NGSC 2025 wraps up Day 2, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s esports ambitions

RIYADH: By the time the second and final day of the New Global Sport Conference 2025 ended in Riyadh, the city had truly come alive.

Leaders, influencers, creators and gamers all shared one clear message: Saudi Arabia is not just hosting the conversation on the future of gaming and esports — it is shaping it. With electric energy buzzing through every corridor, the closing day felt less like an ending and more like a launchpad for what is to come.

As Peter Moore, former CEO of Liverpool FC, told Arab News: “Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that has an esports strategy as part of Vision 2030.” Speaking during one of the sessions, he added: “Esports will open the Kingdom’s arms to the world … I leave here blown away by what this country can do.”

Among the many standout discussions was “Content for the Next Generation: Revolutionizing Platforms, Formats, and Fan Engagement,” where Toshimoto Mitomo, chief strategy officer at Sony, spotlighted the impact of the MENA Hero Project — a program that has already drawn more than 200 applications from local developers and is now helping five projects prepare for commercial launch.

“Our role is to incubate creators so their games can reach global markets,” Mitomo said. “We’re enabling a vibrant ecosystem powered by local ingenuity and global ambition.”

The final session of the day — and of the conference —had attendees packing the room: “Blurring the Lines Between Games and Cinema.” Hosted by Rolling Stone’s senior gaming editor Christopher Cruz, the panel featured legendary game creator Hideo Kojima and acclaimed filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn. Together, they explored the merging worlds of interactive entertainment and cinema, touching on advancements such as