Prime Video to premiere five-part Esports World Cup documentary

Amazon’s Prime Video has introduced the premiere of a five-part Esports World Cup documentary on June sixth.

Underneath the title Esports World Cup: Degree Up, the sequence will provide a behind-the-scenes take a look at the inaugural EWC and a few of the collaborating esports organisations in 2024.

The EWC is an annual multi-title esports pageant organised by the Esports World Cup Basis. Its first edition happened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from June twenty eighth to August twenty fifth. The occasion featured 19 video games, together with Counter-Strike 2, Avenue Fighter 6 and League of Legends, and had a mixed prize pool of $60m (~£48.1m).

All through the EWC 2024, esports organisations have been awarded Membership Factors for performing effectively within the pageant’s many competitions. Saudi Arabian esports organisation Crew Falcons emerged because the staff with probably the most Membership Factors, changing into the inaugural Membership Champion and incomes $7m in prize cash.

Nevertheless, the EWC has been criticised by components of the esports group resulting from its ties to the Saudi Arabian authorities. The EWC Basis was established by the nation’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and is a part of Saudi Arabia’s mission to grow to be the esports capital of the world.

Due to this fact, some think about Saudi Arabia’s elevated esports investments as an act of ‘esportswashing’ to assist enhance the nation’s status regardless of its human rights violations, significantly relating to girls’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and censorship.

The esports pageant’s second iteration will run from July eighth till August twenty fourth this time, providing a fair bigger $70m (~£54.3m) prize pool. Prime Video’s documentary will start airing roughly one month forward of the spectacle, with new episodes launched weekly.

With the assistance of manufacturing studio This Machine, owned by Sony Footage Tv, Emmy-winning director R.J. Cutler has captured the EWC by following a broad forged of characters, together with staff CEOs and rising gamers. The verité fashion docuseries options house visits from world wide and on-the-ground protection from Riyadh.

Furthermore, Cutler has included the standout tales of personalities corresponding to:

Culter commented on his motivation behind the documentary in a press launch: “What drew me to the Esports World Cup was the compelling human tales unfolding inside this high-stakes enviornment.

“Degree Up isn’t simply in regards to the unbelievable competitors and prize cash; it’s in regards to the dedication, the fervour and the sheer will of those athletes and groups pushing the boundaries of what’s doable.”

He continued: “Underneath excessive strain, we uncover the true character of the opponents who vie for $60 million, however who additionally expose their humanity within the course of.”