Naraka: Bladepoint joins 2025 Esports World Cup Festival programme

Martiall arts-inspired battle royale title Naraka: Bladepoint will host an esports tournament at the 2025 Esports World Cup Festival (EWCF).

The game will host its Mid-Season Championship as part of the gaming and lifestyle festival, which runs alongside the Esports World Cup.

The mid-season championship will feature solos and trios tournaments taking place on August 22nd and 23rd, 2025. The solos event will feature a $150,000 (~£112,848) while the solos will see $350,000 (~£263,315) up for grabs.

Naraka Bladepoint is no stranger to the world of esports. Since the title’s launch in 2021, NetEase Games has hosted the J Cup which has distributed over $1.5m (~£1.1m) annually over the last three years.

“By bringing the Naraka: Bladepoint Mid-Season Cup to the Esports World Cup Festival, the global esports strategy of 24 Entertainment and NetEase Games is taking a pivotal step,” said Ray Kuan, Producer of Naraka: Bladepoint.

“By leveraging the global influence of EWC’s Festival, we continue to prove our commitment to delivering a premier competitive experience for players everywhere.”

The Esports World Cup Festival is described as a ‘global celebration of gaming and esports culture’ and runs alongside the Esports World Cup in Riyadh’s Boulevard City.

Nakara: Bladepoint isn’t the only competition taking place as part of the festival. In May, geography guessing game GeoGuessr announced its Last Chance Wildcard tournament will take place as part of the event.

While Naraka: Bladepoint won’t feature as part of the main Esports World Cup lineup, the festival and its organisers continue to generate criticism from sections of the esports community.

The Esports World Cup Foundation is backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, which has funded several sporting and entertainment events within the Kingdom. Discussions surrounding the country’s human rights record have remained as its government looks to host new international events.