stc Group Supports Esports World Cup with Digital Content for Game and Esports Fans

Supported by stc's world-class connectivity services, the Esports World Cup is contributing to the growth of the gaming sector in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Supported by stc's world-class connectivity services, the Esports World Cup is contributing to the growth of the gaming sector in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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stc Group Supports Esports World Cup with Digital Content for Game and Esports Fans

Supported by stc's world-class connectivity services, the Esports World Cup is contributing to the growth of the gaming sector in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Supported by stc's world-class connectivity services, the Esports World Cup is contributing to the growth of the gaming sector in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

stc Group has strengthened its leadership in enabling digital transformation in Saudi Arabia by supporting the first edition of the Esports World Cup, where it introduced innovative interactive concepts that added a distinctive character to the tournament, allowing visitors from all over the world to enjoy unprecedented experiences and explore the vast possibilities in the world of games and esports.

stc Group, through stc Play Gaming Hall, has provided many interactive experiences, including stc Play Zone, which includes an advanced virtual reality simulator, and stc Play Streaming Zone, which provides the latest high-definition live streaming devices to enrich the visitors' experience.

It also provided stc TV Zone, a photography pavilion where visitors can document the most beautiful moments in a suspenseful atmosphere.

For those wishing to purchase the latest versions of gaming consoles and accessories, the group has provided an integrated store that contains all their needs through the stc Play Shop.

The various experiences provided by stc Play Gaming Hall also included stc Play Studio, which showcases electronic games developed by Manga Productions of Misk Foundation, and stc Qitaf Zone, which allows gamers to interact with games via virtual reality technology.

Supported by stc's world-class connectivity services, the Esports World Cup is contributing to the growth of the gaming sector in Saudi Arabia, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which is to establish the Kingdom as a leading global destination for electronic games.



Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025

Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025
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Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025

Nintendo Says Switch 2 will be Released in 2025

Japan's Nintendo (7974.T), will release the Switch 2 console, successor to its hit Switch device, this year, it said on Thursday.

The Kyoto-based gaming company did not release pricing for the new device and said it would provide more details at a Nintendo Direct event on April 2.

The company said that existing Switch software will be usable on the new device although some games may not be fully compatible.

Consumers and investors have been waiting for details of the new console, which appears to closely follow the playbook established by the hybrid home-portable Switch.

"The reveal did not have the punch of the original Switch," said Serkan Toto, founder of the Kantan Games consultancy, Reuters reported.

"What we saw is more like a 'Switch Pro' - an upgraded version that is bigger - than a Switch 2," he said, adding the launch will likely be after June.

The Switch transformed Nintendo's fortunes following the poor performance of the Wii U console, and has sold more than 145 million units.

Nintendo has extended the lifecycle of the Switch, which launched in 2017, with hardware refreshes and hit games from franchises such as Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda.

The company has said it expects to sell 12.5 million units of the ageing Switch console in the financial year ending March.

"The Switch 2 is poised to reinvigorate hardware sales," Jefferies analyst Atul Goyal wrote in a client note ahead of the announcement.

"Even if Nintendo builds up capacity to manufacture 15m Switch 2 for the year, the demand is likely to outstrip supply for several months/quarters," he added.

The Switch is the company's second best seller, topped only by the handheld Nintendo DS which sold 154 million units in total.

Nintendo is heavily dependent on its console business, even as it has opened stores and with its roster of characters featuring in theme parks and film.

Along with PlayStation maker Sony (6758.T), Japanese companies remain leading console providers, even as technology such as mobile and cloud offers alternatives for gaming.