Esports

The Esports World Cup will leave Saudi Arabia for the first time, relocating to Paris from July 6 to August 23 with its $75 million prize pool intact.

The Esports Foundation has confirmed 16 titles, over 100 national team partners, and a $20 million prize pool for the first nation-based esports competition, set for November 2-29 in Riyadh.

The deal ranks among the largest gaming acquisitions ever, giving the Saudi sovereign wealth fund's gaming arm control of one of mobile esports' most popular titles and extending its reach across publishing, mobile, PC, and esports infrastructure.

Major League Baseball's Hawk-Eye-powered ABS Challenge System debuted on Opening Night, giving batters, pitchers, and catchers the ability to contest ball-and-strike calls for the first time in the sport's 150-year history.

The CS2 Swiss-format tournament in Bucharest kicked off on April 4 with FaZe Clan forfeiting their opening match to prioritize IEM Cologne Major qualification at a rival LAN, while a recent reload mechanic overhaul reshapes competitive strategy across the field.

The Esports World Cup Foundation has announced a $75 million total prize pool for its 2026 event in Riyadh, a 15 percent increase over the previous year, with more than 2,000 players from over 100 countries competing across 24 games from July 6 through August 23.