Esports Charts halts coverage of Games of the Future 2024

One of the leading global statistics bases for esports won’t cover the Russian-backed Games of the Future 2024 in Kazan.

In a statement posted on its website last February 9, Esports Charts says it will refrain from collecting statistics for all tournaments featured in the Games of the Future tournament. The website denounced the entire tournament as an “instance of political propaganda.”

“One of the reasons behind our decision is that the data collected and published during the event may be utilized by organizers and sanctioned sponsors for purposes that could potentially aid in circumventing sanctions,” Esports Charts said. The added that tournaments in the series will not be included in the total viewership metrics for both teams and esports titles, as well as the total prize winnings in their current database. 

They added, “The Games of the Future 2024 event is directly supported by the Russian government and is sponsored by sanctioned companies. Additionally, several Russian media outlets, known for promoting hatred and justifying Russian military actions against Ukraine over the past years, are among the information partners of the series.”

Games of the Future has an over US$58 million funding from the Russian government – US$10 million of which will be going to the prize pools alone.

Esports Charts also noted that strong viewership metrics may be garnered for the tournament, particularly the Asian market – which is heavily invested in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang scene. Russian media outlet Kommersant earlier reported that MOONTON Games, the developer of MLBB, did not give a license to Games of the Future in holding their MLBB tournament.

“Because of the significant prize pools, the organizers can make a strong push to attract a large audience to the tournament, particularly targeting Asian viewers for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang events. We have no plans to promote any achievements or viewership milestones reached during this event,” Esports Charts said.

The Esports Charts team also noted that going to Russia alone can put not just teams at risk; it can also jeopardize careers of even tournament organizers, talents, and broadcast studios.

“Participants of the event may indirectly become subjects for propaganda materials favoring the aggressor country: media coverage from tournaments, including brand displays, will highlight sanctioned companies, and player photos featuring these companies may be utilized in public media. The trip to Kazan could lead to scrutiny and punitive action from international regulators. The same risks and potential consequences apply to broadcast studios and individual talent, such as casters, analysts, and desk hosts,” the Esports Charts statement reads.

As of press time, teams from across the world – including teams from the US and other EU nations, who have backed Ukraine in its ongoing defense against the Russian invasion, are still participating, while some teams have also rejected invites or dropped out.