Caesars Entertainment has announced a new partnership with Japanese arcade gaming company Taito that will see the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas host North America’s first ever Toushinsai e-Arcade sports competition in August.
Set to be held in the Rio’s dedicated eSports venue The Wall, which opened in 2018, the event will feature teams of three facing off in single elimination battles on the classic arcade game “Street Fighter V”. It will also be live streamed around the world and shown in other Caesars eSports venues, with the winning team to receive a trip to Tokyo and automatic entry into the next Toushinsai in Japan in 2020.
“Caesars and The Wall have been great partners in providing a unique venue opportunity for our first qualifier in North America,” said President and Representative Director of Taito, Tetsu Yamada. “Their experience in eSports and entertainment coupled with state-of-the-art facilities will mean that our participants and their guests will have a first-class experience. In addition, eSports is anticipated to become an important attraction for the future IRs in Japan and Caesars is an ideal partner for us given its track record of innovation in the IR industry.”
Taito, creator of legendary arcade game “Space Invaders”, has held Toushinsai in Japan since 2015 with last year’s event attracting more than 6,000 players.