The International Esports Federation (IESF) is pleased to announce the Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences as the official main partner for the upcoming World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh, which begins on November 11.

This partnership unites Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences’ reputation with one of the most significant international Esports events, ensuring every participant has a world-class experience throughout their stay.

With over 480 athletes and teams from across the world, WEC24 will host competitors as honored guests of Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences, ensuring they have an exceptional environment to compete at their best and aim for the prestigious title of World Esports Champion.

“It’s exciting to work alongside a brand that deeply values our vision and understands the importance of a memorable experience for all of our athletes and participants. Together, we’re setting a new standard for Esports events and creating an unforgettable journey for everyone attending.” – said Ana Karakolevska, Chief Marketing Officer at IESF.

“At Hilton Riyadh Hotel and Residences, we are proud to be the main partner of the World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh. Our commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with this prestigious event, where we aim to provide every participant with a world-class experience that goes beyond expectations.

By partnering with the International Esports Federation, we are setting a new standard for Esports events, ensuring that WEC24 will be an unforgettable journey for all attendees. Join us as we elevate Esports and create moments that will be cherished for a lifetime.” – said Hans Schiller, General Manager at Hilton Riyadh Hotel and Residences.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to elevating Esports and enhancing each attendee’s experience. Both IESF and Hilton Riyadh Hotel & Residences share the goal of making WEC24 one of the best Esports events to date, with the highest standard of care and support for athletes and fans alike.

8Bit Creatives, India’s leading esports consulting and talent management agency, has announced its partnership with NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, as the exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024.

With this partnership, 8Bit Creatives will leverage its significant reach in the Indian gaming, esports and youth communities through its prominent and talented roster of creators. These creators will create content leading up to the festival and also host meet-and-greet sessions.

India’s biggest gaming festival, DreamHack India, is set to take place from 15th to 17th November at the Hitex Exhibition Centre in Hyderabad, marking its fifth edition. For half a decade, the India edition of the global festival has become one of the most anticipated events of the Indian gaming ecosystem. Bringing together a plethora of events, including esports tournaments, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) events, cosplay competitions, music concerts, and stand-up comedy, DreamHack India is the celebration of gaming, esports, pop-culture, and entertainment.

8Bit Creatives, CEO and founder Animesh Agarwal said “DreamHack India is one of the most prominent events in the Indian gaming and esports calendar and we’re proud to be the exclusive talent partners for it. This is further recognition of 8Bit Creatives’ ability to meaningfully engage the gaming and youth audiences across the country. Our belief in working with the right creators who create experiences that resonate with the youth audiences distinguishes our offerings and we can’t wait to share what we have in store for DreamHack India 2024 with our audiences!”

This is not the first time that 8Bit Creatives will partner with DreamHack India. The organisation was also the talent partner for the event in 2022.

Commenting on the partnership, NODWIN Gaming, Co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee said “Our vision at NODWIN Gaming is to create unforgettable experiences for the youth, and DreamHack has proven to be the ultimate platform to realise that vision, bringing together gaming, entertainment, and community in an immersive celebration. We’re thrilled to have 8Bit Creatives as our exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024. It’s especially exciting to welcome iconic creators like Mortal, who joined us in our very first edition, back for this landmark fifth year, alongside fan favourites like Snax, Kaashvi, Thug, and Payal. These creators bring a unique energy that connects deeply with our fans and elevates every moment. Their presence underscores our commitment to crafting electrifying experiences year after year, building on the momentum of events like BGMS and past DreamHack editions. Together with 8Bit and this powerhouse lineup, we’re setting the stage for an unforgettable event that will bring fans and creators closer than ever before!”

8Bit Creatives’s content and esports division S8UL became the only organisation in the year to win ‘Content Group of the Year’ award for the third consecutive year at the Esports Awards 2024. Additionally, they are the only organisation from India to ever win an Esports Award in any category. Earlier this year, gaming content creators from 8Bit Creatives including Naman Mathur, Payal Dhare and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal were invited for a meet and greet session with the honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.

The organisation has been at the forefront of India’s gaming and content ecosystem with its extensive range of services, including talent management, campaign curation and execution, brand activations and more.

Marking one of the most significant acquisitions in the Indian esports landscape, Gladiators Esports has officially acquired Bengaluru-based Gods Reign to unite two of the nation’s leading esports entities.

As part of this acquisition, Gladiators Esports will integrate the Gods Reign into its operations, with Gods Reign retaining its name for the esports team while all other verticals, including content creation and marketing will be under the banner of Gladiators Esports. This consolidation aims to streamline operations, strengthen brand identity, and leverage the combined resources of both entities.

Speaking on the acquisition, Gladiators Esports stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Gods Reign into the Gladiators Esports family. This acquisition reflects our commitment to elevating Indian esports and driving its growth. By integrating the renowned Gods Reign brand and its talented roster, we are not only broadening our reach and influence but also creating a nurturing space for our players and creators to excel. This marks an exciting new chapter, and we eagerly look forward to shaping a bright future for Indian esports.”

In line with this transition, Gods Reign has onboarded one of India’s most decorated Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) lineups, featuring star players who have consistently proven themselves on the biggest stages and have multiple major accolades to their name.

“This acquisition by Gladiators Esports represents a pivotal step for both Gods Reign and the Indian esports ecosystem. By combining our expertise, experience, and shared vision for advancing Indian esports, we are poised to deliver unmatched experiences and achievements. Our new BGMI roster, featuring both seasoned talent and fresh perspectives, embodies the high level of competition we’re committed to bringing. Through this strategic move, we aim to amplify opportunities for our athletes, engage our community in exciting new ways, and elevate Indian esports on the global stage,” said Rohith KR, CEO of Gods Reign.

The team will be led by In-Game Leader (IGL) Ammar Khan (Destro), joined by his former teammates Justin Nadar (Justin) and Parth Garg (DeltaPG). Together, this trio has proven to be a formidable force in official tournaments last year, capturing the BGMI Series (BGIS) 2023 title and BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) 2023 and earning runner-up position in BGMI Pro Series (BMPS) 2023.

Strengthening the roster further is Shubham Ranjan Sahoo (NinjaJOD), who clinched the BGIS 2024 championship and was a runner-up at last year’s India-Korea Invitational. Former BGMI athlete Robin Singh (Robin), who recently led Destro, Justin, DeltaPG, and NinjaJOD to victory in the Titans Rising tournament hosted by the Gujarat Titans cricket team, will be coaching this skilled lineup.

The newly assembled team, which had a combined prize pool earnings of approximately INR 2.5 crores ($276,703) in FY23, brings fresh potential to build on their impressive track record and aim for even higher accolades in the upcoming tournaments.

“Having previously played with these talented players and achieved success together, returning to Gods Reign feels like a true homecoming and it’s an honour to reunite under this banner. This acquisition unites some of India’s top esports talent, all of whom are dedicated to constant improvement and focused on victory. With our combined strengths and support, we hope to set new benchmarks in BGMI and demonstrate our potential on both national and international stages,” commented Ammar Khan aka Destro, IGL of Gods Reign.

In addition to its esports rosters in Counter-Strike 2, Pokémon UNITE, and BGMI, Gods Reign is also home to some of India’s top gaming creators, including Thor Gaming, Harshdeep Singh, Red Parasite, Miss Senorita, AJ Jeffy and many others. Collectively, they boast over 6 million YouTube subscribers and more than 1 million Instagram followers.

Together, Gladiators Esports and Gods Reign are ready to make waves in India’s rapidly growing content creation and esports ecosystems.