Gamer8: The Land of Heroes, organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, celebrates its final weekend this summer. And what a summer it has been. From elite esports tournaments and live music concerts to entertaining activities, immersive attractions, and much more, the biggest gaming and esports festival worldwide has provided visitors with memories to last a lifetime. But there’s still time to make many more. So, with Boulevard Riyadh City the only place to be this weekend, here are eight things everyone should check out:
- Rocket League
A high-powered hybrid of arcade-style soccer and vehicular mayhem with easy-to-understand controls and fluid, physics-driven competition, Rocket League has rightly earned a spot as one of the favorite games across the globe.
From August 24-27, the best Rocket League teams on the planet will battle it out for their share of a whopping $2 million prize pool – with the winners guaranteed to claim global glory and the $500,000 first prize.
Organized by the Saudi Esports Federation, the eyes of the gaming world will be firmly fixed on the live action from Thursday as the 24 participating teams begin the group stages live from the state-of-the-art Esports Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City. Expect hi-octane thrills and drama galore.
- Week 8 Concerts
Female empowerment is firmly to the fore at the Week 8 concerts with an all-women line up that will bring the curtain down on an incredible summer of live music in Riyadh courtesy of Gamers8.
The ‘Last Dance’ features headliner Iggy Azalea, the Australian rapper and songwriter who hit No.1 with top tracks such as ‘Fancy’ and ‘Black Widow’, South Korea’s DJ Soda, Egyptian singer Sherine, and Lebanese-Egyptian singer-songwriter Zeina.
Friday’s all-women line up is another initiative from the Saudi Esports Federation, the organizers of Gamers8, to ensure that women are represented and inspired across all facets of the esports ecosystem – including the entertainment, business, and technology sectors.
Tickets for Friday night’s all-women line up are still available but going fast – so get yours now! General Admission is already sold out, but Gamers Pit tickets are available with a ‘Last Dance Discount’ for SAR127. Golden Circle tickets with a ‘Last Dance Discount’ are available for SAR304, while VIP tickets with a ‘Last Dance Discount’ are available for SAR577. Tickets are available here: Week 8 Concert (gamers8.gg). Have a great Gamers8 night!
- Gamers8 Garden
The Gamers8 Garden area is a dedicated place where the origin of the hero of the chimeras begins. Featuring an area of more than a thousand square meters, this place is inspired by the world of fantasy and Pixel games. A variety of hand-crafted techniques, fused with lights until the journey is complete, have been utilized to enhance the Gamers8 Garden experience. The walls are painted with the hero of the chimeras and also have 3D mapping technology with sounds so that visitors can enjoy a unique creative experience integrating all their senses.
- Cosplay
It’s time for the Gamers8 Cosplay Cup on August 27-28! Get ready for one of the most exciting Cosplay competitions around, with more than 45 participating countries and over 100 international cosplay teams preparing for the unexpected. Over the course of two days, visitors to the zany, colorful, creative world of the Gamers8 Cosplay Cup will experience absolutely genius designs – and that’s guaranteed. And with a total prize pool of $100,000, the challenge is well and truly on! Adding to the entertainment are musical performances from Rasha Rezk on day one and Tareq Alarabi & Family on day two, meet and greets, a parade and much more. See GAMERS8 Cosplay Cup | Gamers8 and GAMERS8 Cosplay Cup for more information – but be quick, tickets are already selling fast!
- GameDevZone: MasterClass – Storytelling In Video Games
This masterclass explains the core elements that all stories should have, what comprises a story, and how stories are told in various mediums and structures. The masterclass will examine how narrative connects gameplay, game mechanics, the player, and the game world itself. Attendees will learn how narrative acts as a vital component for immersive gameplay, world building, character branding, and transmedia storytelling. The two-day course, in English and for those aged 18 and above, runs on August 25-26 from 6-10.30pm at the GameDevZone at Boulevard Riyadh City. See MasterClass – Storytelling in Video Games | Gamers8 for more information.
- Esports Team Management
Gain insights into the intricacies of managing esports teams, including player recruitment, contracts, training programs, and team culture with this course at eSports City at the GameDevZone from 6-8pm on August 27. Learn how to foster a winning mentality, handle team dynamics, and develop long-term strategies for team success. For more information, see Esports Team Management | Gamers8.
- Kabuki Theater
Experience the world-renowned Kabuki Theater at Japamura at Gamers8 for an enchanting experience from the land of the rising sun. Kabuki is a classical form of Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with traditional dance. It’s particularly well known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes, and for the elaborate kumadori make-up worn by some of its performers. In addition, the captivating stories told on stage tend to explore moral conflicts and historical events – so make sure you come down to witness these mesmerizing performances firsthand. Kabuki Theater at Japamura is open from 6pm-1am at Boulevard Riyadh City.
- Noh Theater
Elsewhere at Japamura, revel in the magic of Noh Theater, a traditional Japanese art form that combines movement and visual elements to tell captivating stories. Witness some incredible performances on stage in this rare opportunity to witness Noh Theater in all its pure, artistic beauty. Noh Theater at Japamura is open from 6pm-1am at Boulevard Riyadh City.
