NGSC 2025: Where Sport, Esports, and Innovation Will Collide in Riyadh

From 23 to 24 August 2025, Riyadh will host the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC 2025) at the Four Seasons Hotel. Staged alongside the closing weekend of the Esports World Cup, NGSC is expected to draw over 1,500 leaders—CEOs, investors, developers, and innovators shaping what’s next.

The theme, “The Next Game – Building the Future of Gaming, Esports, and Sports,” will anchor two days of deep discussions and cross-industry collaboration.

A Lineup that Will Redefine “Star Power”

The conference’s stage will be stacked with leaders who have shaped entire industries:

- Ralf Reichert, CEO, Esports World Cup Foundation

- Casey Wasserman, Chairman, LA28

- Peter Moore, Owner of Santa Barbara Sky FC & former Liverpool FC CEO

- Yves Guillemot, CEO, Ubisoft

- Katsuhiro Harada, Executive Game Director, Bandai Namco

- Magnus Carlsen, World Chess Champion

- Hideo Kojima, Legendary Game Creator & Founder of Kojima Productions

- Mike McCabe, COO, Esports World Cup Foundation

Kojima’s Creative Spark

The presence of Hideo Kojima often called the auteur of gaming will elevate NGSC’s cultural weight. His career, from Metal Gear Solid to Death Stranding, symbolizes gaming’s crossover into art and narrative innovation.

Bringing Kojima to Riyadh will underscore the event’s ambition: NGSC is not only about competition, but also about storytelling, creativity, and the cultural impact of games on a global scale.

The Riyadh Effect

- Global Nexus: NGSC will position Riyadh as a hub for both sport and digital culture.

- Big Business: 1,500 delegates, 500 CEOs, and major publishers will explore partnerships and investment.

- Crossovers That Matter: Chess, esports, football, and AAA gaming will share one stage.

- Momentum: From strategic deals to cultural breakthroughs, NGSC is set to create ripples that go beyond the event.