From grassroots competitions to world-class arenas, esports tournaments have become an important part of the video gaming industry. Led by some of the biggest game developers in the world, they attract millions of viewers and are backed by major brands. They also have a real-world impact on economic growth, demographics, and social changes. They may even one day compete with traditional sports as a global entertainment event.
Unlike traditional gaming, esports are based on competitive play organized and sanctioned by governing bodies. They can range from local events with high school or college teams to multi-million dollar prize pools. Most esports are played online, with players from all over the world logging in and competing for prizes. This is a large part of why they are so successful. Better internet infrastructure allows tournaments to run smoothly, with players able to switch between different streams without worrying about lag.
Some of the largest esports tournaments are held for popular games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike. They can draw massive crowds that rival some of the world’s oldest and most famous sports events. The prize pools at these events can be crowdfunded, with gamers contributing through in-game purchases. This model has proved to be extremely popular and has helped esports to grow significantly over the past few years.
Most esports tournaments feature pre-game and in-game commentary. Often the commentators are well-known personalities from the gaming community, with some of them being hired by professional broadcasters to act as their main on-air talent.