The International Olympic Committee and Saudi Arabia have ended their high profile esports partnership. The two organizations announced they have mutually agreed to part ways, terminating a 12 year deal that was only established in 2024. This breakup arrives just weeks after Saudi Arabia made a massive move into the gaming industry, with its sovereign wealth fund and other investors acquiring gaming giant Electronic Arts for 55 billion dollars. The timing has raised questions about the shifting landscape of global esports. The original partnership between the IOC and the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee was ambitious. It planned for the Olympic Esports Games to be held every two years. The first event was initially targeted for this year before being postponed to 2027. The IOC was reportedly in discussions with publishers of major titles like Rocket League, Street Fighter, and League of Legends. Future hosts for the games were also being considered, with potential locations including South Korea and the United States. Now, those plans are canceled. The IOC stated that both sides are now committed to pursuing their own esports ambitions separately. The Olympic Committee still intends to launch its own Esports Games as soon as possible, but now aims to spread the opportunities they present more widely. The dissolution of the deal occurs just seven months into the IOC presidency of Kristy Coventry. While the exact reasons for the split have not been disclosed, it highlights a potential conflict in vision. The IOC has expressed a desire to connect with younger audiences through esports, but insists it must be done in a way that respects Olympic values. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, is aggressively building its own esports empire through its Esports World Cup, which features popular competitive genres like MOBAs, shooters, and fighting games. This divergence in approach may have been a key factor in the separation. For the IOC, the challenge remains significant. It wants to tap into the massive popularity of competitive gaming to engage a new generation, but it must navigate a path that aligns with its traditional brand image. This means finding a way to incorporate the world of esports, which is often associated with violent video games, into the Olympic movement without compromising its core principles. The road ahead for the Olympic Esports Games is now a solo one, and its final form remains to be seen.
