Global music superstar Post Malone will perform live at the Esports World Cup 2025 opening ceremony.
The American singer and rapper has been confirmed as the headliner for the show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia by the Esports World Cup Foundation.
Post Malone is a nine-time diamond-certified artist with nine of his singles selling over 10 million units in the United States.
This year’s tournament is collecting plenty of celebrity endorsements, as iconic footballer Cristiano Ronaldo was announced as an Esports World Cup Global Ambassador.
And the EWCF has promised that additional artists, performances and music-driven collaborations will be revealed in the coming weeks.
Post Malone is no stranger to esports or gaming himself.
He has streamed on Twitch numerous times playing various games, including Call of Duty: Warzone and PUBG.
And five years ago, in 2020, Post Malone became a part-owner of Texas-based esports organisation Team Envy by buying an undisclosed stake in the company.
Earlier this year, Team Envy merged with Indigenous-owned esports organisation Native Gaming to expand into other esport titles.
EWCF Chief Operating Officer Mike McCabe says music is critical to expanding esports’ influence:
“Esports is becoming a global cultural force, where music, storytelling, and competition converge to create moments that are not just seen, but felt.
“With Post Malone, a global artist and true gamer, opening the tournament, we continue to celebrate the power of music – a universal language that brings fans together and defines the cultural future of esports.”
It hasn’t been confirmed what songs Post Malone will sing, though the EWCF promises Post Malone’s performance will be a celebration of gaming culture.
EWCF’s executive producer Ariel Horn, who directed multiple League of Legends World Championship final opening ceremonies for Riot Games, gave some further clues about the ceremony:
“This year’s opening ceremony will deliver a fresh take on the classic story of ambition, resilience and progress, told through the lens of EWC.
“It’s exciting and new. So many game genres converging on one global stage, the music fuels the competitive fire at the heart of this event and this industry, and Post Malone is the perfect voice to carry that passion and celebrate the beginning of a historic event.”
Earlier this year, the Esports World Cup Foundation launched its ‘Music of EWC’ initiative by recording at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.
As part of that initiative, a competition is being held for music artists from around the world to submit their new songs for them to be used at the upcoming tournament and during its broadcasts.
In my seven years of esports writing, I’ve introuduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I’m most proud of the latter.
