Organized by Good Game Global, Zadar became a global hub for esports, sports innovation, and digital entertainment from June 5–7, thanks to the premiere edition of the Sunset Esports Festival, held as part of the fourth and most ambitious Sunset Sports Festival to date, at Falkensteiner Resort Punta Skala. By introducing this new program format, the festival further strengthened its position as a leading regional — and increasingly internationally recognized — platform at the crossroads of sports, technology, and business.
Through panels, lectures, and discussions featuring top names from the esports industry, the festival explored the future of gaming, its potential Olympic role, investment trends, and industry challenges. The event brought together all those aiming to stay ahead — from seasoned experts to brands and esports enthusiasts — and provided a space for knowledge sharing and networking.
Perkz Bids Farewell to His Professional Career
One of the festival’s standout moments was the panel Perkz: Game. Fame. Sacrifice., which offered an intimate look at the career of one of Europe’s and the world’s most successful esports players — Luka “Perkz” Perković. This exclusive conversation, led by Good Game Global CEO Nikola Stolnik, served as both an emotional retrospective and Perkz’s official farewell to professional esports. As a symbol of the League of Legends scene, Perković spoke openly about his successes, the pressures that accompanied his journey, the daily sacrifices, mental health challenges, and the importance of well-being in competitive gaming. The panel was more than a career-ending story — it served as a powerful reminder of the personal cost of elite performance and the need for better player care beyond the game. His heartfelt and inspiring message resonated deeply with the audience, marking a symbolic end of an era in professional gaming — and a new beginningfor one of its most recognizable figures.
Could Esports Become an Olympic Discipline?
The opening panel of the Sunset Esports Festival, Gold Medals & Gamepads: Esports at the Olympics?, discussed how esports — a multi-billion-dollar industry uniting players and fans worldwide — is increasingly gaining recognition alongside traditional sports.
Gustavo Arellano, Head of Commercial Development at FIBA; Maja Poljak, EU Funds and International Cooperation Coordinator at the Croatian Olympic Committee; Boban Totovski, Secretary General of the International Esports Federation; and Zvonimir Burazin, Head of Operations at HLTV, debated whether professional video gaming can become an official part of the Olympic Games and how the relationship between esports and traditional sports is evolving.
“There’s a lot of space for mutual learning between esports and traditional sports, but it won’t happen overnight — it requires gradual adaptation. Still, I believe it’s a fantastic opportunity to expand audiences and strengthen community ties,” Poljak noted. On the other hand, Totovski stated, “For me, esports is my favorite sport — it acts as a bridge between different stakeholders, and building mutual trust and understanding is key to making esports a natural part of the broader sports landscape.” Arellano explained why FIBA chose to embrace esports: “Today’s generations grow up with video games — it’s their natural way of engaging with sports. For us, it made perfect sense to enter that world and explore how we can stay relevant in the digital space.”
How CBS Transformed the Way We Watch Sports
The panel The Best Seat in the House explored the challenges and successes of transforming CBS Golazo into one of the most-watched sports programs — both on TV and social media.
Panelists from CBS — Matt Curtis, Broadcast Coach and Sports Producer; Peter Schmeichel, TV Presenter and Commentator; Anita Nneka Jones, Host and Sports Journalist; and Pete Radovich, VP of Production and Creative Director — shared behind-the-scenes stories about creative solutions that helped bring their content closer to mainstream audiences.
One interesting anecdote revealed that the deal for the show was originally struck by Pete Radovich — right in Zadar.
Radovich explained that 25 years ago, CBS, as a traditional broadcaster, had an audience that relied almost entirely on classic formats. But the pandemic and changing viewer habits forced them to embrace social media: “We realized we needed the voice of the audience. Players and fans are essential, so we included them as part of our core infrastructure from the very beginning.”
Schmeichel emphasized the importance of respecting athletes and viewers: “We strive not to force things but to show genuine respect to the people we engage with. Our work doesn’t begin or end with the match — our long-term goal is to provide holistic content that builds trust and deepens relationships.”
One of the panel’s most memorable moments was a story about Luka Modrić voluntarily approaching the CBS team for an interview after Real Madrid’s loss — a testament to the trust and closeness CBS has built with players. The panelists agreed that the show’s success stems from openness to new formats, community involvement, and a respectful approach to athletes — all with the aim of creating content that resonates on both traditional and digital platforms.
What Happens Behind the Scenes at Major Esports Tournaments?
The panel Behind the Arena: Secrets of the Esports Mega Shows featured Mladen Jurić, Co-Founder & CEO of Relog Media, and Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, with moderation by Christen Sandersen, Business Development Lead at Better Collective.
The panel gave the audience an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the world’s biggest esports events. Panelists shared insights from organizing some of the industry’s most famous tournaments, discussed the evolution of production standards, and explored the future of esports as a global entertainment phenomenon. The session offered a unique glimpse into how esports mega-shows are conceptualized, produced, and broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide.
Who’s Investing in Esports — and Why?
At the Sunset Esports Festival, the panel Power Plays & Paydays: Inside the Esports Investment Game gathered leading investors and esports industry leaders to discuss the intersection of competitive gaming, capital, and innovation.
Moderated by Good Game Global founder and CEO Nikola Stolnik, the panel featured Bojana Obradović, Owner & CEO of iNation and Investment Advisor at BlackRock; Andrea Čordaš, Partner at Hellen’s Rock Capital; and His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, President of the Saudi Esports Federation and VP of Savvy Games Group.
Panelists offered various perspectives on what drives sustainable growth in esports — from human and cultural capitalto infrastructure investments and the importance of education.
Among the concrete examples of strategic investments, Oscar Torres Lopez highlighted the announcement of the new season of the Deutsche Telekom eSports Championship, illustrating the growing role of global brands in shaping esports’ future.
The discussion also emphasized the industry’s long-term development, focusing on human capital and player well-being. The panel provided a realistic and ambitious outlook on how esports can become a sustainable, inclusive, and globally relevant sector in the coming years. Panelists agreed that the industry’s future hinges on strategic investment, cross-sector collaboration, and a long-term vision.
