ENC to elevate global esports by establishing a structured national ecosystem that supports players, Clubs, and National Teams — backed by a groundbreaking development fund, Club incentives, and equal pay per player across 16 titles.

ENC 2026 Debuts November 2-29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

[Media Kit]

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) today announced the competition dates and prize model for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), the new global esports competition built around national teams, national pride, and iconic rivalries. The ENC is set to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 through 29, 2026.

The Esports World Cup Foundation will commit a total of $45 million to the esports ecosystem through the 2026 Esports Nations Cup, set to debut in November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, including a $20 million prize pool, Club incentives and support for the development of national teams.

The Esports Nations Cup adds a national layer to the global esports calendar. It complements the Club-based Esports World Cup by giving players the chance to represent their nation, and offering fans a direct way to connect with elite competition through identity, pride, and shared moments.

ENC 2026 is backed by a three-part funding commitment totaling $45 million, structured to support the esports ecosystem through player and coach prizing, Club release incentives, and national team development.

ENC 2026 includes $20 million in prize money paid directly to players and coaches across 16 titles. In addition, EWCF will provide $5 million in Club incentives for esports Clubs that release and enable their professional players to participate in ENC, with rewards tied directly to the performance of their players at the event.

EWCF will also provide $20 million through the previously announced ENC Development Fund, supporting Official National Team Partners with logistics, travel, program operations, national team marketing, and the long-term growth of national team pathways.

“National teams bring a powerful new layer to esports, one that is accessible, intuitive, and rooted in identity and pride,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Clubs are the cultural backbone of esports. Nation-based competition expands the stage, creates new rivalries, and gives more fans a reason to care from day one. Our prize model is designed to keep competition fair and sustainable, rewarding performance while supporting the long-term development of players, Clubs, and national programs.”

The ENC introduces a placement-based prize framework, applied across all game titles, designed to be clear and player-centric. Every qualified participant earns prize money and is guaranteed a minimum of three matches. Equal placement earns equal pay: the same finishing position pays the same amount per player across all titles, and coaches are rewarded alongside players for the same placement.

A first-place finish awards $50,000 per player, whether competing in a solo title or as part of a team. Second-place awards $30,000 per player, and third-place awards $15,000 per player. For team titles, payouts scale with the roster size, so the result is consistent and transparent for everyone competing.

The ENC will launch in Riyadh in November 2026 and will move to a rotating host-city model, bringing nation-based esports to major cities around the world. The event will be held every two years to provide a dependable structure that supports long-term planning for players, partners, and national programs.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Trackmania, Dota 2 have already been confirmed for ENC 2026, with additional titles to be announced in the coming days.

Additional information about the Esports Nations Cup will be released in the coming weeks. To stay up to date, visit esportsnationscup.com and follow ENC on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and follow the Esports World Cup Foundation on LinkedIn.

About the Esports Nations Cup
The Esports Nations Cup (ENC) is a biennial global esports competition created by the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) that brings national pride to the world stage. Launching in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026, the ENC will feature the world’s best players competing not for their Clubs, but for their countries and territories, across a lineup of leading esports titles. Built in collaboration with game partners, Clubs, and esports organizations, the ENC establishes the first recurring, large-scale platform for national teams in esports. Beyond competition, it aims to fuel fandom, inspire heroes, and provide sustainable pathways for nations, players, and partners to grow within the global esports ecosystem. esportsnationscup.com

About Esports World Cup Foundation
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to advancing and professionalizing the global esports industry. Through the annual Esports World Cup (EWC) and the biennial Esports Nations Cup (ENC), EWCF brings together the world’s top players, leading Clubs, and millions of fans for the biggest stages in competitive gaming. Beyond hosting tournaments, the Foundation works year-round to grow the esports ecosystem, support talent development, and create lasting opportunities for players, teams, and partners worldwide.

SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Most simulation pipelines can model facilities, equipment, and routing with high accuracy—but often miss a key driver of real-world performance: human operations. Operator cycle-time variation, work sequence differences, and station placement/material flow can materially impact throughput and safety, yet human behavior is still commonly simplified into idealized paths.

Reallusion has been closing that gap through years of collaboration with enterprise teams and world-class brands—building a simulation-ready, real-time stack designed to replicate real-world scenarios with believable, repeatable human operations.

With the latest launch of Motion Planning, Reallusion connects everything it has built into a complete simulation workflow. It adds a modular, scalable logic layer that links people, actions, and environments—so teams can run large-scale, human-centric simulations that are logical, repeatable, and easy to validate.

Check out the full trailer

A Complete Simulation Solution for Replicating the Real World

Reallusion provides a connected set of tools that scale from individual human actions to system-level, repeatable simulation logic:

1) Control an individual human’s actions

• Motion Director: control characters in real-time with motion triggers and behavior controls for responsive, natural actions.
• Personal Mobility: recreate how people travel with different transport devices, capturing natural speed, spacing, and movement patterns for pedestrian and mobility scenarios. For example, an operator pushing a trolley

2) Control groups and movement at scale

• Crowd Sim: create crowd movement, density, and flow for large-scale scenarios.

3) Simulate human interaction with tools and the environment

• Prop Interaction: simulate task-level interactions with equipment, stations, and objects (operate, pick/place, handle).
• Smart Accessory: built-in rules assign the right tools (and variations) to the right people at scale for realistic working conditions.

4) Build the environment context

• BuildingGen: generate buildings, interiors, warehouses, and production lines quickly from customizable blueprints and packaged modules to stand up a layout context for scenario testing.
• Prop Distribution: place and standardize assets across scenes for consistent, repeatable setups.

5) Orchestrate everything with modular logic at scale

• Motion Planning: connect workflows across areas with modular, reusable logic—so you can run large scenarios with hundreds of people, repeatedly.

The Industry’s Largest Asset Ecosystem for Any Simulation Scenario

Reallusion’s solution is supported by the largest asset ecosystem in the industry—led by ActorCore, which provides premium simulation-ready digital humans, props, and motion assets for operational workflows. Combined with Reallusion’s Content Store and Marketplace for additional props and environments, teams can stand up scenarios faster, standardize assets across repeated runs, and adapt to different sites and industries—without spending cycles building everything from scratch.

With assets spanning a wide range of use cases—from factory operations and facility planning to driving and public-space scenarios—teams can quickly find the right people, equipment, and motions for the simulation they need.

What’s New: Motion Planning Makes Simulation Modular and Scalable

Motion Planning is a major step forward because it turns simulations into reusable systems, not one-off scenes. At its core is an intuitive node-graph workflow that makes simulation logic visual and easy to manage—so teams can build, review, and expand behaviors without getting buried in scripting.

With Motion Planning, teams can:

• Reuse modular building blocks: assemble scenarios fast and standardize proven setups
• Connect multiple areas into one flow: link zones, lines, and routes into a continuous simulation
• Iterate and compare changes quickly: test layout/process updates and run repeatable before/after comparisons
• Scale without losing control: expand to higher-volume runs while keeping logic consistent and maintainable
• Validate with measurable feedback: use logs and on-screen indicators for real-time review and analysis

In short, Motion Planning adds a visual, modular layer that helps teams iterate faster, stay organized as projects grow, and scale simulations with confidence.

Capture Real-World Human Operations with Video Mocap

To increase fidelity and enable flexible customization, the newly released Video Mocap turns standard video footage of real operations into editable 3D motion. It’s a practical way to capture actual operator work sequences and cycle times—using ordinary cameras, without specialized motion-capture hardware—so teams can simulate more realistic handling, walk paths, and handoffs for more credible validation and comparison.

Proven Across Industries

Reallusion’s human-centric simulation solution has been adopted across digital twins, AV simulation, security and surveillance, consumer electronics, and pedestrian traffic—by teams at brands including NVIDIA, Google, Samsung, LG, BMW, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, GM, Motorola, and Axis Communications.

Building on that foundation, the latest Motion Planning and Video Mocap updates have also been evaluated with industry partners: Delta Electronics and Foxconn—global industrial leaders in electronics and manufacturing—used the workflow to support plant planning, while relative.berlin—a Berlin-based CG/AI studio known for immersive (VR/AR) experiences—evaluated it through a VR immersive experience project for the German government.

Integration-Ready for Digital Twin Pipelines

For teams building in existing digital twin projects, Reallusion also supports smooth downstream USD workflows to NVIDIA Omniverse (and other DCC/real-time tools).digital humans, props, lights, and cameras can be transferred efficiently—supporting collaboration, review, and optimization in the environments many digital twin teams already use.

Reallusion’s Vision for Simulations

Reallusion delivers the most realistic human factors available for simulation, so digital twins and operational models can reflect how people actually work in the real world. From subtle individual behavior to large-scale operational scenarios, Reallusion’s system combines human realism with modular, logic-driven workflows—helping teams replicate real operations as closely as possible, from quick what-if studies to scalable, validation-ready simulation runs across industries and use cases.

Book a live demo with Reallusion’s team

Resources for Faster Industrial Setup

In practice, scaling human-centric simulation depends on reusable modules and interactions that teams can standardize across scenarios. Alongside the free starter content included in iClone, Reallusion provides Motion Planning content packs that accelerate industrial scenario buildout and offer consistent starting points:

Ready-made factory scenarios: 12 factory scenarios (Assembly, Production, Transport, Maintenance, Inspection, and more), plus 25 interactive machines/tools and 73 worker action motions—so teams can assemble, modify, and test factory workflows faster without building everything from scratch.

Interactive industrial devices: 15 interactive devices (valves, levers, control panels, and more) that digital humans can operate precisely—enabling realistic, orderly interactions with factory equipment for more credible industrial simulations.

These resources help teams move from proof-of-concept to repeatable scenarios faster—without having to author every template and interaction from scratch.

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins. 

Kristen Scholer delivers the pre-market update on January 29th

• U.S. equities are slightly higher as traders digest Meta and Microsoft earnings and the Fed’s decision to keep rates unchanged, with the S&P 500 hitting a record above 7,000.
• York Space Systems goes public today at the NYSE, pricing shares at $34 for a $4.3B valuation; the executive team, including CEO Dirk Wallinger, will ring the opening bell.
• The NYSE continues its focus on the space sector with its upcoming Space Summit on Feb. 23, while today’s NYSE Live will feature Ray Wong discussing tech earnings and AI spending at Meta.

Opening Bell
York Space Systems celebrates its IPO

Closing Bell
HBO’s Industry to launch their new season

Click here to download the NYSE TV App 

$45M extension brings leading global institutions onto the cap table

NEW YORK, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Talos, the premier provider of institutional digital asset infrastructure, technology and data supporting the full trading and portfolio management lifecycle, today announced a $45 million Series B extension, including new strategic investors Robinhood Markets, Sony Innovation Fund, IMC, QCP and Karatage, alongside returning investors a16z crypto, BNY and Fidelity Investments.

The fundraising round brings the company’s total amount raised in its Series B to $150 million. The post-money valuation will reach approximately $1.5 billion.

“We’re proud to have some of the world’s most respected institutions, most of them existing clients and partners, join us as investors,” said Anton Katz, CEO and Co-Founder of Talos. “We extended our Series B round to accommodate interest from strategic partners who recognize Talos’s role in providing core institutional infrastructure for digital assets. At a time when traditional asset classes are increasingly migrating to digital rails, these partners wanted to be more closely aligned with our growth. Together, we’re building the foundation for the next generation of financial markets.”

This strategic round brings together partners and investors whose portfolio companies are involved in digital assets, ranging from trading and custody to liquidity provision and infrastructure. 

“Talos’s flexibility and rapid adaptability allow us to deepen our liquidity and deliver even more advanced features to Robinhood Crypto customers,” said Johann Kerbrat, SVP and GM of Crypto at Robinhood. “We’re happy to support their growth as they work to power the digital asset ecosystem.”

“Talos has built a comprehensive crypto platform from the ground up to address the complex needs of large financial institutions as they rapidly scale their businesses,” said Kazuhito Hadano, CEO, Sony Ventures Corporation. “At Sony Innovation Fund, we’ve been particularly impressed by the company’s evolution from order execution to a full front-, middle- and back-office solution, complemented by robust digital asset data and analytics. We’re excited to support Talos in this next phase of growth and help accelerate its continued expansion.”

A portion of the investment was settled using stablecoins, reflecting the growing use of blockchain-based payment rails in institutional transactions. Proceeds from the Series B extension will be used to expand product development across the Talos platform, from portfolio construction and risk management, to execution, treasury and settlement tools. In particular, Talos plans to expand its platform to support traditional asset classes as they migrate to become digital assets.

The fundraise follows a period of significant momentum for Talos, marked by the company roughly doubling revenues and number of clients each year for the past 2 years. Talos announced the launch of its RFQ platform with BlackRock’s traders on the Aladdin^® platform, as well as the acquisitions of four best-in-class digital asset firms: Coin Metrics, Cloudwall, Skolem and D3X Systems, enhancing the company’s capabilities across data, risk management, DeFi infrastructure and portfolio engineering. 

Investors additionally commented:

“Talos’s focus on institutional requirements – performance, safety and reliability – positions it as a preferred gateway for institutions entering digital asset markets and aligns with IMC’s view of how the market will continue to evolve and mature.” – Jae Park, CFO Crypto, IMC

“Digital assets are no longer a standalone market – they’re becoming the rails for broader capital markets. Talos is building the infrastructure that allows institutions to trade, manage risk and allocate capital seamlessly across that transition.” – Darius Sit, Founder of QCP

“Anton and the Talos team have built an exceptional, institutional-grade platform that is the essential infrastructure for the evolving digital asset ecosystem. Their relentless focus on innovation, combined with best-in-class execution, positions Talos as the dominant leader as traditional finance migrates to digital rails. As a long-term believer in high-quality infrastructure and deep tech, Karatage is proud to invest and support their next phase of growth and contribute to building the foundation for the future of financial markets infrastructure.” – Marius Barnett, Co-Founder and CEO, Karatage

About Talos

Talos provides institutional-grade technology and data that supports the full digital asset investment lifecycle, including liquidity sourcing, price discovery, trading, settlement and portfolio management. Engineered by a team with unmatched experience building institutional trading, portfolio and data systems, the Talos platform connects institutions to key providers in the digital asset ecosystem – exchanges, OTC desks, prime brokers, lenders, custodians, and more – through a single interface. For additional information, visit www.talos.com.

Talos Disclaimer: Talos offers software-as-a-service products that provide connectivity tools for institutional clients. Talos does not provide clients with any pre-negotiated arrangements with liquidity providers or other parties. Clients are required to independently negotiate arrangements with liquidity providers and other parties bilaterally. Talos is not party to any of these arrangements. Services and venues may not be available in all jurisdictions.

Media contact:
media@talos.com

HONG KONG, Jan. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — QCY has introduced H3S, the latest update to its H3 over-ear headphone series, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to making advanced noise-canceling audio more accessible to everyday users. Building on the strengths of the H3 line—strong noise cancellation, immersive sound, and all-day comfort—the H3S brings meaningful improvements in ANC performance, audio tuning, endurance, and ergonomics, shaped around practical listening scenarios.

Over-ear active noise-canceling headsets are becoming an integral part of modern life. From daily commutes and remote work to study sessions and moments of leisure, expectations for audio products have evolved beyond functionality alone—toward experiences that blend seamlessly into everyday living. Guided by long-standing user insight and a consistent product philosophy, QCY has responded to this shift. H3S embodies that vision: an over-ear active noise-canceling headset designed for real-world use and built to fit naturally into daily life.

From Brand Philosophy to Product Experience

Within QCY’s growing lineup of over-ear noise-cancelling headsets, H3S is designed for everyday listening at its best. Rather than catering to niche enthusiasts, it focuses on what matters most—balanced performance, all-day comfort, and dependable noise cancellation, delivered with clarity and ease.

H3S is shaped by real-world use. Its active noise cancellation helps reduce distractions in daily environments—from commuting and shared offices to home workspaces—while its lightweight, comfortable design supports extended listening without fatigue. The experience isn’t about total isolation, but about creating a calmer, more focused sound space that feels natural throughout the day.

This philosophy reflects QCY’s long-standing approach to accessible audio. Guided by how people actually listen, the brand designs products that feel intuitive, reliable, and comfortable. H3S embodies this vision—thoughtfully engineered to fit seamlessly into everyday life.

Designing for How People Actually Listen

“For us, innovation isn’t about adding complexity for its own sake,” said a spokesperson for QCY. “H3S reflects our belief that good audio should feel natural, comfortable, and easy to integrate into everyday routines. We want users to put on their headphones and enjoy the experience, without having to think about the technology behind it.”

Since its introduction to global markets, H3S has played a key role in expanding QCY’s presence across North America, Latin America, and select regions in Asia. Engagement has centered on the product’s everyday strengths—long-term comfort, refined tuning, and practical value—underscoring the brand’s belief that well-considered design resonates far beyond niche audiences.

Viewed within QCY’s broader over-ear ANC strategy, H3S is not a momentary release, but a foundation. As hybrid work, mobile routines, and flexible lifestyles continue to redefine listening habits, QCY remains focused on building audio solutions that adapt quietly and seamlessly. In this context, H3S stands as both a product and a statement of the brand’s long-term direction in consumer audio.

A Long-Term View on Over-Ear ANC

Looking ahead, QCY will continue to invest in refining over-ear ANC experiences around real user scenarios. By focusing on relevance, comfort, and thoughtful design, the brand aims to build long-term trust with listeners worldwide. H3S marks an important step in that journey—demonstrating how brand philosophy and product experience can come together to support everyday listening on a global scale.

Learn more about QCY H3S here: https://www.qcy.com/products/qcy-h3s 

About QCY
QCY is a premier audio brand, established in 2009. As a global leader in wireless audio technology, QCY boasts over 200 technology research and development engineers and operates a comprehensive ecosystem integrating production, research and development, sales, and an audio testing laboratory. The brand’s distribution channels span across the globe. For more information about QCY and its brands and products, please visit qcy.com.

PR Contact
Violet, Public Relations Manager, QCY
pr@qcyearphone.com
Rice, Marketing Director, QCY
Rice@qcyearphone.com