The competition recorded over 4.4 million live views across the GEG social channels, Sport24 and three other broadcasts, as well as over 500 million accumulated views.

Social media numbers have also been impressive with the Games receiving 7.45 million impressions and 116,000 new followers on social media.

Figures based on over two days of Twitch broadcasting showed viewers watched 163,841 hours of the Games.

The numbers suggest the first competition of its kind and is a landmark moment for the GEF and its pursuit of greater growth and development.

"These impressive results from the first Global Esports Games are clear indicators of the limitless potential of our community," said Angela Ruggiero and Luzeng Song, co-chairs of the GEF coordination commission.

"We look forward to taking the learnings and joy of esports to the Istanbul Global Esports Games 2022 in December this year."

The GEF will launch the Global Innovation and Research Centres (IRC) to expand its reach beyond its headquarters in Singapore.

The IRCs, which are anticipated to double its administration, have been introduced in key cities across the world to cope with the growing demands of the esports community.

"The Global Innovation and Research Centers emerged from over a year in stealth mode ideation and refinement with our teams at GEF*lab, the GEF’s incubator, and has been approved by the GEF Board," Paul J Foster, chief executive of the GEF, said.

"We learned a lot over the past years by listening to the needs of our global community and the stakeholders that are shaping the esports world.

"The community thrives when we connect and lean in to support each other and collaborate.

"The IRCs will offer our partners opportunities to cultivate sustainable partnerships that will shape and contribute to the future state of play into the metaverse in a truly #worldconnected"

A new Metaverse Council and a Gen Z focused Youth Council are two of the 15 commissions and councils the GEF Board has introduced for 2022.

The Youth Council started in response to the success of the Global Esports Future Leaders Programme held in October 2021.

Two GEF future leaders have been appointed in a full-time role and a second group will be selected in April this year.

After Istanbul 2022, Saudi Arabia will host the GEG edition in Riyadh in 2023.

China, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States will follow in 2024, 2025 and 2026.