Saudi Arabia To Invest Billions To Become Global eSports Juggernaut

• Saudi Arabia are looking to dominate the eSports industry after making an impact in football
• eSports reached a global audience of 474 million in 2021, and continues to grow year on year
• Saudi Arabia are investing billions into making the country a global juggernaut in gaming

Saudi Arabia have shaken up the footballing world, and now they’re also setting their sights on conquering eSports.

After taking the world’s most beautiful game by storm, officials in the country are now trying to tap into the gaming industry as well.

As noted by Game Is Hard, Saudi's plans are underway to get into the growing eSports industry, and there are also discussions in place for the Pro League clubs to participate in a gaming competition.

The gaming competition would also allow players to showcase their talent in eSports. Officials believe that by having the players participate, eSports will be seen and accepted as a legitimate form of competition.

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As noted by My Broadband, the Saudi government has already set aside $38 billion to help the country become the next hub for the video gaming industry.

This does not relate to eSports alone, as the Public Investment Fund’s subsidiary, Savvy Games Group, wants also to develop, publish, and acquire top-tier games.

The rise of eSports

What was once seen as a way to play games with friends who weren’t next to you at the time, competitive online gaming has now become a global phenomenon.

As noted by LBB Online, the global esports audience reached 474 million in 2021. By 2024 it is expected to reach 577 million. The gaming market as a whole last year generated over $180 billion in revenue globally.

With gaming proving to be a billion-dollar industry, Saudi Arabia hopes to cash in big time and become the hub for all things eSports.

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Saudi’s World Cup hosting ambitions

Saudi Arabia are set to rival the likes of Argentina and Uruguay for the hosting rights of the 2030 World Cup.

They will be aiming to stage the second event in the Middle East after a successful edition in Qatar last year, Sports Brief reported.

Saudi authorities have invested heavily in marketing the kingdom as a true sporting destination in what critics have termed as 'sports washing.'