Nano Suit is gaining steam. This guide explains how you can unlock this outfit and add it to your collection.



How do I unlock the Black Pearl Nano Suit?



Credit: Iforgetwhat8wuzfor on Reddit



Those looking to unlock the Black Pearl Nano Suit must acquire all 49 collectible cans in the game. These cans of various beverages become more prominent once you have met with Adam and Lily and reached Xion. 



As you navigate through the somewhat desolate city, you will stumble across various vending machines. Some of these dispense drinks which you can acquire by interacting with the machine. After it doesn't work the usual way, Eve will kick it and a beverage will fall out. These are your key to the Black Pearl Nano Suit.






Where can I find cans in Stellar Blade?

























Vending machines containing cans exist in almost every significant area in the game. For example, we found several in Xion and another shortly after in the Wastelands. 



Although we don't have a complete list of the locations yet, your best and easiest place to begin is in Xion. From there, you will be able to identify each machine and add another can to your collection. The best part is you can fast travel to revisit areas you may have missed.



Here is a list of the canned drinks we have found so far. Remember, you need all 49 to receive the Black Pearl Nano Suit:




The Machinetta Caramel Macchiato



Behemoth Red



The Machinetta Americano



Mountain Sparkle Mont Blanc



GrainT Corn




Players have enjoyed watching Eve pose with each can, and it all works toward unlocking this highly sought-after outfit. We will update this article with precise locations, so be sure to check back for more details.



Stay tuned to esports.gg for more gaming and esports news!

How to unlock the Black Pearl Nano Suit in Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade isn't all about slashing up Naytiba. You can enjoy some leisure activities, like collecting items, or even fishing. It isn't available right away, but once you get it, it can be a hassle trying to get used to fishing in Stellar Blade.






Let us guide you through unlocking it, casting the line, and catching enough to fish to get the Lonely Fisherman trophy.



How to unlock fishing in Stellar Blade



(Screenshot via esports.gg)



It isn't particular hard to unlock fishing in Stellar Blade. The toughest aspect of it is time. You have to play the game for a handful of hours, until you complete enough main story missions to reach the Great Desert.



(Screenshot via esports.gg)



Once you, Adam, and Lily travel to the Great Desert location, you can meet Clyde. Just head over to the small lake to the east of where your crew lands. Talk to Clyde, who isn't up for much a conversation. After, you can grab the fishing pole off to the side and take part in the minigame.



(Screenshot via esports.gg)



This begins the Looking Glass mission. You just have to successfully catch one fish, then Clyde will finally talk to you. Chat with him to learn his story, then you can truly begin fishing all around Stellar Blade after Looking Glass is completed and you've earned rewards, such as bate and Gold. 



(Screenshot via esports.gg)



How to fish in Stellar Blade





















Once you have the fishing pole, you can find a fishing spot to cast. From there, if a fish bites, you've got to perfect the minigame to reel it in and catch it. Here is the order of controls you need to know to fish properly in Stellar Blade:




Hold Down on the D-Pad and select the fishing rod from the equipment wheel 



Press Down on the D-Pad to to equip the fishing rod 



Pull down and then push up on the Left Stick to cast



Press R2 to start the minigame when a fish bites



Tilt the Left Stick the opposite direction of where the fish is swimming



Press Square rapidly to

Stellar Blade Fishing Guide: How to fish and where

With the review embargo lifted on Stellar Blade, media website IGN came across graffiti in-game that when looked at next to each other appeared to read the phrase "Hard R". The term itself, while maybe harmless to the world at large, is considered a racist slur in particular in North America.  Sony quickly addressed the issue, calling it "unintentional" and announcing it would be patched. 




"The placement of two graphics near each other in Stellar Blade resulted in an unintentional objectionable phrase. Shift Up had no intention of creating offensive artwork and will be replacing the graffiti for the Day 1 patch."
PlayStation's statement via IGN




Sony says the &#39;Hard R Shop&#39; graffiti in #StellarBlade was &#39;unintentional&#39; It&#39;s since been removed pic.twitter.com/DbrCvlZm0F— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) April 24, 2024




What was the "Hard R" graffiti about in Stellar Blade?



Image Source: IGN | Sony claims the racist graffiti in Stellar Blade was "unintentional"



Stellar Blade has a character who runs a shop as an information broker in-game. This character, called Roxanne, runs the "R Shop". The R Shop sign has a large R with the word shop written underneath it. Right next to it is graffiti that says the word "Hard". Unfortunately for the developers it visually came across as a "Hard R", which evokes a references to a racial slur, particularly in North America. Reviewers pointed out this unintentionally racist graffiti on Twitter, prompting backlash towards the game. 






How did Stellar Blade address the racist graffiti?




Sony says the &#39;Hard R Shop&#39; graffiti in #StellarBlade was &#39;unintentional&#39; It&#39;s since been removed pic.twitter.com/DbrCvlZm0F— Culture Crave 🍿 (@CultureCrave) April 24, 2024




Sony quickly addressed the "Hard R" Graffiti issue in Stellar Blade, telling reviewers the graffiti was "unintentional", promising an immediate patch, which was swiftly deployed.. The graffiti now says "Crime"

Stellar Blade's unintentional "Hard R" graffiti controversy explained

Evan "Verhulst" Verhulst has become a cult legend in the Apex Legends. He won EA's first ever positive player award, and is one of the games most liked players by both fans and his fellow competitors. Known as "Big E", a nickname he says he enjoys, Verhulst is among the stars of the ALGS circuit. 



Since moving to TSM back in late 2021 Verhulst has settled into the spotlight. TSM are heading to Los Angeles off the back of a near perfect year of LAN results in Year 3. They took first, second and first. Given the amount of variables across all those games of Apex, that is one of the gaming achievements of all time.



ALGS Year 4 has not been plain sailing for the defending Champions though. TSM had a bumpy Pro League split. However, in true TSM fashion, they pulled it back when it mattered most, taking the behind closed doors Regional Finals.



Esports.gg sat down with Verhulst ahead of the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs kicking off in Los Angeles, on May 2.



Photo: EA/Joe Brady



Verhulst admits TSM struggled to settle on who to play



It was uncharacteristic to see Verhulst and TSM languishing (by TSM standards) in 9th ahead of the ALGS Regional Finals. TSM had made a decent start to the ALGS Regional Finals, before it was disrupted by the much documented hacking incident, sitting in 5th.



However, it was still a surprise to see TSM perform so well in the resumed finals given their Pro League performances prior. It seemed like TSM were really struggling to find their way in the Season 20 meta.



Verhulst recalled exactly what was going wrong for TSM across those weeks.



"I think it's because we were trying to figure out our team composition and struggling with what to play. We were going from Valk, Seer, Horizon or Valk, Horizon, Catalyst. We were even trying Horizon, Seer, Catalyst. Also, we just swapped to Bangalore, which we were not really used to playing. We tried a bunch of team comps, we had to start learning how to play Bloodhound and using Caustic

Verhulst: "A lot of fights that I get into, I'll literally not even shoot my gun"

Xm is one of the rising stars of Xtreme Gaming (XG), the Chinese team that took 1st place at Elite League in March. 



Interestingly, in the space of just a few months in 2024, the mid-laner has surpassed his total prize winnings from 2017 to 2023, leading to him becoming a beloved meme. We sat down with Guo "Xm" Hongcheng at ESL One Birmingham to reflect on the event and also to pick his brains about Viper, the best-mid laners in the world and more importantly - what does he think about his Chinese prize winnings meme?



This interview was conducted in Chinese and translated to English by the interviewer.



XG's Xm on ESL One Birmingham top 8 finish



esports.gg: First, congratulations on winning Elite League! The team seemed a bit slow to start in the ESL One Birmingham. What do you think was the reason for yesterday's loss? What's the mood in the team?



XG Xm: We just won the championship, so perhaps we were a bit loose, leading to a not-good performance on the first day. Also, the current patch has been around for a long time, and we wanted to try out some new things, but it didn't work out. The team vibe has always been good, everyone is generally positive. Later on we will return to China for a rest, then prepare for the next tournament.



Xtreme dominated Elite League to claim the $300,000 grand prize (Image via Xtreme Gaming)



It's been four years since you last teamed up with Ame. Do you notice any of his differences or changes compared to before?



XG Xm: To be honest, my memory of four years ago isn't very clear. But now, he seems to make more decisions in the game and has become more mature than before. It feels like more of a personality change.



2017 - 2023$155,2982024 (Jan to April)$181,000XG's XM career prize winnings so far (Esports Earnings)



There's been a meme in the community about how you've won more money in the last six months than you did in the last seven years. Have these discussions or the increased winnings had any impact

XG's Xm rates the best mid-laners in the world: GPK is #1

FaZe Clan is "rebooting" with another round of layoffs and updates to its esports teams. The command line terminal-themed video announcement included lists of all members being kept and cut by the organization.



This news from FaZe follows plummeting stock prices, multiple rounds of layoffs, and recent exits from VALORANT and Rocket League esports. The "reboot" seems to be part of an attempt to turn things around under new ownership.



Who made the cut at FaZe Clan?



Full list of members kept and cut by FaZe Clan (Image via esports.gg)



Amidst a jumble of technical jargon, the video posted on Twitter included two sets of names. One featured all the members selected to remain with the organization. The other, shown for only a brief moment, listed off everyone affected by layoffs.






Members being kept



After today's announcement, these are the only 14 members of FaZe Clan:




Adapt



Apex



Banks



Jev



Kaysan



Nickmercs



Replays



Stable Ronaldo



Rug



Scope



Swagg



Temperrr



YourRAGE



ZooMaa




Members being laid off



Listed below are the 16 individuals part of the FaZe Clan layoffs:




Agony



Blaze



Booya



CBass



Cizzorz



Faxuty



Flea



H1ghSky1



JSmooth



Kalei



Nate Hill



Nio



Proze



Santana



Sway



Testy




Somewhat confusingly, FaZe Replays is included on both the kept and cut lists. However, he confirmed via Tweet that he is "still part of the FaZe family."



Changes to FaZe Clan esports



Esports team update shared via Tweet by @FaZeEsports (Image via esports.gg)



A separate Tweet from FaZe Esports revealed the organization's plan for competitive operations. Moving forward, FaZe Clan's esports division will field 12 teams across the following titles:




Apex Legends



Call of Duty



Counter-Strike



ESL R1



FIFA Online 4



Fortnite



Halo



PUBG



PUBG Mobile



Rainbow Six Siege



Super Smash Bros. Ultimate



TEKKEN




Notably, this list excludes both VALORANT and Rocket

FaZe Clan "reboots" with more layoffs and esports team updates

Players have been outspoken of wanting more pink skins in VALORANT. Well, Riot Games has obliged with the VALORANT Mystbloom bundle. You are absolutely going to see this one in all of your games when it drops.






It has a flowery appearance and plenty of cool effects. If you're interested, we've got you covered. Let's go over everything you need to know about it.



VALORANT Mystbloom Bundle skins and accessories

























This is a stacked VALORANT bundle. While accessories haven't been confirmed, a bundle of this popularity and size is sure to have some. So, we can tell you that Mystbloom comes with the following:




Phantom



Sheriff



Operator



Judge



Mystbloom Kunai



Spray



Player Card



Gun Buddy w/ effect




Get your Radianite ready, because you're going to need it. Not only do you have the upgrades that add the kill banner, weapon effects, and the end-of-round finisher, there are color variants. From the base pink that symbolizes Spring, you unlock styles for Autumn, Summer, and Winter.



Bundle price



The VALORANT Mystbloom bundle is a pricey. As predicted, the bundle is over 8,000 VALORANT Points. You'll need to spend 8,700 to get your hands on it.



If you want any of the items individually, you can certainly do so. Weapons by themselves cost 2,175 VP while the melee on its own will run you 4,350 VP.



When does the VALORANT Mystbloom Bundle release?



(Image via Riot Games)



The Mystbloom Bundle arrives with Episode 8 Act 3. You'll see it in your store once the shop resets after the new Act's update. It'll be in the featured collection spot.



Pay attention to the countdown at the top left, when Mystbloom is the game's featured collection. That will tell you how long you have to decide on purchasing it.



Stay tuned to esports.gg for more esports news and VALORANT coverage.

VALORANT Mystbloom Bundle: Skins, price, and release date

Premier has been a success with frequent updates by Riot Games. It allows teams to compete right within the client and provides a path to pro. Each VALORANT Act has its own Premier schedule, and you could win your way into VCT Challengers through the mode.






We're continuing through 2024 and are moving on to Episode 8 Act 3. That brings some updates to VALORANT Premier, and a new schedule for teams to prepare for. Only the best of the best will make it through their Division and be crowned the Playoffs victors.



What is new in Premier for Episode 8 Act 3?



(Image via Riot Games)



The overall premise of VALORANT Premier remains the same, but some quality of life changes have been added. Here is each big addition:




Playoff qualification is down to 600 Premier Score, rather than the previous 675



Teams are promoted into the next division upon winning their Playoff tournament



A new Invite Division is the step past Contender, coming with E9A1, and teams in E8A3 can earn promotion their by winning their Contender Playoffs or placing in the Top 32




VALORANT Premier schedule













With a full roster in place, you can play in VALORANT Premier Episode 8 Act 3. From the mode's section inside of the game, you'll see the dates for your matches. Be sure to check the match times for your specific time zone.



Here is the VALORANT Premier schedule for E8A3, in which each team can play a maximum of two games per map:




Week 1: May 8 - 12 on Bind



Week 2: May 15 - 19 on Lotus



Week 3: May 22 - 26 on Ascent



Week 4: May 29 - June 2 on Sunset



Week 5: June 5 - 9 on Breeze



Week 6: June 12 - 16 on Split



Week 7: June 19 - 22 on Icebox



Playoff Tournament: June 2023




As we get closer and closer to Premier being VALORANT's designated path to pro, there's no better time to hone your skills than now. Get your team and see if you can make it to the top of your Division. Good luck, have fun!






Stay tuned to esports.gg for more esports news

VALORANT Premier schedule for Episode 8 Act 3

Stellar Blade’s skill tree is one of its most unique features. Players can build out their abilities, attacks, and more using it, but the useful Double Jump doesn't arrive until later in the game. This guide explains how you can get the double jump in Stellar Blade and how to use it.



How do I get the Double Jump in Stellar Blade?







The Double Jump ability arrives a decent way through the game after rescuing Lilly from her crashed pod. Eve travels with Adam and Lily to Xion, humanity's last surviving city. This part of the game offers a much-needed break from combat. 



However, after setting out on a few more missions and returning. Lily will adjust your Exo suit during the Light of Hope questline. After doing so, Eve instantly gains the Double Jump ability.






How do I perform a double jump?




here’s the stellar blade double jump pic.twitter.com/mgt03FK0Kp— Gene Park (@GenePark) April 26, 2024




Thankfully, the Double Jump is one of the easier abilities to master in Stellar Blade. All you have to do is press the 'X' button twice in rapid succession. If done correctly, Eve will jump once followed by another flip to complete the animation.



This skill is useful during your Stellar Blade journey. During our experience, a single jump with a dash sometimes isn't enough to get over those wide gaps or wall-running sequences. The Double Jump makes it much easier to navigate the tough terrain, ensuring you won't have to return back to a camp. 



(Screenshot via esports.gg)



However, while useful for platforming, you won't rely on the Double Jump much in combat. It's not practical to use in that setting and can occasionally hinder your ability to fight enemies, especially the big boss battles.



Looking for more Stellar Blade information? Check out our guides for the Wisdom Puzzle, Clock Tower Puzzle, and much more!



Stay tuned to esports.gg for more gaming and esports news!

How to Double Jump in Stellar Blade

Teamfight Tactics (TFT) lead designer Stephen "Mortdog" Mortimer put out a post on X previewing details about the upcoming systems changes in TFT patch 14.9. The balance team found that the amount of 3-star 4-costs TFT players hit is too much for the standard they would like to set. They also realized that there are many different contributing factors to the problem. 



Find out all the systems changes that TFT patch 14.9 will implement to alleviate the 3-star 4-cost prevalence issue. 



Set 11 TFT patch 14.9 preview: systems changes



Player damage



Fated Syndra (Image via Riot Games)




Stage Base Damage from Stage 4 to 6 increased by 1 each

Stage 4: 7 to 8



Stage 5: 9 to 10



Stage 6: 11 to 12






Stage Base Damage is increasing again towards the later stages of the game. This is part of the solution to reduce the amount of 3-star 4-costs in the late game by speeding up the tempo of the late game. 



Shop odds



Heavenly Neeko (Image via Riot Games)




Level 8

2-cost odds increased from 25% to 27%



4-cost odds reduced from 22% to 20%





Level 9

1-cost odds increased from 10% to 15%



4-cost odds reduced from 35% to 30%






Level 1-cost2-cost3-cost4-cost5-cost818%27%32%20%3%915%20%25%30%10%*Bold indicates change in odds planned for patch 14.9



The likelihood of seeing 4-cost units at Levels 8 and 9 will be lowered. This is the next part of the multi-pronged solution to bringing down the amount of 3-star 4-costs being found by the player base.



XP cost



Heavenly Kha'Zix (Image via Riot Games)




Level 8 to 9

Gold needed increased from 72 to 80 gold





Level 9 to 10

Gold needed decreased from 84 to 80 gold






The ability to go Level 9 is also being slightly gated so players aren't able to reach better shop odds for 4-costs too early in their respective games.



Encounter removal



Mythic Cho'Gath (Image via Riot Games)



A few encounters exacerbate this problem severely by easily allowing access to copies of 4-cost units.

Upcoming systems changes in TFT patch 14.9

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The inaugural Esports World Cup just announced Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as its first confirmed video game title. The Esports World Cup will take place in the summer of 2024. Read on for details.


The inaugural Esports World Cup just announced Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as its first confirmed video game title. The Esports World Cup will take place in the summer of 2024. Read on for details. 


Esports World Cup features MLBB Mid-Season Championship

Both the Esports World Cup Foundation and developer MOONTON Game announced MLBB as the first participating title for the upcoming summer event. The mobile game will be featured in Esports World Cup 2024 through the MLBB Mid-Season Championship. This will highlight esports teams from 14 international regions, according to the announcement.


Both the Esports World Cup Foundation and developer MOONTON Game announced MLBB as the first participating title for the upcoming summer event. The mobile game will be featured in Esports World Cup 2024 through the MLBB Mid-Season Championship. This will highlight esports teams from 14 international regions, according to the announcement. 


"We’re thrilled to welcome MOONTON Games as the first game developer joining the Esports World Cup with their leading title, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang,” Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said.


"We’re thrilled to welcome MOONTON Games as the first game developer joining the Esports World Cup with their leading title, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang,” Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said. 


“With one of the world’s most popular and watched mobile esports participating in our unique cross-club competition, we’re set to welcome millions of fans to the Esports World Cup platform — a place of celebration of video games and gaming culture, where the best players are recognized as competitive and cultural icons of the world’s fastest-growing sport," Reichert added.


“With one of the world’s most popular and watched mobile esports participating in our unique cross-club competition, we’re set to welcome millions of fans to the Esports World Cup platform — a place of celebration of video games and gaming culture, where the best players are recognized as competitive and cultural icons of the world’s fastest-growing sport," Reichert added.


According to <a href="https://escharts.com/tournaments/mobile-legends/m5-world-championship">data from Esports Charts</a>, MLBB reached more than 5 million peak concurrent viewers during the M5 World Championship back in December 2023. Additionally, according to the announcement itself, the game also reached over 1.46 billion installations.


According to data from Esports Charts, MLBB reached more than 5 million peak concurrent viewers during the M5 World Championship back in December 2023. Additionally, according to the announcement itself, the game also reached over 1.46 billion installations. 


Following the $30 million Gamers8 last summer, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced Saudi Arabia is launching an annual Esports World Cup, which will begin in summer 2024.


Following the $30 million Gamers8 last summer, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced Saudi Arabia is launching an annual Esports World Cup, which will begin in summer 2024. 


The Esports World Cup was announced during the New Global Sport Conference held in Riyadh, co-hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport. The news comes just two months after the conclusion of the Gamers8 event.


The Esports World Cup was announced during the New Global Sport Conference held in Riyadh, co-hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport. The news comes just two months after the conclusion of the Gamers8 event.


<a href="https://esports.gg/news/esports/gamers8-returns-for-the-2023-season-with-a-30-million-usd-prize-pool/">Gamers8</a>, held in Riyadh last summer, featured a $30 million prize pool across 10 different esports titles including Fortnite, Rocket League, Dota 2, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege. The <a href="https://esports.gg/news/esports/cristiano-ronaldo-promotes-gamers8-esports-event-in-surprise-tweet/">event was even promoted by Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, whose newest team Al-Nassr FC has close ties to the country's royal family.


Gamers8, held in Riyadh last summer, featured a $30 million prize pool across 10 different esports titles including Fortnite, Rocket League, Dota 2, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege. The event was even promoted by Cristiano Ronaldo, whose newest team Al-Nassr FC has close ties to the country's royal family. 


Gamers8 and the announcement of the Esports World Cup are part of Saudi Arabia's <a href="https://nges.sa/static/media/NGES_Strategy_En.ddf4b1e3bf1f91d6a71a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">National Gaming &amp; Esports Strategy</a> to become the world hub for esports events and to "take a bigger role in the international esports federations to ensure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a seat at the table."


Gamers8 and the announcement of the Esports World Cup are part of Saudi Arabia's National Gaming &amp; Esports Strategy to become the world hub for esports events and to "take a bigger role in the international esports federations to ensure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a seat at the table."  


This is part of a wider national initiative known as <a href="https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/vision-2030/overview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Vision 2030</a>, a transformative plan to diversify the nation's economy.


This is part of a wider national initiative known as Vision 2030, a transformative plan to diversify the nation's economy. 


"The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry."

Esports World Cup part of Saudi Arabia's plan to become a gaming hub

The Esports World Cup would be organized by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, who acquired ESL and FACEIT to form the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) in January 2022. EFG later <a href="https://esports.gg/news/gaming/esl-faceit-group-acquire-vindex/">acquired Vindex</a> in March 2023, the company behind tournament production company Esports Engine. This has resulted in the Savvy Games Group having quite a stronghold on the tournament landscape in the esports scene.


The Esports World Cup would be organized by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, who acquired ESL and FACEIT to form the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) in January 2022. EFG later acquired Vindex in March 2023, the company behind tournament production company Esports Engine. This has resulted in the Savvy Games Group having quite a stronghold on the tournament landscape in the esports scene. 


The Savvy Gaming Group is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. The PIF founded in 1971 by Royal Decree, finances projects of strategic importance to the Saudi Arabian Economy.


The Savvy Gaming Group is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. The PIF founded in 1971 by Royal Decree, finances projects of strategic importance to the Saudi Arabian Economy. 


The owner of the PIF is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who spoke about their plans for the Esports World Cup.


The owner of the PIF is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who spoke about their plans for the Esports World Cup.


"The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry," he said.


"The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry," he said. 


"The competition will enhance our progress towards realizing the Vision 2030 objectives of diversifying the economy, growing the tourism sector, creating new jobs in various industries, and providing world-class entertainment for citizens, residents and visitors alike."


"The competition will enhance our progress towards realizing the Vision 2030 objectives of diversifying the economy, growing the tourism sector, creating new jobs in various industries, and providing world-class entertainment for citizens, residents and visitors alike."


The PIF has made massive investments not just in esports so far, but also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/12/its-not-a-fad-the-truth-behind-saudi-arabias-dizzying-investment-in-sport" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">in traditional sports</a> such as soccer, golf, boxing, tennis, and wrestling. The PIF also recently purchased an 80% stake in the Premier League club known as Newcastle United.


The PIF has made massive investments not just in esports so far, but also in traditional sports such as soccer, golf, boxing, tennis, and wrestling. The PIF also recently purchased an 80% stake in the Premier League club known as Newcastle United. 


The sudden surge of interest triggered allegations of "<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-crown-prince-says-he-does-not-care-about-sportswashing-claims-2023-09-22/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">sportswashing</a>," however, the crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said these allegations would not affect their plans.


The sudden surge of interest triggered allegations of "sportswashing," however, the crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said these allegations would not affect their plans.


The Esports World Cup will take place in summer 2024 in Riyadh, with more details to be shared in early 2024.


The Esports World Cup will take place in summer 2024 in Riyadh, with more details to be shared in early 2024. 


Following the $30 million Gamers8 last summer, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced Saudi Arabia is launching an annual Esports World Cup, which will begin in summer 2024. 



The Esports World Cup was announced during the New Global Sport Conference held in Riyadh, co-hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport. The news comes just two months after the conclusion of the Gamers8 event.



<a href="https://esports.gg/news/esports/gamers8-returns-for-the-2023-season-with-a-30-million-usd-prize-pool/">Gamers8</a>, held in Riyadh last summer, featured a $30 million prize pool across 10 different esports titles including Fortnite, Rocket League, Dota 2, PUBG, and Rainbow Six Siege. The <a href="https://esports.gg/news/esports/cristiano-ronaldo-promotes-gamers8-esports-event-in-surprise-tweet/">event was even promoted by Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, whose newest team Al-Nassr FC has close ties to the country's royal family. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/F2T33XiXAAAh-51-1024x683.jpg" alt="Team Spirit at Gamers8" class="wp-image-270442"/><figcaption>Team Spirit winning the Riyadh Masters 2023 (Image via Gamers8)</figcaption></figure>



Gamers8 and the announcement of the Esports World Cup are part of Saudi Arabia's <a href="https://nges.sa/static/media/NGES_Strategy_En.ddf4b1e3bf1f91d6a71a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">National Gaming &amp; Esports Strategy</a> to become the world hub for esports events and to "take a bigger role in the international esports federations to ensure the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia a seat at the table." 



This is part of a wider national initiative known as <a href="https://www.vision2030.gov.sa/en/vision-2030/overview/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Vision 2030</a>, a transformative plan to diversify the nation's economy. 



[esports_link url="https://esports.gg/news/esports/gamers8-returns-for-the-2023-season-with-a-30-million-usd-prize-pool/"]



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>"The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry."<cite>Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman</cite></blockquote></figure>



<h2 id="h-esports-world-cup-part-of-saudi-arabia-s-plan-to-become-a-gaming-hub">Esports World Cup part of Saudi Arabia's plan to become a gaming hub</h2>



The Esports World Cup would be organized by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, who acquired ESL and FACEIT to form the ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) in January 2022. EFG later <a href="https://esports.gg/news/gaming/esl-faceit-group-acquire-vindex/">acquired Vindex</a> in March 2023, the company behind tournament production company Esports Engine. This has resulted in the Savvy Games Group having quite a stronghold on the tournament landscape in the esports scene. 



The Savvy Gaming Group is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world. The PIF founded in 1971 by Royal Decree, finances projects of strategic importance to the Saudi Arabian Economy. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/MbS-announcing-esports-world-cup-large.webp" alt="Crown Prince announces Esports World Cup" class="wp-image-312240"/><figcaption>Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman (Image via Esports World Cup Federation)</figcaption></figure>



The owner of the PIF is Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who spoke about their plans for the Esports World Cup.



"The Esports World Cup is the natural next step in Saudi Arabia's journey to become the premier global hub for gaming and esports, offering an unmatched esports experience that pushes the boundaries of the industry," he said. 



"The competition will enhance our progress towards realizing the Vision 2030 objectives of diversifying the economy, growing the tourism sector, creating new jobs in various industries, and providing world-class entertainment for citizens, residents and visitors alike."



The PIF has made massive investments not just in esports so far, but also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/12/its-not-a-fad-the-truth-behind-saudi-arabias-dizzying-investment-in-sport" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">in traditional sports</a> such as soccer, golf, boxing, tennis, and wrestling. The PIF also recently purchased an 80% stake in the Premier League club known as Newcastle United. 



The sudden surge of interest triggered allegations of "<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-crown-prince-says-he-does-not-care-about-sportswashing-claims-2023-09-22/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">sportswashing</a>," however, the crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said these allegations would not affect their plans.



The Esports World Cup will take place in summer 2024 in Riyadh, with more details to be shared in early 2024.

Esports World Cup: Saudi Arabia launches annual competition

The inaugural Esports World Cup will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The eight-week event will showcase MLBB among many titles. According to <a href="https://www.jacobwolf.report/p/saudi-statebacked-esports-world-cup-host-league-legends-tournament">a report by Jacob Wolf</a>, the Esports World Cup will feature a League of Legends tournament.


The inaugural Esports World Cup will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The eight-week event will showcase MLBB among many titles. According to a report by Jacob Wolf, the Esports World Cup will feature a League of Legends tournament. 


Lucas Mao, the managing director of global esports at MOONTON Games, noted that the Esports World Cup will bring MLBB to millions of fans and new audiences.


Lucas Mao, the managing director of global esports at MOONTON Games, noted that the Esports World Cup will bring MLBB to millions of fans and new audiences.


The Esports World Cup was first announced during <a href="https://esports.gg/news/esports/esports-world-cup-saudi-arabia-launches-annual-competition/">the New Global Sport Conference</a> in October 2023.


The Esports World Cup was first announced during the New Global Sport Conference in October 2023. 


The inaugural Esports World Cup just announced Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as its first confirmed video game title. The Esports World Cup will take place in the summer of 2024. Read on for details. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image-45-1-1024x576.jpg" alt="MLBB screenshot" class="wp-image-348082" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MLBB screenshot (Image via MOONTON Games)</figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-esports-world-cup-features-mlbb-mid-season-championship">Esports World Cup features MLBB Mid-Season Championship</h2>



Both the Esports World Cup Foundation and developer MOONTON Game announced MLBB as the first participating title for the upcoming summer event. The mobile game will be featured in Esports World Cup 2024 through the MLBB Mid-Season Championship. This will highlight esports teams from 14 international regions, according to the announcement. 



"We’re thrilled to welcome MOONTON Games as the first game developer joining the Esports World Cup with their leading title, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang,” Esports World Cup Foundation CEO Ralf Reichert said. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image-45-2-1024x576.jpg" alt="MLBB screenshot" class="wp-image-348086" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">MLBB screenshot (Image via MOONTON Games)</figcaption></figure>



“With one of the world’s most popular and watched mobile esports participating in our unique cross-club competition, we’re set to welcome millions of fans to the Esports World Cup platform — a place of celebration of video games and gaming culture, where the best players are recognized as competitive and cultural icons of the world’s fastest-growing sport," Reichert added.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://admin.esports.gg/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/image-44-1024x576.png" alt="M5 World Championship statistics screenshot " class="wp-image-348079" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">M5 World Championship statistics screenshot (Image via Esports Charts)</figcaption></figure>



According to <a href="https://escharts.com/tournaments/mobile-legends/m5-world-championship">data from Esports Charts</a>, MLBB reached more than 5 million peak concurrent viewers during the M5 World Championship back in December 2023. Additionally, according to the announcement itself, the game also reached over 1.46 billion installations. 



[esports_link url=https://esports.gg/news/esports/esports-world-cup-saudi-arabia-launches-annual-competition/]



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-esports-world-cup-2024-location">Esports World Cup 2024 location </h2>



The inaugural Esports World Cup will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The eight-week event will showcase MLBB among many titles. According to <a href="https://www.jacobwolf.report/p/saudi-statebacked-esports-world-cup-host-league-legends-tournament">a report by Jacob Wolf</a>, the Esports World Cup will feature a League of Legends tournament. 



Lucas Mao, the managing director of global esports at MOONTON Games, noted that the Esports World Cup will bring MLBB to millions of fans and new audiences.



The Esports World Cup was first announced during <a href="https://esports.gg/news/esports/esports-world-cup-saudi-arabia-launches-annual-competition/">the New Global Sport Conference</a> in October 2023.

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