The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) has expanded its roster of publishing partners, adding three new companies to its lineup. Chess.com, MOONTON Games, and SNK have joined the group of publishers supporting the inaugural international, nation-based esports tournament.
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced that the three new companies will serve as Official Publishers, alongside the previously confirmed Founding Publishers Electronic Arts (EA), Krafton, Tencent, and Ubisoft. According to the foundation, the Founding Publishers have been involved in co-developing the tournament’s foundational framework from its inception.
In their roles, the new Official Publishers will co-design qualification paths and competition formats for their respective titles. This is intended to ensure a consistent global structure for their games within the ENC.
Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, stated: “By partnering closely with publishers, we can make the Esports Nations Cup truly player-centric, and give players the opportunity to represent their country in the games that define their careers.”
The ENC introduces a national team format to the EWCF’s portfolio, which includes the club-focused Esports World Cup, an event that featured extensive participation from Chess.com, MOONTON, and SNK in its 2025 edition. The new tournament will feature national teams from multiple regions competing in both team-based and solo-player formats. A multi-layered qualification model will be used, combining global rankings, regional qualifiers, and wildcard entries.
Scheduled to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in November 2026, the Esports Nations Cup will thereafter move to a rotating host model. The event is planned to be held every two years. Further details about the competition are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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