WBSC showcases expanding eSports vision at WBSC Europe Congress in Malta

Mellieha, Malta - The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) reinforced its position at the forefront of sports innovation as WBSC Head of Digital Innovation Valerio Cianfoni presented a high-impact workshop on WBSC eSports: New Partnerships and Opportunities during the WBSC Europe Congress on Friday.

The workshop opened with a comprehensive review of WBSC’s eSports evolution over the past four years, underscoring the scale and global engagement achieved since 2021.

“Digital baseball/softball is not a future concept - it is already a thriving global ecosystem,” Cianfoni noted. “We are engaging new generations of athletes and fans at unprecedented scale.”

The participation numbers in WBSC eSports events were particularly impressive - surpassing figures of many traditional Baseball/Softball World Cup events - demonstrating the rapidly growing interest in eBaseball™ and the digital transformation of baseball and softball worldwide.

Key milestones include:

• WBSC Virtual Cup 2022
  • 8,000+ participants
  • Hosted across 4 countries
• WBSC eBaseball™ Series (2022–2024)
  • 261,000 participants
  • 3.1 million games played
  • 260,000 streaming views
• Olympic eSports Series (2021 & 2023)
  • 34,200 participants
  • 586,000 games played
  • 1.9 million streaming views in 2023 alone

Building on this momentum, WBSC is preparing for a significant new phase of growth.

The WBSC and partner Newdin have extended their collaboration to deliver the WBSC Virtual Cup across the 2026–2028 cycle. The renewed partnership will further strengthen tournament infrastructure, international reach, and competitive quality.

In parallel, the WBSC and KONAMI are advancing plans to launch the WBSC eBaseball™ Series 2.0. The next-generation series aims to elevate competitive standards, enhance the fan experience, and further integrate eBaseball into the global baseball and softball landscape.

Another key focus of the workshop was the promotion of the multiple opportunities for National Federations to actively participate in the eBaseball ecosystem:

• Activate New Audiences
  Engage youth, digital-native communities, and the fast-growing eSports sector.
• Develop National Pathways
  Establish domestic eBaseball structures aligned with WBSC’s global competition framework.
• Increase Visibility and Recognition
  Benefit from official rankings and exposure through WBSC and KONAMI digital platforms.
• Collaborate and Innovate
  Partner with WBSC and commercial stakeholders on event delivery, promotion, and technological innovation.

“eBaseball is not just an additional activity—it is a strategic development tool,” Cianfoni emphasised. “It offers federations a powerful way to expand participation, modernise engagement, and connect with entirely new communities.”