Video game competitions have become a massive form of entertainment, to the point that it has become hard to explain the difference between eSports and Sports.
The eSports industry has grown so much that official tournaments now give away huge sums of money (largely provided by sponsors) to their participants. The International, for example –– which is the world tournament of Dota 2 –– distributes $47.2 million in prizes these days. This speaks to the tremendous popularity of existing competitions –– but also the potential for new ones to develop. Indeed, as eSports continues to grow, it’s virtually inevitable that gamers and developers alike will push new experiences into the arena. So, just for fun, we gave some thought a few potential “next big things” in this emerging industry.
New Brawlers
This genre of games involves simple combat systems and multiple fighters competing in a variety of scenarios. Brawlers like Super Smash Bros. have already become immensely popular on the eSports scene. As a result, it seems like only a matter of time before more games from this space get in on the action. Titles from Jump Heroes to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl have tried to replicate the success of Smash Bros. already. However, it’s Warner Bros’ Multiversus that looks to be the big, looming contender. This game will bring something new to the genre by taking advantage of unprecedented licensing cooperation and potentially introducing an unusually large and diverse collection of fighting characters. We’d bet on this becoming an eSports mainstay in due time.
Word Games
At first, people wouldn’t consider word apps like Scrabble or the new phenomenon Wordle fun or dynamic enough to attract eSports viewers. And perhaps that’s the case. Then again, when you really think about it, games like this have captured the public’s imagination in pretty big ways before. In the early days of app-based gaming, Words With Friends was one of the first viral multiplayer options; in the last month we’ve seen Wordle rise from enjoyable internet discovery to New York Times-funded cultural centerpiece. It would take the right game and a bit of luck, but imagining a word puzzle of sorts becoming an eSports sensation might not be that crazy.
NFT-Based Digital Card-Collecting Games
Digital card-collecting games like Magic: The Gathering already have an important presence in the world of eSports. But what would happen if players could use cards that are not only rare but incredibly valuable? An NFT card from Gods Unchained, for example, was sold for $60,000 once upon a time. An NFT-driven DCCG giving players the possibility of using valuable cards to beat the other players –– and take those players’ cards –– could be extremely engaging just based on the stakes involved.
Poker Tournaments
Poker already operates as a competitive gaming sphere unto itself. Yet with more U.S. states legalizing online poker, and more people starting to play for stakes online, we might be on the cusp of a substantial shift in how online poker is viewed in the U.S. Perhaps existing platforms will grow, more people will play, and that will be that. But it’s also likely that as online poker grows in the U.S., newer and more modern platforms will emerge to handle new players. And with the world of eSports continuing to expand at the same time, it seems almost inevitable that there will be overlap at some point. Even of an entity like the World Poker Tour isn’t absorbed into eSports, expect to see some version of competitive poker in the eSports world before too long.
VR Fictional Sports
There are a lot of examples of games played within fictional worlds, like The Witcher’s Gwent, or Final Fantasy X’s Blitzball. But if there’s a game that has become its own movement, it’s Quidditch from the world of Harry Potter. Already, people all around the world play live versions of the game as best they can without… well, flying broomsticks and magic balls. And recently, a VR version of the sport has been launched for the Oculus Rift, allowing fans of the franchise to compete in what feel like real Quidditch games. If this becomes a competitive eSport, it would bring something to the table that has never been considered: the possibility of allowing viewers to place their virtual seats whether they want, from taking the perspective of specific players, to sitting in the stands to watch the action unfold. It’s ambitious, but this idea too feels oddly inevitable.
The eSports industry is worth billions, with countless fans streaming or going to live tournaments to support their favorite players and teams. However, as new mechanics are introduced in old genres, and new games grow in popularity, the world of eSports is also going to continue to evolve. As it does so, experiences like the ones discussed above are just some we might see.
