Esports World Cup: Level Up, a five-part documentary series directed by Emmy-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, premiered its first episode on 6 June on Prime Video. The series follows the inaugural Esports World Cup (EWC), held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 2024.
Produced by This Machine, a Sony Pictures Television company, the series combines verité-style storytelling with behind-the-scenes access across the eight-week tournament. It documents the experiences of players and teams competing in 22 tournaments across 21 games, with a total prize pool of $60 million — the largest in esports history at the time.
In addition to covering the competitive aspect, Level Up focuses on the personal narratives of selected participants. The series also includes perspectives from team staff and tournament organizers.
Director R.J. Cutler said the project aimed to highlight not only the competition, but also the human stories within it. “Level Up isn’t just about the incredible competition and prize money; it’s about the dedication, the passion, and the sheer will of these athletes and teams,” he said in a statement shared ahead of the premiere.
New episodes of Level Up will be released weekly on Prime Video, concluding in early July. The series arrives shortly before the start of the 2025 Esports World Cup, scheduled for July, with an increased prize pool of $70 million.
