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Listen to Chris Arkenberg on Get in the game podcastĮxplore the charticle: Can traditional broadcasters win with eSports? And this level of spectacle will likely be increasingly common in coming months and years, with more views, sponsorships, and money than ever before. Such was the scene at Valve’s 2017 International DotA 2 Championships.
For the players, the stakes are high, with $24 million in cash prizes. Some have paid extra to watch directly through their own games, driving the camera wherever they want, controlling their onscreen experience. Five million more viewers watch remotely via streaming services, many chatting and broadcasting their own commentary. A high-energy announcer calls the plays as fans erupt into chants and cheers, encouraging their favorite teams to victory. Introductionįifteen thousand people are packed into a darkened arena, lit only by the rapid flickering of enormous screens and the glow from glass-walled player rooms set across the stage. For entertainment companies, there are opportunities to capitalize on the boom. With competitive video games drawing larger audiences, eSports is filling arenas and boosting bottom lines for the likes of game publishers and marketers.
