The esports world is buzzing with excitement as the World Cyber Games (WCG) makes a triumphant return. After a three-year hiatus, the prestigious tournament series is back, this time under the stewardship of South Korean start-up Bigpicture Interactive Co.
WCG, one of the first globally recognized multi-event esports competitions, held regular offline events from the early 2000s until 2019. The goal was to unite esports enthusiasts from around the globe.
Following the 2020 edition, which was held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament series took a temporary break.
Bigpicture Interactive, the new owner of WCG, was founded by CEO Kwangjun Song in 2015 with a mission to “Make gamers’ lives happier”. The company has since launched several services, including GameCoach Academy, the first pro-gamer school, and the esports tournament platform LVUP.GG. Bigpicture Interactive also took over KPOP performance content company MSTORM in 2019 and esports data company PLAYXP in 2021.
The company’s expansion into the esports and gaming sector has been aggressive, with its current portfolio including performance company and game search platform DAK.GG. In 2023, Bigpicture Interactive also ventured into the Internet Cafe (PC Bang) industry.
They are currently organizing live esports tournaments with game publishers such as Riot Games, Nexon, Krafton, Smilegate, and Supercell. The new WCG umbrella aims to provide a competition capable of continuously offering new entertaining content and competitions to all gamers, online and offline.
In 2023, WCG held an open tournament lasting five months, from January to June, for all users. Interestingly, Clash Royale and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, two mobile esports titles, were chosen as the tournament’s main events. According to WCG, 5,604 players from 58 different nations participated in the three games, ranging from teams making their professional esports debuts to casual players.
WCG’s return to the global esports sector after four years is not the series’ only ambition. Bigpicture Interactive has revealed that it has considered many plans to help esports brands understand how they can capture the hearts of today’s gamers, just like WCG did in 2000 with the older generation.
From WCG’s permanent tournament to WCG Rivals, WCG Valorant Challengers League, and WCG 2023 BUSAN, the new World Cyber Games looks to become a platform-friendly tournament series, no matter if it’s online or offline.
There is a saying that an old dog can’t learn new tricks, well WCG is proving those doubters wrong as it looks to revitalise its prestigious brand.
Read next: World Cyber Games (WCG) returns with a Clash Royale Invitational
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