Latest news with #gamingfestival
Zawya
16 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Visa sponsors HoYo FEST 2025 across Southeast Asia
Visa enhances the gaming festival experience with exclusive benefits for cardholders and establishes presence in the gaming space to provide a seamless, secure payments experience for gamers HCMC, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 26 June 2025 - Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, announced its inaugural sponsorship of HoYo FEST 2025, marking a significant milestone in Southeast Asia. HoYo FEST, organised by HoYoverse, celebrates popular gaming titles such as Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3, Honkai: Star Rail and Zenless Zone Zero, captivating a global audience since its inception in 2021. This year's festival will take place from 24 to 27 July 2025 at premier venues including SkyExpo in Vietnam, Surabaya Convention Center in Indonesia, SMX Convention Center Manila in the Philippines, Pavilion Exhibition Centre Bukit Jalil in Malaysia, Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre in Singapore (25 to 27 July), and The Mall Bangkapi, MCC Hall in Thailand. These events aim to bring together fans for an immersive experience featuring live in-game excitement, community engagement, and gathering of a passionate fandom. Visa will enhance the festival experience for cardholders, who will enjoy an expedited payment lane and exclusive freebie at the merchandise store, and reserved seating at the stage area. Vietnam's gaming industry is on an impressive growth trajectory, supported by a tech-savvy population and enhanced digital connectivity. According to Visa's data [1], Vietnamese consumers are actively using credit and debit cards to engage with international gaming platforms, purchasing virtual currencies and game expansions. This behavior underscores Vietnam's integration into the global gaming ecosystem and highlights its potential as a significant contributor to the industry's ongoing expansion. "We are proud to partner with HoYo FEST for the first time, supporting an event that aligns with Visa's commitment to innovation and enhancing the consumer experience. Visa's comprehensive payment solutions are designed to meet the needs of today's gamers, ensuring fast, reliable, seamless, and secure transactions. Our partnership with HoYo FEST demonstrates our commitment to supporting the dynamic gaming ecosystem, where players are increasingly looking for efficient payment options to enhance their gaming experience," said Ms. Dung Dang, Visa Country Manager for Vietnam & Laos. For more information on Visa's participation in HoYo FEST 2025, please visit [1] VisaNet data tracking consumer spend behaviour for gamers across Asia Pacific throughout 2024. Hashtag: #Visa #HoYoFEST2025 #HoYoverse The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About HoYoverse HoYoverse is committed to providing immersive virtual world experiences to players around the world. We have brought fans popular games including Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact 3rd, Honkai: Star Rail, Tears of Themis, and Zenless Zone Zero, as well as a wide range of entertainment content. Community is at the heart of everything we do. We are devoted to engaging fans and fostering an enthusiastic and inclusive global community that provides access and encouragement for people to share their passion for ACG (Animation, Comics, and Games) through their own creativity and skills. Pushing the boundaries of imagination, we consistently explore cutting-edge game development technologies, and have accumulated leading technical capabilities in cel shading, cloud gaming, and other fields. In the future, we will continue to expand our content production, technology research, and publishing duties through operations in offices in Singapore, Montreal, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, and other areas. Visa
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
Dubai Esports and Games Festival 2025 concludes with record-breaking success
Fourth edition of the region's largest and most exciting esports and gaming festival welcomed more than 45,000 fans, families, and pros across 12 epic events featuring 775 brands spanning 17 action-packed days Over 130 games were played throughout the festival, including more than 10 brand-new releases, offering a full-spectrum showcase from indie gems to blockbusters More than 3.8 million gamers participated in more than 90 tournaments, making DEF one of the city's largest multiplayer battlegrounds Total prizes worth over AED 700,000 awarded to 900 standout winners during the the city's biggest-ever gaming weekend at GameExpo DEF Education Engagement Programme reached more than 16,000 students and educators from 250 schools across the UAE with impactful hands-on workshops, career exploration opportunities, and chances to win prizes worth AED 50,000, including 7,000 young students who witnessed live student battles in top gaming titles during DEF Education Day at GameExpo More than 2,000 industry professionals from 70 countries gathered for two high-profile B2B events to drive forward future-focused conversations in gaming and esports 260 SMEs from the gaming and tech sectors spotlighted throughout DEF, with a chance to connect with investors, partners, and global platforms 95 workshops and learning sessions delivered hands-on skills, insights, and creative inspiration to fans and students alike Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai's gaming economy took centre stage this month as the biggest-ever edition of the Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2025 powered a citywide showcase of innovation, talent, and investment opportunity. The fourth season of the region's largest and most exciting esports and gaming festival concluded with resounding success, witnessing record-breaking numbers and reinforcing Dubai's ambition to become a global hub for gaming and digital innovation. Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), DEF 2025 welcomed more than 45,000 fans, families, and pros across 12 major events spanning 17 action-packed days,combining family-friendly fun with strategic programming designed to fuel the future of the sector. High-impact moments took centre-stage across DEF's flagship GameExpo event, as well as the GameExpo Summit, Gaming Matters, Dubai Cosplay Championship, Play Beyond, and several citywide tournaments, education challenges, and immersive experiences. The festival proved to be a resounding success in bringing together every element of the gaming ecosystem - from families, friends, and students to developers, creators, and even business leaders - all shaping the future of esports, technology, and digital innovation together. Underscoring the scale and momentum of the MENA gaming economy, the festival brought together 3.8 million gamers across more than 90 tournaments on crowd-favourite titles like EA FC 25, Yalla Ludo, Tekken 8, Valorant, and Fortnite. Overall, the festival delivered a blockbuster line-up of games, showcasing over 130 titles, including more than 10 brand-new releases. Bringing the community together like never before, DEF's flagship GameExpo event united more than 34,800 fans, families, and pros to discover one-of-a-kind gaming experiences during the city's biggest-ever gaming weekend, where 900 standout winners walked away with incredible raffles and prizes worth over AED 700,000. Reaffirming Dubai's unique ability to convene and catalyse the sector as a regional hub for the gaming industry, the festival also convened 2,000 professionals from 70 countries in two high-profile B2B events, while spotlighting 260 SMEs from the gaming and tech sectors with access to global platforms, investor networks, and public-private collaboration opportunities. The festival's commitment to youth engagement reached exciting new heights this year, with the DEF Education Engagement Programme gathering more than 16,000 students and educators from 250 schools across the UAE. The programme featured gaming tournaments, impactful workshops, expert career advice, game truck visits to schools, and a cross curricular calendar of ideas. Over 7,000 students attended the DEF Education Day live at GameExpo, highlighting incredible on stage gaming skills, powerful presenting skills in Game Changers, as well showcasing in the Power Up Parade. Meanwhile 95 workshops and learning sessions delivered hands-on skills, insights, and creative inspiration to fans and students alike. From hands-on consumer experiences to high-level industry announcements, the festival aligned closely with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and Dubai Program for Gaming 2033 to deliver robust economic value and reinforcing Dubai's role as a global hub for gaming and esports. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: 'The record-breaking success of Dubai Esports and Games Festival 2025 is a powerful testament to Dubai's growing influence in the global gaming and esports landscape. We are proud to have once again curated an immersive, inclusive, and engaging programme that brought endless opportunities for everyone to pursue their passion, harness their talent, and realise the full potential of the gaming and esports industry. By mobilising the entire ecosystem - from gamers and creators to startups, developers, investors, and global industry experts - DEF has undoubtedly evolved into a high-impact festival that not only champions entertainment and innovation but also delivers real economic and strategic value. As we continue to deliver on the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Program for Gaming 2033, DEF remains critical to building future-ready industries, empowering youth, and driving innovation that aligns with Dubai's digital economy ambitions.' ULTIMATE GAMING PLAYGROUND FOR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, AND FANS DEF's flagship GameExpo event welcomed more than 34,800 fans, families, casual gamers, and esports enthusiasts for Dubai's biggest-ever weekend of endless gaming, immersive fun, and enthralling discovery. Squads from across the city rallied together to explore a reimagined space spread across eight interactive zones, including the Modesh Retro Zone, Emirates NBD Family Zone, The Amazon Joy Quest: The New IRL Zone brought to you by Amazon, The Main Arena, Gaming District, The Narrows, and two dedicated talabat F&B Zones that featured over 18 F&B outlets. Everyone had the chance to witness, play, and win all weekend across everything from competitive faceoffs and thrilling live challenges on crowd-favourite gaming titles to all-female matchups, cutting-edge gaming gear, creative cosplay competitions, interactive brand activations, and meet-ups with gaming legends. For the first time, GameExpo partnered with TikTok MENA to deliver front-row digital access to fans across the region. Allowing audiences to stay connected to the excitement, whether at home or on the go, all key tournament moments and gameplay highlights were live streamed from popular titles including Valorant, Fortnite, Minecraft, Tekken 8, Fall Guys, Chained Together, and FC25. Underscoring the festival's value as a platform for brand engagement and market expansion, a dynamic mix of 775 brands elevated the festival's excitement to new heights. From tech and lifestyle to beauty and banking, participating brands included Red Bull, Bitget X SWEAT, AI Vista Photobooth, Anigma, Antifreeze - Immersionica, Arab Hardware, ASUS ROG, Benefit, du, Dubai Police, Emirates NBD, Geekay, Gillette, LG, Nasr Esports Academy, PlayStation, Rove Hotels, PubG Mobile, The Vintage Company, Ultra PC Gamers, Virgin Radio, and more. Attendees also enjoyed giveaways of exclusive Modesh merchandise and had a chance to meet the much-loved character during special appearances all weekend. CREATOR FACE-OFFS AND COMMUNITY HYPE GameExpo's Play Beyond pulsed with excitement as some of the biggest names in regional gaming lit up the arena. Fan-favourite AboFlah made a highly anticipated return, teaming up with Sultan Khalifa and two lucky fans in a thrilling showdown against top-tier talent from Nasr Esports Academy and popular creators including 6th_kage, Khaled Dego, and AWYA. The epic gaming battles kept crowds on their feet, with the Nasr Esports Academy ultimately seizing victory and lifting the coveted Play Beyond trophy, cementing their status as champions. COSPLAY COMES ALIVE Vibrant characters stole the spotlight during the Dubai Cosplay Championship, where standout talent from across the region competed for a share of the AED 30,000 prize pool. Participants impressed with their creativity and craftsmanship, judged by a distinguished panel including @sabcosplay, @mingmihoo, @vegacosplay, and @sayochuu. The event served as a dynamic celebration of artistic expression and fan culture. Winners included Evgenii Aleksandrov, who claimed first spot in the solo category; Ahmed Serag, recognised for Best Craft; Sofiane Touchene, awarded for Best Show; and Rana and Fatima Al Yousif who earned top honours in the group segment - all celebrated for their incredible creativity, craftsmanship, and crowd appeal. HIGH-STAKES ESPORTS COMPETITIONS DEF 2025 saw more than 3.8 million players take part in thrilling regional and local tournaments, reflecting the festival's growing influence across the gaming community. Standout tournaments such as the Yalla Ludo Challenge, high-energy Red Bull matchups, True Gamers Tournament, and Bloom World Academy Minecraft Family Challenge drew large crowds and fierce competition with pulse-pounding finals. In a proud moment for the country, the regional FC25 Dubai Cup in partnership with PlayStation crowned a winner from the UAE who emerged victorious after intense knockout rounds with a staggering 31,000 participants from across the GCC. One of the weekend's most empowering and inclusive highlights was an electrifying all-female Valorant faceoff, supported by Benefit. Top female esports athletes from the University of Wollongong and Princess Noura University went head-to-head in a high-intensity match, captivating the crowd with sharp strategies, fearless gameplay, and undeniable passion. GLOBAL VISIONARIES AND INDUSTRY POWERHOUSES Welcoming gaming industry professionals to power up their knowledge, the GameExpo Summit on May 7 and 8 gathered more than 1,700 professionals from 70 countries to explore the future of gaming, with powerful keynotes and deep-dive panels spanning investment, talent development, and Web3. Over two packed days, more than 75 speakers delivered insight-rich sessions across nine themed tracks, covering AI, Web3, user acquisition, monetisation, and beyond. Meanwhile, over 2,000 structured meetings complemented a flurry of spontaneous networking and strategic discussions. A key new addition was the Investment Summit, which explored opportunities in Dubai and wider emerging markets, highlighting the MENA region's rising appeal in the global games investment landscape. Championing creativity, entrepreneurship, and emerging talent, the Summit provided a high-impact platform for rising stars in game development. The inaugural PitchPlay competition, held with DMCC Gaming Centre, saw over 50 gaming start-ups pitch innovative concepts, with Filiokus by Martin Lothe Saeterdal ultimately taking home the AED 55,000 grand prize. Indie developers were also in the spotlight, with the return of the Very Big Indie Pitch competition crowning standout titles across console, PC, and mobile platforms - including Fideo's Adventure by Nomadroid, Mad King Redemption by Secret Mission, and Azooma Escape by Ash Games Studio. Meanwhile, the Big Indie Zone, supported by ID@Xbox, showcased the vibrant world of independent game development, culminating in Merge Empress by Tiny Kraken Games winning the Audience Choice Award. The summit also hosted the return of the highly awaited MENA Games Industry Awards 2025, which celebrated excellence in regional game development across 13 extensive categories - with full results available on the Pocket Gamer website. Continuing its line-up of industry events, the exclusive Gaming Matters conference brought together over 400 global C-suite executives, business leaders, and the most influential figures in the global gaming industry to connect, discuss, and innovate for success in today's rapidly growing MENA gaming market. Hosted in partnership with Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and co-hosted by the DMCC Gaming Centre, the high-level event provided an intimate platform for strategic discussions to explore the future of gaming, esports, and Web3. FUTURE-READY LEARNING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF GAMERS Beyond immediate gameplay, DEF championed the intersection of gaming, education, and innovation by expanding its impact to foster future-ready skills, digital literacy, and career awareness. The DEF Educational Engagement Programme reached over 16,500 students and educators from 250 schools across the UAE, helping them explore future-focused skills and career pathways. Competing for a prize pool of AED 50,000, students had the chance to tackle dynamic challenges such as the ENBD Fortnite Quest, the Minecraft Education Challenge, the GameOn with HP Gaming Garage hackathon, and the Game Changers Competition. The first-ever Game Quest Express mobile gaming truck toured registered schools across Dubai to bring high-tech interactive console, VR, and PC gaming experiences for students. Teachers utilised the DEF Level Up Calendar featuring cross-curricular ideas and links to inspire gaming and esports as viable career pathways, while hosting the Power Up Parade for students to dress up as their favourite gaming characters. Finally, a dedicated DEF Education Day brought together students to GameExpo from across the UAE in a vibrant showcase of talent, creativity, and innovation. The day also spotlighted future-focused learning through expert-led workshops by Microsoft and Unreal Engine; immersive experiences including The Amazon Joy Quest and Just Dance; as well as access to thousands of retro and modern games. EXCLUSIVE DEALS DEF excitement extended into Dubai's retail sector with exclusive promotions and limited-time deals spanning across more than 2,500 outlets and over 240 leading brands. Shoppers enjoyed exceptional savings on gaming gear, electronics, toys, and lifestyle products at popular retailers such as Beefurb Technologies, Borders, E City, Eros, Harman House, LEGO, Sharaf DG, Samsung, Virgin Megastore, Blossom Home Furniture, Carrefour, and more. Participating malls include BurJuman, City Centre Deira, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Mirdif, Dubai Festival City Mall, Dubai Hills Mall, Dubai Outlet Mall, Ibn Battuta Mall, Mercato, Nakheel Mall, Times Square Center, amongst others. At Mall of the Emirates, customers spending AED 500 or more on electronics received 15X SHARE points and had the opportunity to win instant prizes through an interactive gaming experience. To elevate the experience for out-of-town visitors, attendees of GameExpo, GameExpo Summit, and Gaming Matters enjoyed an exclusive 25 per cent discount at select Rove Hotels across Dubai, offering convenient and affordable stays just moments away from all the festival action. As DEF continues to grow, it stands as a powerful testament to Dubai's commitment to shaping the future of esports and gaming, not only as an entertainment powerhouse, but as a vital engine for education, business, and economic development. Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2025 was supported by Strategic Partners which include: Amazon, du, Dubai Police, Dubai Sports Council, Emirates NBD, Red Bull, Rove, Roxy Cinemas, talabat, and Virgin Radio. To catch the highlights of this year's edition, please visit the DEF 2025 website and follow @DubaiFestivals on Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn. -Ends- About Dubai Esports and Games Festival Organised by Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF 2025) takes place from 25 April to 11 May. Launched in 2022, the annual festival returns to the Dubai World Trade Centre once again this year. The festival aims to set and influence trends across both the global and regional gaming industry, and bolster Dubai's position as a global hub for esports and interactive tech-driven entertainment, and as a global city at the forefront of innovation. DEF 2025 features a combination of events including a lively GameExpo, esports tournaments, and influencer challenges, alongside GameExpo Summit, a thought-provoking and business stimulating conference and B2B networking event that connects companies from around the world. About Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is responsible for developing Dubai's retail and festival sectors and supporting the positioning of Dubai as a world-class tourism destination with year-round family entertainment, shopping and events. For further information, please contact: Dubai Economy and Tourism mediarelations@
