The Esports World Cup Foundation will exclusively release the five-part documentary series 'Esports World Cup: Level Up' Season 2 globally on Amazon Prime Video on June 26.

The series is directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker R.J. Cutler, known for Netflix's 'Martha' and Apple TV+'s 'Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry,' and sheds light on the behind-the-scenes of the world's largest esports tournament. The cameras vividly capture the human chronicles of professional players and clubs as they grapple with the pressure and ambition on the 'EWC 2025' stage, as well as the families who shared in their struggles.

Set against the backdrop of 'EWC 2025,' which took place over seven weeks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this season follows the intense race for a total prize pool of $70 million and the 'EWC Club Championship' title. It captures the sacrifices and challenges required to become a star on a global battlefield where a single match can change a career and a single season can determine a club's fate.

Production was handled by This Machine, a division of Sony Pictures Television. Director R.J. Cutler, showrunner Jon Dorsey, and executive producers Jane Cha Cutler, Trevor Smith, Elise Pearlstein, and Mark Blatty have reunited for Season 2. The series employs a 'cinéma vérité' filming style to capture the raw, unfiltered daily lives of top-tier gamers, realistically portraying the risks they face and the weight of their fame.

The documentary features appearances by Jake 'Boaster' Howlett (Fnatic, Valorant), Vivi 'Vivian' Indrawaty (Team Vitality, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang), Kasimiri 'Soka' Tongamoa (Team Falcons, Call of Duty: Warzone), Xiaohai (KuaiShou Gaming, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves), and Garidmagnai 'Blitz' Byambasuren (The MongolZ, Counter-Strike 2). To capture their personal stories, the production team not only spent seven weeks on-site in Riyadh but also traveled to the UK, the US, Indonesia, and other countries to document the players' private lives.

The core storylines highlighted throughout the documentary include.

* Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid, Chess): Explores the isolation that comes with dominance for a player who has conquered the world of classical chess and has nowhere left to climb. His narrative covers his transition into the esports battlefield, filled with new challengers.

* Boaster (Fnatic, Valorant): Follows his journey from an aspiring actor to a title contender in the inaugural 'Valorant' tournament at the EWC. He demonstrates the resilience needed to overcome setbacks, proving that there are many paths to success.

* Xiaohai (KuaiShou Gaming, Street Fighter 6): A defending champion who grew up under strict discipline, competing against adults since the age of six. Now a father, the documentary captures his struggle to balance global competition with family life.

* Vivian (Team Vitality, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang): Her story centers on her process of overcoming a recent slump and confronting childhood trauma while competing for life-changing prize money.

* The MongolZ and Blitz (The MongolZ, Counter-Strike 2): The growth story of a homegrown Mongolian team led by ace player 'Blitz.' It depicts their rise from obscurity to national heroes, becoming symbols of perseverance and pride.

* Soka (Team Falcons, Call of Duty: Warzone): His story focuses on the immense pressure he faces as a defending champion. It candidly reveals his intense rivalries with former teammates and his turbulent family history.

* Coach Arsi (Team Liquid, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang): Provides a rare perspective from the coaching staff. Drawing on his own difficult upbringing, he leads his team and motivates them to restore their honor.

Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, stated, "'Esports World Cup: Level Up' captures the human side of the competition we are building through the EWC. The EWC creates a stage that brings together the best games, clubs, and players, along with life-changing prize money and a global gaming community of billions. This documentary allows us to get closer to the people behind those moments—their pressures, ambitions, families, and the stories that make esports meaningful for a new generation."

Director R.J. Cutler added, "This season delves deeper into the global phenomenon of human ambition and identity, just as much as it does the competition. Esports is one of the most dynamic cultural contents of our time, and in Season 2, we continue to document the lives, dreams, and sacrifices of the players at its center, showing a world that is both deeply personal and globally relatable."

Beyond the players' journeys, the series highlights the unique cultural energy of the EWC, where sports, music, and entertainment converge. It captures vivid moments featuring global celebrities, moving beyond simple competition to include opening headliner Post Malone enjoying games backstage, Grand Master Magnus Carlsen—the winner of the inaugural chess esports tournament—and football star Cristiano Ronaldo, who provided the finale by lifting the Club Championship trophy at the closing ceremony.

The tournament's unparalleled status is evidenced by the reactions of global sports stars. F1 champion Lando Norris, Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Kaká, who faced off in an 'EA FC' event match, footballer Alisha Lehmann, and skateboarder Tony Hawk all graced the event. Tennis star Nick Kyrgios praised the crowd and the atmosphere, remarking, "The crowd and the atmosphere are literally better than Wimbledon or any Grand Slam."

The previous tournament, 'EWC 2025,' attracted 750 million viewers worldwide and surpassed 350 million hours of cumulative watch time. Notably, the 'League of Legends' event reached a peak of 8 million concurrent viewers. The tournament was broadcast in 35 languages across 28 platforms and 97 broadcast partners, reaching over 800 channels. More than 2000 players from over 200 clubs across 100 countries competed in 25 tournaments across 24 game titles.

'EWC 2026' will take place in Paris, France, from July 6 to August 23. The world's top clubs will compete for a total prize pool of $75 million and the '2026 EWC Club Championship' trophy.