Prime Video to premiere five-part Esports World Cup documentary

Amazon’s Prime Video has announced the premiere of a five-part Esports World Cup documentary on June 6th.

Under the title Esports World Cup: Level Up, the series will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the inaugural EWC and some of the participating esports organisations in 2024.

The EWC is an annual multi-title esports festival organised by the Esports World Cup Foundation. Its first edition took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from June 28th to August 25th. The event featured 19 games, including Counter-Strike 2, Street Fighter 6 and League of Legends, and had a combined prize pool of $60m (~£48.1m).

Throughout the EWC 2024, esports organisations were awarded Club Points for performing well in the festival’s many competitions. Saudi Arabian esports organisation Team Falcons emerged as the team with the most Club Points, becoming the inaugural Club Champion and earning $7m in prize money.

However, the EWC has been criticised by parts of the esports community due to its ties to the Saudi Arabian government. The EWC Foundation was established by the country’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, and is part of Saudi Arabia’s mission to become the esports capital of the world.

Therefore, some consider Saudi Arabia’s increased esports investments as an act of ‘esportswashing’ to help improve the country’s reputation despite its human rights violations, particularly regarding women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights and censorship.

The esports festival’s second iteration will run from July 8th until August 24th this time, offering an even larger $70m (~£54.3m) prize pool. Prime Video’s documentary will begin airing roughly one month ahead of the spectacle, with new episodes released weekly.

With the help of production studio This Machine, owned by Sony Pictures Television, Emmy-winning director R.J. Cutler has captured the EWC by following a broad cast of characters, including team CEOs and rising players. The verité style docuseries features home visits from around the world and on-the-ground coverage from Riyadh.

Moreover, Cutler has included the standout stories of personalities such as:

Culter commented on his motivation behind the documentary in a press release: “What drew me to the Esports World Cup was the compelling human stories unfolding within this high-stakes arena.

“Level Up isn’t just about the incredible competition and prize money; it’s about the dedication, the passion and the sheer will of these athletes and teams pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”

He continued: “Under high pressure, we discover the true character of the competitors who vie for $60 million, but who also expose their humanity in the process.”