Decision-Aid Insights from Esports Players' Gratifications and Ongoing Gameplay Intentions: Evidence from Saudi Arabia Using UTAUT2 and Media Gratifications Perspectives

Esports has become a rapidly expanding segment of the digital economy, blending interactive entertainment, competition, and community. Saudi Arabia has positioned itself as a major player in this industry, hosting some of the world's largest esports events, including the rebranded Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh in 2024. This study investigates Saudi esports players' gratifications and ongoing gameplay intentions using frameworks from gratifications theory and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2). A survey of 423 Saudi gamers reveals that enjoyment, social interaction, and achievement gratifications, combined with performance expectancy and social influence, significantly predict continued gameplay intentions. The findings not only contribute to esports scholarship by situating Saudi Arabia within global esports discourses but also provide actionable insights for decision-aid applications in computer science and engineering, such as predictive models for player engagement, recommendation systems, and adaptive esports platforms.