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Esports World Cup Adds Five More Game Titles to Summer 2024 Festival
Esports World Cup (EWC) Foundation this week revealed five additional games that will be part of the inaugural Esports World Cup this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. From battle royales like PUBG to tactical and first-person titles like Rainbow Six Siege and Overwatch 2, along with popular mobile games Garena Free Fire and PUBG MOBILE, the newly announced lineup showcases the breadth of the shooter genre and its fandom.
The five game titles revealed today will be featured on the EWC’s growing schedule alongside previously announced five titles, including Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and StarCraft II. This brings the total number of announced titles to date to ten and adds to the broad range of genres that will be available at the Summer 2024 competition.
EWC will host these communities later this year for a global competition that will crown the first-ever Esports World Cup Club Champion. The cross-game competition will reward Clubs’ success in individual games and offer additional prizes for the teams that perform best across the breadth of EWC tournaments. Participating Clubs will compete across a mix of platforms and genres that will connect the esports fans, teams, and publishers in new ways and create the largest-ever celebration of esports.
“First-person and tactical shooters are a cornerstone of gaming and esports and played by billions internationally,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation. “We’re bringing together all the best games, including these titles and the rest of our competitions, to connect an unprecedented variety of global communities. We’re excited to have them be a part of this first-of-its-kind event.”
The latest collection of titles recognizes the history of shooters in esports and their ability to offer immersive and compelling entertainment for players and fans alike. This includes Rainbow Six Siege, the flagship title of the iconic first-person shooter franchise that was first released more than 25 years ago. This February, the Six Invitational 2024 broke the franchise records in both viewership and fan attendance, with more than 9,000 passionate fans and 521,323 viewers online watching the Grand Final.
PUBG, a third-person and first-person title that played a pivotal role in the success of battle royale games, will be played across both PC and mobile platforms at EWC. The PUBG MOBILE Global Championship Season 0 holds the record as the fourth most-watched esports tournament with over 3.8 million peak viewers, and the game has put forward $136 million in prize winnings across both mobile and PC competitions since the launch of the 2017 PC version. PUBG Global Championship 2023 Grand Finals, held in Bangkok, Thailand, also set a new all-time concurrent viewership record on its opening day.
Since its release in 2016, Overwatch has cultivated a far-reaching, diverse, and multinational audience thanks to an innovative style of team gameplay that holds a unique place in the FPS category. Overwatch 2, the successor to the original game, boasts passionate fans at a global scale, and the title’s newly launched Overwatch Champions Series esports ecosystem will serve as an opportunity for EWC qualification.
Garena Free Fire, behind the accessibility and advancement of mobile devices, has built a global fan base and esports ecosystems that allow players to compete for championship titles anywhere a 5G signal is available. The battle royale title is one of the world’s most played and most downloaded mobile games, with more than 200 million monthly users on mobile devices last year. It also put on the most-viewed mobile esports tournament, with a peak concurrent viewership of 5.4 million fans tuning in to watch the Free Fire World Series in 2021.
EWC revealed the latest participating publishers and games on social media through a mix of CGI videos and graphics that captured each game’s unique IP and the regions that have been integral to their esports history, including:
Rainbow Six Siege (Paris, France)
Overwatch 2 (Toronto, Canada)
Garena Free Fire (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
PUBG: Mobile (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
PUBG (Gyeongju, South Korea)
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iGX and Optimove Announce Report on the Transformative Impact of Gamification and AI in the iGaming Industry
iGX, a leading voice in the iGaming industry, and Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing platform for iGaming and sports betting operators, announce the release of a report exploring the transformative role of gamification and Generative AI (Gen AI) in the iGaming industry. This comprehensive study highlights the trends, strategies, and innovations shaping the future of iGaming, providing valuable insights for operators navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.
Methodology:
iGX Insights surveyed 100 Heads of Marketing, CMOs, Brand Directors, and similar executives from iGaming organizations across Europe to find out how the industry is continuing its gamification efforts and the impact AI is having on iGaming.
Key Findings Previewed
The forthcoming report reveals critical insights into how gamification and AI are revolutionizing player engagement, retention, and overall gaming experiences:
- Gamification’s Universal Adoption: The report highlights that 100% of surveyed iGaming operators have implemented gamification strategies, underscoring its universal adoption. Popular elements such as achievements, tournaments, and personalized challenges have proven effective in driving player activity and loyalty.
- Generative AI’s Growing Role: With 61% of operators already deploying Gen AI solutions and 39% planning to do so, AI is reshaping iGaming. Applications such as personalized promotions, automated content creation, and predictive analytics are driving hyper-personalization and streamlining operations.
- Data-Driven Personalization: The study emphasizes the increasing importance of player data in tailoring experiences. Organizations that leverage data insights effectively can deliver highly targeted content, predict player behavior, and optimize engagement strategies.
Industry Implications
The report positions gamification and AI as pivotal to the future of iGaming, enabling operators to deliver immersive, personalized experiences. By integrating these technologies, organizations can foster deeper player loyalty, enhance lifetime value, and remain competitive in a dynamic market. However, the study also addresses the challenges of data analytics and ethical use, which will be critical for sustained success.
As noted by Pini Yakuel, CEO of Optimove, “Gamification and Generative AI are no longer optional strategies—they are essential for operators looking to thrive in today’s competitive iGaming landscape. This report provides a roadmap for leveraging these tools to enhance player engagement and deliver meaningful, data-driven experiences.”
Added Gabriela Martins da Silva, Content Director iGX, “It’s important to note that implementing Generative AI solutions successfully also requires a strong data foundation. Any gaps in data can lead to inaccurate results, introducing potential risks when deploying these technologies. That said, it’s clear that AI is poised to become a cornerstone of the gaming industry, and the number of companies leveraging Generative AI will only increase in the coming years.”
The post iGX and Optimove Announce Report on the Transformative Impact of Gamification and AI in the iGaming Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Reign of Titans Launches in India, Bringing New Opportunities for Esports Players
Reign of Titans has officially arrived in the Google Play Store and IOS’s App Store. The strategy card-based online PvP battle game, is removing barriers for upcoming esports stars with a free-to-play model, low technical requirements, and global competitions.
“Reign of Titans is here to make an impact in India,” said Adi Abili, Head of Reign of Titans. “We’ve spent considerable time and effort to deliver the best version of our game, one that’s fun for everyone and offers a new opportunity for players looking to make a name for themselves in esports.”
The Reign of Titans game transports players to the World of Ereo – a mystical and fascinating place bound together by the forces of Chaos and Order. Players, or “Kyoks” as they’re referred to in the game, begin by choosing a Titan from one of eight unique elements, building their deck of scrolls, and then heading into the Arena.
In these real-time 1v1 matches, players need to effectively manage their Titan’s energy, or “Mana” and HP while inflicting damage through the strategic selection of scrolls. Victory can be achieved in two ways – depleting the opponent’s HP completely or making them run out of scrolls.
Reign of Titans is not new to India. The team behind the game brought beta versions to colleges, gaming cafes, and top esports athletes in 2024, in the hopes of understanding how to best appeal to gamers in the region. The game’s low system requirements make it easy for anyone to climb the global leaderboards and have a shot at becoming an esports player.
Players can head over to the Google Play Store or App Store to download the Reign of Titans app, get their first Titan, and refine their skills. New sign-ups will get an exciting “Welcome Loot Box”, giving players a head-start in crafting their Titan’s strategy.
Players in India can visit the official Instagram to see upcoming events where they can experience Reign of Titans live. The game will continue its activations across different colleges and cities of the country.
The post Reign of Titans Launches in India, Bringing New Opportunities for Esports Players appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Shaping the Future of Esports: ICE Esports Arena provides essential insights
The ICE Esports Arena at ICE Barcelona 2025 plays a key role in educating people about esports and how to access, integrate and regulate this growing vertical, says Clarion Gaming’s leader in Emerging Technology and Esports.
“Part of the role of the Esports Arena and The Esports and Games Conference is explaining exactly what esports is,” said Will Harding. “There is still work to be done in helping regulators to better understand esports. That’s why showcasing esports here at ICE is so important – we’re empowering people who are at the forefront of shaping regulatory policy.”
The ICE Esports Arena continues to grow year-on-year, with four world-ranked professional Counter-Strike 2 teams competing live at ICE 2025 for a US$25,000 prize pool. This year’s winners were 500 (Bulgaria: World ranking: 47).
“In terms of attendees, we have a whole spectrum of people here, from those that are still shocked that computer games have anything to do with sports betting to those that have built incredible businesses around esports,” Harding continued.
“There are also a number of visitors who realise that esports is significant for their business in terms of revenue but don’t necessarily know how to access this vertical, and we’re here to guide them toward unlocking its full potential.
“But the one thing which is absolutely certain is that esports betting is here to stay and it’s going to continue to grow”
He also praised headline partners, esports betting experts Oddin.gg, for their contribution in helping explain why esports is such a commercially important vertical for operators.
“Oddin.gg has been an excellent partner in realising the Esports Arena. Holding a professional esports tournament is a big endeavour. As our headline sponsor, Oddin.gg has played a key role in showcasing how the data and the odds work. They have helped complete the education journey,” he affirmed.
Commenting on ICE’s move to Barcelona, Harding highlighted that both the city and the show’s new venue Fira Barcelona Gran Via have extensive experience with esports, providing a perfect location for the ICE Esports Arena’s continuing expansion.
“It’s very established here. You can walk around Barcelona and see large-scale internet cafes catering for esports fans,” he added. “This represents an ideal foundation for the continued growth of the Esports Arena and The Esports and Games Conference in the years ahead.”
The post Shaping the Future of Esports: ICE Esports Arena provides essential insights appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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