eSports is the term used to describe professional gamers who play video games for money. Some of the most popular eSports games include League of Legends, Counter Strike, and Overwatch.
League of Legends
League of Legends eSports is one of the most popular forms of sports entertainment in the world. It is a multiplayer online battle arena game that is played from a top down perspective. Players take on the role of a champion in order to kill the enemy Nexus and collect gold. They can then upgrade their items to become stronger.
In addition to its global reach, League of Legends eSports has an incredibly active competitive scene. Streams are often among the most watched in the esports world.
The competitive scene of League of Legends is organized into four different areas. First, there is the main tournament. This is what teams in the top leagues compete in. They also have regional tournaments. These tournaments are the best in their respective regions. A win in a domestic tournament will give the team a better chance at winning the World Championship.
There is also the Knockout Stage. This is the final stage of the tournament. This is where the top 3 teams in each region will compete. Usually, the top 2-4 teams will receive a Playoffs bye.
League of Legends is one of the first games to target esports. It is free to download and play. There are several League of Legends Leagues across the world. Some of the major Leagues are in Europe, Asia and South America.
Unlike many other esports, League of Legends has a centralized structure. There are rules that the developers have built for the foreseeable future. However, minor changes can have significant knock-on effects for the entire season.
Every year, a League of Legends World Championship is held. The tournament consists of thirteen professional leagues. Teams in these leagues compete in a best-of-one double round robin format. At the end of the tournament, the best teams advance to the final.
Every year, the League of Legends World Championship draws millions of viewers. Viewers watch the matches and are treated to a festival atmosphere.
Each year, the top teams from each region compete in a tournament that is hosted in a different country. The winning team gets an invitation to the next World Championship.
Overwatch
Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game. Designed by Blizzard Entertainment, the game was released in May 2016. It was a hit with fans and critics alike, and won numerous “game of the year” awards. Players pick a character from a group of heroes, which have different skills, abilities, and jobs. Each character is sorted into one of three categories: Tank, Damage, or Support.
The Overwatch eSports scene is thriving. Teams play a variety of map types to complete objectives in a set amount of time. These objectives range from attacking a control point to defending one.
The Overwatch League is the premier esports league for the popular video game. It is backed by sponsors and team owners. In the first season of the League, there were twelve teams in the US, UK, and Canada. Since then, the league has expanded to eight more teams.
Overwatch eSports is gaining momentum and new players are coming in all the time. For example, a newly formed franchise called the Philadelphia Fusion has a partnership with Comcast Spectacor. Other prominent sports franchises also own teams in the league.
The Overwatch League is organized by Blizzard Entertainment. The official website has a dedicated Video on Demand section. There are also exclusive interviews with players, player profiles, and developer diaries.
Aside from the official league, there is also the Overwatch Open. This tournament is played in seven regions, and the best teams from each division compete in the grand finale.
Overwatch is also available on the Nintendo Switch. The game has an attractive graphics style that contributes to its popularity among esports enthusiasts.
As of May 2018, the game had over 40 million monthly players, making it one of the most popular games in the esports arena. The official Overwatch website has a player and roster page, and includes detailed stats for every team.
In early December, the Overwatch League announced a series of new rules. Some notable changes include increased slot prices and the addition of eight more teams for the second season of the league.
The league also eliminated third-party tournaments. Rather than relying on the traditional sports format, the league featured city-based franchising and bragging rights.
CounterStrike
One of the oldest eSports titles, CounterStrike is a multiplayer first person shooter that has been played for over 20 years. It features seven main maps and different game modes. Depending on the mode, teams of players work together to execute their strategies and thwart their opponents. Players can use in-game currency to buy weapons and upgrades. The more experience and skill a player has, the more money they can earn.
Despite its long history, eSports has often been roiled by scandals. Recently, a team of professional gamers known as “iBuyPower” were banned for life after throwing a competitive match.
The FBI is investigating the case, and the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) is collaborating with federal law enforcement. Piers Harding-Rolls, the research director at Ampere Analysis, said that the integrity of eSports is essential for its commercial potential.
The FBI has recently set up a sports betting investigative unit. Meanwhile, the ESIC is investigating whether players were bribed to fix matches by outside “betting syndicates”.
CS:GO is a popular eSports title, with millions of pounds of prize money. In addition to live tournaments, fans also donate to players’ online accounts. They can also buy branded merchandise.
Players can compete in a variety of competitions, from Minors to Majors. During the Minors, a fifty thousand dollar prize pool is offered. This is seen as a stepping stone to the Majors.
Those competing in the Majors are divided into Challengers and Legends. The Challengers phase is played in a closed studio, while the Legends phase is played in a live arena. Both teams have $800 to start. If a team lands a kill, they receive a bonus. There are also weapons available to be purchased during the freeze time. However, a team’s economy is a key factor.
While Counterstrike is an easy game to learn, it requires real skill and firepower. Those who are skilled enough can amass hundreds of millions of views. Eventually, these players become celebrities, with fans following them everywhere they go.
While Counter Strike has been a successful eSport for many years, its popularity has dropped in the early 2010s. This is due in part to the emergence of a new competitive MOBA genre.
Other popular esports games
There are a wide variety of esports games. They range from fighting games like Street Fighter to real time strategy games like Starcraft. Usually, players compete in a team to win a cash prize.
Some of the most popular esports games today include Dota 2, League of Legends, Overwatch and Hearthstone. These games are played by professional gamers and are considered to be highly competitive. Esports can also be profitable for sponsors and advertisers. Many of the major sports leagues are also trying to enter the esports world.
Dota 2 is a free-to-play multiplayer battle arena game. The goal is to destroy an enemy’s base. Teams are composed of five players. If all of the players are dead, the game ends.
Other esports games include Call of Duty, NBA 2K and Rocket League. In addition to having their own TV channels, these games are extremely competitive. For instance, the team that wins the Grand Finals of the Overwatch League will earn more than $40 million in prize money.
While esports may not be as popular as they used to be, the industry is still growing. This year, the revenue is predicted to reach more than $1 billion. It has been estimated that more than eight million people play video games daily.
Major esports tournaments are hosted by the biggest sporting bodies on the planet. One of the largest and most lucrative tournaments is the International. A team of five players fights in an arena for a large prize pool.
Video games have been around for decades, but the popularity of esports has grown tremendously in recent years. Various celebrities and athletes have also started playing these games.
Many esports games are popular with both at-home gamers and professional players. Most of these games are easy to play for those who are new to the sport. Several major esports games are also available as single player versions.
Another esports game that is popular with many fans is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This game is a first person shooter that can be played in both online and offline modes. CS:GO has a massive pay pool and attracts many followers since 2012.
Several major esports organizations have risen to prominence. One of the most prominent is Team Liquid, a Netherlands-based organization that has teams across a variety of games.