Event will be hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Center on Sept. 7 and 8 Sessions will feature ideas, conversations from respected voices across the global entertainment and business spheres of gaming and esports RIYADH: The Next World Forum, an esports and gaming forum in Riyadh, is set to gather sector leaders and experts from around the world, hosting fresh discussions that will shape the future of the booming industry. Hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh At Kingdom Center on Sept. 7 and 8, the Next World Forum’s opening “Saudi Spotlight: What Now, What Next” panel will highlight the Kingdom’s extensive gaming and esports aspirations. The two-day event will be filled with sessions featuring ideas and conversations from some of the most shrewd and respected voices across the global entertainment and business spheres of gaming and esports. Panel discussions include “Gaming and Esports as the Next Frontier of Media”, “Gaming as an Untapped Economic Powerhouse”, “VR/AR and the Metaverse in the Spotlight”, “Gaming for Good: The Light Side and the Dark Side of Gaming,” and “Leveling Up Esports and Gamer Health.” Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “The Next World Forum is a platform for shaping the future of esports and gaming, both in Saudi Arabia and at a global level.” In a statement, he added: “It is with great anticipation that I look forward to discussions and resulting actions that further initiatives across the global industry — and in the Kingdom in particular spark growth, creativity, job opportunities, entrepreneurship, and talent development. These are exciting times in gaming and esports, with immense opportunities arising from the Next World Forum.” The “Gaming and Esports as the Next Frontier of Media” session will zero in on how the industry is shaping entertainment, while the “Gaming as an Untapped Economic Powerhouse” panel will discuss why major brands are investing in the gaming and esports ecosystem at unprecedented levels. “The VR/AR and the Metaverse in the Spotlight” session will address the intriguing prospect of whether virtual and augmented reality technologies are the natural progression in the gaming ecosystem — or just an addition to gaming consumption. On day two, the “Gaming for Good” panel will explore the power of gaming to boost strategic thinking, teamwork, communication, leadership and application across a wide spectrum of careers. “The Leveling Up Esports and Gamer Health” session will focus on the vital topic of health and wellbeing management models for both hobbyists and professional gamers.