RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation has expanded its New Global Sports Conference 2025 program, confirming additional speakers, new content tracks, and event design updates for its return to Riyadh on Aug. 23-24.
Held at the Four Seasons Hotel during the closing weekend of the Esports World Cup, the world’s largest esports and gaming event, NGSC 2025 is the leading global platform at the intersection of gaming, esports and sport.
With over 1,500 delegates confirmed, the event will welcome more than 500 CEOs, presidents, and board members. Attendees represent more than 25 major game publishers, as well as over 50 elite esports clubs, and leaders across global sport, technology venture capital, and media.
New NGSC 2025 speakers include game creator Hideo Kojima, one of the most influential figures in interactive entertainment, and his longtime collaborator, filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn; Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, the force behind Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry; and Matthew Ball, a pioneering tech authority, investor, producer, and best-selling author. Media entrepreneur Steven Bartlett brings insight from “Diary of a CEO” podcast, while Dan Clancy, CEO of Twitch, will explore how their platforms are shaping the future of gaming and live entertainment.
They join speakers and attendees that include World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, Peter Moore, former CEO of Liverpool FC, LA28 Chair and President Casey Wasserman and senior executives from FIFA, Activision, Sony, SEGA, Hero Esports, and the Esports World Cup Foundation.
Hans Jagnow, director of special projects at EWCF, said: “Over two years, NGSC 2025 has evolved into the world’s largest forum for leaders in gaming, esports and sport. This year, we expanded stages and content to bring together a growing audience of visionaries who see NGSC as the ultimate platform to define the next game. We look forward to the ideas, commitments and connections forged at the booked-out event that will drive the growth and innovation of our industry and shape what’s next.”
NGSC 2025 will introduce new formats for strategic dialogue and insight through the Foundry, an exclusive stage hosting masterclasses, workshops and curated roundtables. While most sessions are open to registered guests, select high-level discussions will be by invitation only. Within the Foundry, the Investor Track connects leading investors with high-potential ventures in gaming, esports and sport through a series of closed-door, investment-focused sessions.
A new NGSC Studio stage will host live podcasts, interviews and original content over the two days, giving a platform to the voices and ideas shaping the future of sport and entertainment. Alongside this, the expanded media village will serve as the central hub for press activity, real-time content and storytelling across the event.
The preliminary program is now live, with more sessions and speakers to be announced.
