The eSports world has grown considerably in the past few years, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Having started to creep into the mainstream, it’s now a major source of entertainment for people.
With further investment coming into eSports, there’s surely more to come as well, which must excite fans. Yet, when it comes to the most popular eSports titles, there are only a select few. Whilst you can find a range of games if you look a bit deeper, the reality is that the main leagues and biggest events seem to center on certain games, such as CS: GO, Dota 2, and League Of Legends.
.@TeamLiquidLoL are making plays all over the map in game one! #LCS pic.twitter.com/R7s7nktUuE
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) January 24, 2021
Why are these so popular?
Firstly, it’s no surprise that FPS and MOBA games are so popular. And, it’s easy to see why the players love playing them, as they’re fun games that offer a lot of value. Recent studies have shown that action themes are the most popular across the gaming industry right now, so eSports is just following that trend. To look at this in more detail, it is possible that games use the modern and fantasy setting is because it is so popular and relevant in modern culture. They are popular outside of gaming, so it makes sense they are popular within gaming too.
Beyond that, the starting point is that these games need to offer a multiplayer mode suitable for competitive play, which ensures that you can organize teams and tournaments. The game also needs to be balanced so that the gameplay is fair, which means each match will be decided by skill rather than abusing a broken weapon or game mechanic. Equally important, the game needs to be fun to watch.
The reality is that any game that isn’t exciting to watch isn’t going to attract a wide audience. A host of factors need to come together for this to work, which means the games are good to play, good to watch, and have an interesting setting. All of the titles listed ensure that is the case, which is why so many play them.
Other games can still thrive
There’s nothing to suggest that other themes can’t break through and enjoy similar success in the eSports world. Fortnite is the clearest example of that, which is quite cartoony in appearance. This is a relatively new game compared to the likes of LoL or CS: GO, and it has proven to be massive in the competitive scene. Then you have other titles, such as FIFA, that are starting to develop a bigger support base for eSports, with major tournaments taking place.
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🎮 Watch the esports action on @BBCiPlayer and on @BBCSport: https://t.co/Zhrn0KFqpB pic.twitter.com/AQlmBmGZ7y
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 16, 2021
What does the future hold?
The future for everyone connected to eSports is very bright. As touched upon, it’s growing in popularity, and that’s not stopping any time soon. The level of investment into the industry is continuing, and when you have high-profile figures such as Drake, Michael Jordan, and David Beckham, getting involved, then you should expect more to come.
In terms of the games, they will eventually branch out as well. When eSports has a bigger reach, there will be more calls for different types of games, although the popular action and shooter games now will still grow.
Ultimately, as reflected in the gaming industry, on the whole, certain types of games are flourishing in eSports right now, but the great thing is the choice available for players. With more publicity and investment coming into eSports, the depth of games is only going to increase.
