Road to Olympic Esports Games 2027 Begins with Developer Forum in Switzerland

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is gearing up to host a big event tomorrow, on June 2, 2025, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Called the Olympic Esports Games Publisher and Developer Forum, the invite-only event is being described as the “next step” toward launching the very first Olympic Esports Games, set for 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

What Is the Publisher and Developer Forum?

This Forum is meant to be a behind-the-scenes collaboration space, bringing together over 120 participants from across:

• The Olympic Movement

• Esports publishers and developers

• Major players in both digital and traditional sports

The idea? To swap insights, get on the same page, and tackle the unique challenges (and opportunities) that come with blending the world of esports with Olympic values.

This isn’t the IOC’s first foray into esports either. It builds on past efforts like the original 2018 Esports Forum (also held in Lausanne) and the 2023 Olympic Esports Week in Singapore, which mixed both physical and digital competitions.

Topics on the Table

Here’s what attendees will be discussing:

• How Olympic values can mesh with esports

• Game selection and qualification frameworks

• Audience engagement strategies

• Ethical and regulatory issues

• Long-term collaboration between the IOC and the gaming industry

A Big Step Toward the Olympic Esports Games 2027

The Olympic Esports Games officially got the green light back in July 2024 during the IOC’s 142nd Session—a historic move to bring esports into the Olympic fold.

While the original launch was planned for 2025, it was pushed to 2027 to allow more time to build out a solid hosting and funding model. To help with that, the IOC brought on the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) as a founding partner. Given the EWCF’s success with the first-ever Esports World Cup last year, they’ve been given a big role in shaping the event—from choosing games and setting up formats to helping connect with the wider esports community.

What’s Next?

After the Forum wraps, the IOC is expected to start locking in game partnerships, refining how players will qualify, and kicking off the branding and marketing push for the 2027 Games.

We still don’t know which games will be featured, but the IOC has made it clear: they’re leaning toward non-violent, skill-based titles that align with Olympic values. So expect precision, teamwork, and plenty of competition—but probably no headshots.