The Esports World Cup is the global esports circuit run by the Esports Foundation. In 2025 it featured 25+ titles, 28 clubs, 2,500 participants across 100 nations; 2026 moved to Paris. Macron hosted MBS as the event closed, signaling a merging of esports with high-level diplomacy.
Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The move delists EA from Nasdaq and adds $20 billion in debt. Analysts expect a focus on core franchises and potential cost-cutting. Regulators approved the deal, and governance implications are under scrutiny.
Macron has hosted Mohammed bin Salman at the Esports World Cup closing ceremony in Paris, amid talks on a Saudi-French strategic partnership and upcoming deals on health, transport and energy. The visit underscores deepening ties between Paris and Riyadh as both nations prepare for major global events.