WBSC, KONAMI sign MOU to develop new baseball video game, eSport competition

TOKYO — The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and Konami Digital Entertainment today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop and create a new baseball video game and a new eSport international competition.

The new WBSC-KONAMI video game will allow the global baseball community, National Federations, and gamers worldwide to participate in a potential newly/jointly created WBSC eSport international baseball competition.

As part of the partnership, with the presence of KONAMI at the WBSC Congress in Taipei (3-5 July), the WBSC introduced its eSport strategy to National Federations and stakeholders in attendance.

“Following our partnership and immense success at the inaugural Olympic Virtual Series last year, the WBSC is proud to work with a video-game publishing giant like KONAMI on this exciting new project, which has unlimited potential to further grow our sport and connect with audiences that we’ve not yet reached before,” said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari. “The WBSC, together with KONAMI, aims to harness eSport to expand the baseball population worldwide while adding another powerful tool for National Federations to attract and make our sport relevant to new audiences and players/gamers in their respective countries and territories.”

Konami Digital Entertainment Representative Director, President Hideki Hayakawa commented: “We are delighted to be working with the WBSC on this new global esports initiative. We have been taking on challenges to develop eSport by hosting events such as the ‘eBASEBALL Pro League’ and adopting the title for the Asian Games demonstration event. We wish to continue to support the development of the baseball and softball communities around the world through our games by utilizing our experiences in games and eSport.”

The WBSC and Konami Digital Entertainment previously partnered to deliver the baseball event at the inaugural Olympic Virtual Series, with the competition taking place through a specially designed environment of KONAMI’s eBASEBALL PAWAFURU PUROYAKYU 2020 video game.

The WBSC was amongst five sports/international federations appointed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to be part of the inaugural Olympic Virtual Series, which also featured cycling, rowing, sailing and motorsport.

The WBSC Executive Board approved virtual sports as a discipline of baseball and softball in December 2020.