Saudi Arabia offers ‘unparalleled potential’ for esports innovation and growth, says FACEIT boss

RIYADH: Niccolo Maisto is the CEO of ESL FACEIT Group, a leading esports and video game entertainment company which was involved in the recently concluded Esport World Cup in Riyadh.

Maisto, who co-founded the company in 2011, spoke to Arab News about his organization, its sale to Savvy Group in 2022 and the esports landscape in Saudi Arabia.

How did the acquisition by Savvy come about and what did it mean on a personal level and for the organization?

The acquisition and merging of ESL and FACEIT under the Savvy Games Group, backed by the Public Investment Fund, was a pivotal moment for esports. It was a powerful validation of competitive gaming’s emergence as a global entertainment powerhouse and a significant engine for cultural and economic progress. For me, it opened up an unprecedented pathway to realize our most ambitious goals for competitive gaming and community cultivation on a truly worldwide scale.

The genesis of ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) was about more than just combining assets; it was about fusing the complementary businesses. We brought together FACEIT’s cutting-edge digital platform and vibrant community infrastructure with ESL’s unparalleled heritage in live events and global IPs. The result is a singular, integrated ecosystem, purpose built to deliver an unmatched experience to every player, fan, and partner, from grassroots to the pinnacle of professional play.

My journey since the acquisition has been one of significant evolution, with a focus on harnessing our newfound scale and the substantial investment to ignite innovation, strategically expand into new territories, like the Middle East, and build the infrastructure essential for the industry’s long-term viability.

This period of growth also