theAGENDA
RIOT GAMES MENA CELEBRATES VALORANT’S MENA SUCCESS WITH A TRIFECTA OF INTERACTIVE HYBRID EVENTS
British Rap Artist Stefflon Don Live at #DestinationSoho this January
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Riot Games MENA has unveiled a first-of-its-kind hybrid event series across the MENA region that will see fans attending in-person battles with players online to celebrate the incredible support and growth of its latest hit game VALORANT. The first event, taking place at Topline Family Park in Cairo, Egypt, will feature a dramatic interactive battlefield, performances by renowned DJs such as Just Zeina, and appearances by some of the region’s top gaming talent including EstubeGaming, LeOniDeS, ShaDowZa and Tuna. To celebrate the passion for VALORANT that has taken the MENA region by storm since its launch in late 2020, the Cairo event, running from 10-11 December, will feature two waves that are each three hours long, of which the first waves on each day will be broadcast live on Twitch. With limited spaces available at the in-person event, the game resets in between waves to allow as many people as possible to experience the thrill.
It’s the first weekend of 2022 and #DestinationSoho is all set to welcome its first award winning rap artist Stefflon Don to the brand-new party destination Soho Garden Palm Jumeirah, located on the rooftop of the newly opened Nakheel Mall right at the heart of the palm this Sunday, January 9. The sensational artist will also be gracing the original entertainment hub, Soho Garden in Meydan on the January 8th. Stephanie Allen, better known as ‘Stefflon Don’, grew to fame when she collaborated with a number of high-profile artists including Lethal Bizzle, Sneakbo, Jeremih, and Wretch 32 on his 2016 album. In 2017, Stefflon Don was recognised for her talent on the BBC’S Sound of 2017 list and has collaborated with the likes of Jax Jones and Demi Lovato. Allen has won MOBO’s Best Female artist award along with NME’s Best New Artist.
Each wave mimics the hugely successful game by separating the physical and virtual worlds into Earth 1 and Earth 2 respectively with set missions and incredible storylines. Players at the in-person event will be in Earth 1, the physical realm, with a mission to defuse the objective otherwise known as the spike in the game. Players from Earth 2 (online virtual realm) will be attempting to sabotage their missions and will be able to interact with the events in the physical venue aided by a commander and an undercover agent. The commander is the online host of the event, who guides the show by live broadcasting from a remote studio while interacting with the audience and their undercover agent. The undercover agent, whose part is being kept under wraps until the event takes place, receives orders to aid the agents from Earth 2 in their sabotage. By handing the power to the community, RIOT Games aims to engage fans from across MENA through a single otherworldly mission experience. www.theciin.com
