Prime Video’s new docuseries Esports World Cup: Level Up premieres June 6, spotlighting the passion, pressure, and personal stories behind the world’s biggest esports tournament in Saudi Arabia.
Amazon’s Prime Video is set to premiere Esports World Cup: Level Up, a five-part documentary series on June 6th, offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the inaugural 2024 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Directed by Emmy-winner R.J. Cutler (Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry), the series delves deep into the lives of elite players, team CEOs, and rising stars as they navigate the high-pressure world of competitive gaming.
The inaugural EWC, held from June 28 to August 25, 2024, featured 19 top esports titles including Counter-Strike 2, Street Fighter 6, and League of Legends, with a staggering $60 million prize pool. The event awarded Club Points to teams based on their performances, crowning Saudi Arabian team Falcons as the first-ever Club Champion, earning $7 million.
Level Up, produced by Sony Pictures Television’s This Machine, uses a verité documentary style to highlight the personal journeys of global gaming icons like Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok from T1, known as a legend in League of Legends; Kasimili “Soka” Tongamoa from Team Falcons, a charismatic Warzone player from Oakland; Sanford Vinuya, a young Mobile Legends: Bang Bang prodigy from the Philippines supporting his family; and sisters Cinny and Chell from Team Vitality, who dominate the women’s MLBB scene despite personal loss during the event.
The series also explores the experiences of Drazah from Atlanta FaZe, who rose from humble beginnings in North Pole, Alaska; Yevhen Zolotarov, CEO of Ukraine’s NAVI, competing amidst war back home; and Mossad Aldossary, the 24-year-old CEO of Team Falcons carrying the pride of Saudi Arabia on his shoulders.
The EWC has not been without controversy. Organized by the Esports World Cup Foundation, a body established by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the event is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader push to become a global esports hub. However, critics have accused the initiative of “esportswashing,” citing concerns over the country’s human rights record.
Despite the political discourse, Level Up focuses on the deeply human side of competitive gaming. As Cutler explains, the goal was to capture “the dedication, the passion, and the sheer will of these athletes and teams pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”
With over 500 million global viewers tuning in last year, the Esports World Cup has quickly established itself as a landmark event. A second season of Level Up is already in pre-production to chronicle the upcoming 2025 tournament, which kicks off July 8 with an expanded $70 million prize pool.
Ultimately, Level Up promises to do more than showcase elite gameplay — it reveals the lives, sacrifices, and dreams behind the screens, transforming pixels into powerful human stories.
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