Convention - PGW 2025: EVA takes karting gaming to a whole new level

By Mulder, 28 october 2025

On the eve of Paris Games Week 2025, excitement is already building around the EVA (Esports Virtual Arenas) booth. The French pioneer of virtual reality esports is set to unveil a world premiere of EVA KARTING GP, an electric VR karting game that promises to push the boundaries of immersion once again. After winning over more than a million players with EVA Battle Arena and its horror-themed expansion EVA Moon of the Dead, the French studio is back with a bold new concept: a multiplayer experience where players, seated in real electric mini-karts, compete in a 500 m² physical arena while navigating a spectacular virtual world. A technological and playful feat that combines speed, strategy, and adrenaline.

This new creation is in line with the vision of Jean Mariotte, Stéphanie Belle, and William Klein, the three founders of EVA. Since 2018, their ambition has remained unchanged: to transform video games into a real sport, where physical performance and competition are experienced in real life. The French company, now at the head of a network of more than sixty venues in nine countries, has established itself as the world leader in hyper free roaming VR experiences, a format that allows players to move freely across vast terrains while remaining connected to a virtual environment. This mastery of real movement is at the heart of EVA KARTING GP, an experience that combines physical sensations with total digital immersion.

“There were already karting experiences with ground projection of the environment, but VR allows for real immersion and incredible possibilities. EVA KARTING GP is a gamer's dream come true,” explains Jean Mariotte, co-founder and CEO of EVA. In concrete terms, participants will take their place in real electric karts connected to the game system. Every turn, every acceleration, every collision is physically felt, while the elements of the circuit—bonuses, weapons, traps, and boosts—materialize in virtual reality. The goal is clear: to offer a competition that is both accessible and technical, capable of bringing together families, esports fans, and thrill seekers.

The game will be officially launched during Paris Games Week, but EVA is already preparing for its wider rollout. The first dedicated space will open in January 2026 at the future EVA Paris-Est flagship store in Montreuil, a 3,000 m² venue that will embody the brand's global vision. This center will include two 500 m² arenas, four augmented reality dart tracks, a TV set, and a restaurant designed by chef Poca, a well-known figure in the French esports scene. This flagship store will serve as an international showcase for EVA, bringing together sports, technology, and conviviality under one roof.

Ultimately, EVA KARTING GP will join EVA's range of competitive games with its own tournaments, leagues, and championships. The company wants to take the same approach that made EVA League 1 and the Coupe de France so successful, with competitions broadcast live on Twitch via the MGG_FR channel, attracting an ever-growing community of enthusiasts. “This new game will allow us to welcome a new target audience of players to our venues, but we are staying true to our esports DNA, and I can't wait to see the first official races on EVA KARTING GP,” says Jean Mariotte.

What EVA is about to unveil at Paris Games Week goes beyond the simple announcement of a new game. It is a declaration of intent. Since its creation, the company has built a bridge between two worlds—sports and video games—and continues to redefine what it means to “play together.” With EVA KARTING GP, Jean Mariotte, Stéphanie Belle, and William Klein are continuing this 100% French adventure with the same boldness that made them successful: that of a dream born on an imaginary soccer field where people would play Call of Duty, and which has now become a sport in its own right. If the future of video games is set to be collective, immersive, and physical, it will undoubtedly take shape tomorrow evening on EVA's virtual circuits.

(Source: press release)