Gamers8 2023: Schedule and Prize Pool Announced

Gamers8, the highly anticipated Saudi Arabian gaming and esports festival, is gearing up for its 2023 edition titled 'The Land of Heroes.'

Organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, the event promises to be grander than ever, spanning eight weeks filled with esports tournaments, music concerts, festival activities, and the Next World Forum conference.

Riyadh's Gamers8 festival gets bigger, better and bolder (credits: Arab News)

The Gamers8 event aims to make a substantial leap forward this year, with an increased number of esports tournaments and an unprecedented prize pool. The festival boasts a staggering $45 million prize pool, setting a new record as the largest in esports history, as declared by the organizers.

However, despite its colossal prize pool, the event has not escaped criticism within the esports community due to its association with the Saudi government and concerns over the country's human rights record. Let's dive into the details of this highly-anticipated event.

Gamers8 2023: A Packed Schedule

Commencing on July 6 and running for eight weeks until August 31, Gamers8 will captivate Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The festival will be hosted at the NXT LVL Arena, a specially constructed venue within Riyadh Boulevard City, which was unveiled during last year's festival.

The following esports tournaments will be played at Gamers8:

• July 6-9: Fortnite ($2 million) and Tekken 7 ($1 million)
• July 6-19: FIFA 23 ($3 million)
• July 11-16: PUBG Mobile ($3 million)
• July 13-16: Rainbow Six Siege ($2 million)
• July 17-30: Dota 2 ($15 million)
• July 27-30: ESL R1 ($1 million)
• August 3-6: StarCraft: Remastered and StarCraft II ($500,000 combined)
• August 10-13: Street Fighter 6 ($1 million)
• August 10-20: PUBG ($2 million)
• August 16-20: CS:GO ($1 million)
• August 21-27: Rocket League ($2 million)

Thrilling Esports Tournaments and Prize Pool

Gamers8 has announced an impressive lineup of 13 esports tournaments for the 2023 edition, featuring a combined prize pool of $33.5 million. Returning from last year are Dota 2, Fortnite, Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, and PUBG Mobile. Additionally, CS:GO, StarCraft: Remastered, StarCraft II, Tekken 7, Street Fighter 6, PUBG, R1, and FIFA will be making their debut at the festival.

Players and organizations across the world will fight for a share of the USD 45M prize pool (credits: Gamers8)

Notably, FIFA 23 has been added to the lineup, and the FIFAe Finals 2023 will be a major highlight. Taking place from July 6 to 19, the FIFAe Finals will consist of three tournaments: the FIFAe Club World Cup 2023, the FIFAe Nations Cup 2023, and the FIFAe World Cup 2023. All together will boast a combined prize pool of $3 million.

In addition to individual tournament prizes, Gamers8 will distribute $5 million among the top eight performing esports organizations. Ranking points will be awarded based on placements in each tournament, with the highest-ranked club earning a substantial $1.5 million.

Addressing the controversy around Gamers8

Despite the widespread excitement surrounding the significant prize pool, Gamers8 has faced criticism for its association with the Saudi government.  Accusations came to the event being part of a sportswashing strategy, aiming to divert attention.

The involvement of Saudi Arabian money in esports has raised concerns within the community. The Savvy Games Group (SGG), fully owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, recently announced an ambitious investment strategy. 37.9 billion dollars aim to transform the kingdom into a global gaming and esports hub by 2030.

SGG wants to use Gamers8 to propel their plans on making Saudi Arabia an E-Sports juggernaut (credits: SGG)

It's worth noting that SGG acquired ESL and FACEIT last year in a $1.5 billion deal. ESL will serve as the production company for the Gamers8 festival.

As the 2023 edition of Gamers8 approaches, excitement builds among gamers and esports enthusiasts. However, discussions surrounding the festival's association with the Saudi government and its impact on human rights continue to influence the perception of this grand event.

Stay tuned for updates on the Gamers8 festival as more information becomes available, and let's see how this year's edition unfolds in the world of esports.