The Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) revealed the Gamers8 lineup of esports tournaments, musical headliners, and a glimpse at the wide range of activities set to entertain millions of fans during the 8-week-long extravaganza running July through September.
Gamers8: The Land of Heroes follows the success of last year’s event, and the SEF aims to make sure that 2023’s event is even bigger. The 2022 edition featured Rocket League, Fortnite, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, PUBG Mobile, and the Dota 2 Riyadh Masters. All of the last year’s titles return and are joined by Tekken, StarCraft, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), PUBG PC, and Street Fighter, resulting in an exhilarating tournament lineup. The stakes have never been higher, with a total prize pool of over $45 million.
Joining the esports elite at Gamers8: The Land of Heroes will be an all-star lineup of international music stars. Multi-platinum-selling rock outfit Imagine Dragons will produce an electrifying experience for all Gamers8 attendees and are joined by 4-time Grammy winner Macklemore, the man behind the iconic song Thrift Shop, which has been viewed over 1 billion times on YouTube. With eight concerts in total, stay tuned to the official Gamers8 channels for more news on who will be rocking the stage.
Running alongside all esports tournaments will be a wide selection of activities for attendees to enjoy when not watching the competition. The popular Aramco racing simulator returns, and there’s even the chance to experience life-sized Pac-Man and hunt down some ghosts. Last year’s fan-favorite Japamura zone comes back to Gamers8 2023, participate in a range of immersive workshops, witness authentic musical performances, or step into the Dojo and learn the basics of Samurai etiquette and sword fighting.
Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The scale of this year’s Gamers8 and the talent it attracts demonstrates our commitment to unlocking the full potential of esports as the industry continues to evolve.”
The 2022 festival was visited by more than 1.4 million visitors and watched by more than 132 million people around the globe. A total of 391 professional players – representing more than 61 nationalities – and 113 international teams took part in the world-class esports.
Gamers8: The Land of Heroes has a total prize pool of over $45 million – triple last year’s grand prize total – and will host the elite of esports in a state-of-the-art, purpose-built venue at Boulevard Riyadh City. The festival will conclude with a gaming and esports forum, known as the ‘Next World Forum,’ that brings together sector leaders and experts from around the world.
