· Top-level Forum ‘bridges the gap between virtual-world creativity and real-world development’
· The Next World Forum will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Center on Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8
RIYADH-: The Next World Forum, an esports and gaming forum in Riyadh that will bring together sector leaders and experts from around the world, “is a platform for ushering in a new era in the phenomenal growth of the industry”.
Hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Center on Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8, the inaugural Next World Forum features a who’s who guestlist of the most respected and influential people in esports and gaming.
Speakers at the Next World Forum include:
· His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation
· Chester King, CEO, British Esports & Vice-President, Global Esports Federation
· Mario Pérez Guerreira CEO, MENA & Partner, GGTech
· Sayo Olowabi, Security General, Africa Esports Development Federation (AEDF)
· Grant Johnson, Chairman and CEO, Esports Entertainment Group
· Professor Glenn Platt, Armstrong Chair in Emerging Technology, Co-Founder & Director of Esports Program, Miami University
· David Schulman, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
· Boris Mayencourt, President, E-LVETS & Swiss Esports Federation
· Emmanuel Oyelakin, President, Africa Electronic Sports Association
· Mo Fadl, Chief Publishing Officer, Bright Star Studios
· Madiha ‘Madi’ Naz, Esports Athlete and Esports Relationship Agent, Division
· Philip Wride, CEO, Cheesecake Digital
· Noura Al Aquil, Chief Customer Officer & Head of Strategy, SAP
· Mark Cai, Content Creator, Esports and Gaming
In addition, the Next World Forum also includes ministers of sport from leading nations across the world, investors, gamers, developers, tech providers, start-ups, public sector representatives, brands and advertisers, publishers, broadcasters, and federations and leagues.
His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “In an era where the ability to meet in person to share ideas and collaborate has never been more important, the Next World Forum bridges the gap between virtual-world creativity and real-world development. There are numerous high-level opportunities, that can genuinely shape the future of esports and gaming, which will emanate from the Next World Forum.
“I am hugely excited about the conservations that will be taking place in Saudi Arabia, a nation that truly embodies the spirit of transformation and progressive action. In esports and gaming, we are always seeking game changers – and the Next World Forum is a platform for ushering in a new era in the phenomenal growth of the industry that we all love and cherish.”
More than 1,200 delegates from across the globe will gather in Riyadh to discuss the most important issues in esports and gaming at the in-person Forum.
Across two days, the Next World Forum will highlight:
• Key tech development challenges affecting the shifting landscape of the gaming and esports ecosystem
• Trends including cloud gaming, distribution platform development and appetite for fresh content
• The rise of thinking around impact-driven gaming, real-world impact and gaming for innovation across multiple sectors
• Solution-based discussion on government attitudes to gaming, ecosystem talent development and infrastructure development
• The emerging Saudi market landscape and opportunities to be part of its story
• Genre innovations, regulation and legislation
Specific September 7 panel topics at the Next World Forum include the Industry Keynote speech on Gaming and Esports as the Next Frontier of Media, Gaming as an Untapped Economic Powerhouse, and VR/AR and the Metaverse in the Spotlight.
Specific September 8 panel topics at the Next World Forum include Governments as Ecosystem Enablers, Leveling Up Esports and Gamer Health, and Build it and They Will Come – The ‘Third Place’ Experience and Rise of Gaming Venues.
The Forum will also feature activations, gaming masterclasses, bilateral meetings, and bring to a close Gamers8, the biggest esports and gaming event worldwide, which is currently being held at Boulevard Riyadh City until September 8.