Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing’ esports growth in MENA region

RIYADH: Emmy Award-winning director R.J. Cutler is no stranger to esports.

As part of the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh in 2024, the American filmmaker showcased the competition’s athletes and their stories in the five-part documentary “Esports World Cup: Level Up,” streaming on Prime Video.

Cutler’s series delves deep into the lives of these elite players, revealing the dedication, skill and passion that drive them, offering a platform to connect with a global audience. 

During his visit to Riyadh, Cutler discussed the significance of the Esports World Cup.

“The Esports World Cup is incredibly impactful because esports is still new and emerging on the global stage,” Cutler said. “To see the way Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people have gathered around the Esports World Cup is amazing, to see the infrastructure that’s been built is extraordinary, and everything around it is mind-blowing.”

By highlighting the human stories and showcasing Esports World Cup Foundation’s significant investment in the gaming and esports industry, Cutler believes the series is able to reach new audiences and showcase how the Esports World Cup is changing people’s lives.

“One of the things we hoped to do, and we were successful in doing, was making the show accessible to everybody whether you were a fan of esports, or not.

“It’s a human sport and that’s what we wanted to show (the audience), we wanted to reflect exactly what we experienced ourselves first-hand in Riyadh.”

Growing from a niche sport to a global phenomenon, the Esports World Cup had elevated the esports and gaming industry, added prestige, provided a global platform for teams and players to thrive, while fostering a community of passionate fans from across the