Cover-Credits:
AFK Gaming
The debut edition of the Dubai Esports Festival (DEF) 2022 kicked off on 9th November and is set to feature an exciting array of live events and activities spanning two weeks till 20th November under the patronage of Ahmed bin Mohammed. DEF 2022 will bring together leading gamers, esports thought leaders, and pop culture enthusiasts from across the world. Homegrown streaming platform Loco had the honor of being the only brand and platform representing India at the festival, adding another feather to its cap. Vice President of Operations at Loco Firasat Durrani represented the Indian gaming community at the Initiate Summit as a panelist.
Organized by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE) in partnership with VSPN [Versus Programming Network], DEF 2022 is the first international leisure event to be held at the Expo City Dubai following the Expo 2020.
Loco’s Firasat Durrani represents Indian Gaming Community on the global stage
At the event, Firasat Durrani, Vice President of Operations at Loco, represented the Indian gaming community at Initiate Summit where he spoke about the importance of delivering state-of-the-art esports tournaments and IPs.
Talking about the occasion, Loco’s Vice President of Operations said, “We are honored to be representing the Indian gaming community at DEF 2022 and showcase to the world what we offer. The collective synergy of this event truly portrays the essence of gaming communities across the world. At the event, we have had some interesting and insightful discussions on where this industry is headed and what’s in store in the near future.”
Durani also brought to the fore his views on tournaments and leagues and the many opportunities they offer. He said, “A tournament is an event or festival while a league is a career for the organizer and the player. Today, world over, leagues are the highest viewed and most followed and over-powers tournaments.”
The DEF 2022 offers top-notch entertainment and value to all: gamers, families, art and music lovers, and industry professionals. The Festival is also host to a plethora of lifestyle and pop cultural activities, alongside the much-anticipated PUBG Global Championship.
The PUBG Global Championship (PGC) that kicked off on 1st November features 32 teams from across four regions. These teams are fighting for the lion’s share of the $2 Million USD prize pool.
Meanwhile, the Initiate Summit is geared towards esports and gaming industry professionals, developers, and creatives to enhance the ecosystem in Dubai and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This B2B summit started on 9th November and will conclude on 11th November.
Apart from these two events, DEF 2022 also features GameExpo, PopConME, regional tournaments, and a concert.
Loco redefining Indian gaming ecosystem
Loco is home to some of the biggest streamers in South Asia and has gotten a lot of recognition in the esports and live streaming ecosystem. Loco has always been vocal about supporting and nurturing its streamers and is keen on raising the bar of esports and gaming entertainment in India. Recognition and accolades have been mounting for the platform, reflecting its hard work and efforts.
Notably, in its new Esports Ecosystem Infographic for 2022, Newzoo gave its audience a glimpse into the world of its ecosystem and highlighted its major players. Loco was the only Indian streaming platform to be featured in the "Livestreaming Platforms" category. It also created a new record in the Indian esports industry as it saw 100 Million viewers during the BGMI Master Series 2022, reflecting the unprecedented response from the fans.
