Esports and gaming festival Gamers8: The Land of Heroes has secured a partnership with Chinese smartphone brand HONOR.
As a result, HONOR will provide mobile phones for the festival and its esports competitions, including the PUBG Mobile World Invitational (PMWI).
Taking place July 11th-16th, PMWI will see 16 of PUBG Mobiles’ best teams, which as Chinese organisations Tianba and Six Two Eight, compete in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for its $3m in prize pool. Other announced teams include Indian organisation Stalwart Esports and PUBG Mobile SEA Super League champions Alter Ego Ares.
Alongside its integration into Gamers8’s mobile events, HONOR will also be provided with a booth at the festival venue to promote the brand and its latest products. Social media activations and raffles for gaming fans to win tickets to Gamers8: The Land of Heroes will also be utilised.
The HONOR smartphone brand was previously owned by Huawei before being sold in 2020 to Shenzhen Zhixin New Information Technology, an enterprise controlled by the Shenzhen government.
Boasting a $45m prize pool, Gamers8: The Land of Heroes will feature an array of esports tournaments across multiple titles. Notably the eight-week festival includes prominent tournaments in Rocket League, CS:GO, Dota 2, Sim Racing, Rainbow Six Siege and FGC titles. Gamers8’s other notable commercial partners include The International Esports Federation (IESF), LG UltraGear and chemicals company Aramco.
Mr. Turki Alfawzan, CEO, Saudi Esports Federation, spoke on the partnership: “Connectivity is essential in the modern world, and we are delighted to welcome HONOR to the Gamers8: The Land of Heroes roster as a Main and Official Smartphone Partner. The partnership agreement will see a series of summer activities and activations take place that both parties are looking forward to immensely.
“Gaming fans in particular will enjoy watching the PUBG MOBILE World Invitational tournament taking place on HONOR phones – the reaction to this news from the competition’s professional players has been unanimously positive.”
Gamers8 is organised by the Saudi Esports Federation, with the festival a part of the country’s global initiative to make Saudi Arabia a global esports hub. Saudi Arabia’s continued growth in esports and gaming has caused controversy over ‘esportswashing’ claims, as well as the country attempting to deflect criticism regarding Saudi Arabia’s human rights record.
