The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has officially approved the first esports games to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

These competitions will take place in 2027, with qualifications beginning as early as 2025. To organize the championships, the IOC has partnered with the Saudi Arabian National Olympic Committee (NOC). This agreement spans a period of 12 years.

The specific game titles have yet to be disclosed. However, according to insiders, the popular multiplayer game Dota 2 is expected to be included. There were also proposals to include the battle royale game Fortnite, but the first-person shooter Counter-Strike 2 will not be part of the lineup.

The inaugural games were initially planned for 2025, but the dates have been revised several times.

Earlier, the tournament organizers for the Esports World Cup 2025 announced upcoming championships featuring games from Riot Games. The updated list of esports disciplines now includes competitions for League of Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and VALORANT.