The world of eSports has seen an enormous surge in popularity and growth, with entire stadiums being sold out to watch finals of games such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Dota 2.
However, as the industry evolves, there’s some speculation that eSports could soon be seen in less conventional genres. Let’s take a look at whether or not eSports will ever expand into other genres.
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The Biggest Genres In eSports Today
One of the defining characteristics of eSports is the dominance of 3 genres:
Real-Time Strategy (RTS) Games
Have you heard of games like StarCraft II where you have to manage resources, build armies, and outsmart your opponents in real time? Those are RTS games, and they’re popular because they focus on 2 players at a time, with the whole game being determined by a player’s ability to manage resources, build armies, and outmaneuver opponents in real-time battles.
First-Person Shooters (FPS) Games
When you think of FPS games, titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Overwatch probably pop into your head. They're huge in eSports because they require quick reflexes, tactical thinking, and precise aiming.
Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBA)
Some of the biggest names in eSports belong to the MOBA genre, including League of Legends and Dota 2. They're a hit because they're all about teamwork and awesome gameplay mechanics.
Exploring New Genres
While eSports is super popular in some genres, it’s got huge potential in other types of games as well.
Casino Games
The world of casino games has huge potential to blend with eSports in the future. With their focus on skill, strategy, and chance, casino games offer a fresh take on competitive gaming. Casino games, if they enter the eSports field, could look like betting game competitions with the winner being the player who earned the most from their wagers.
Although casino games are not yet an eSports option, they’re extremely popular for players online. For players concerned about privacy, the list of anonymous sites grows by the day - allowing players to practice and play with privacy, and without having to worry about their personal information getting leaked. So for now, players can fine-tune their skills until this genre is catapulted onto the eSports scene and watch the top gambling streamers on Kick for inspiration.
Auto Battlers
Auto battlers include games like Teamfight Tactics (TFT) and Dota Underlords. They focus mainly on strategy and could be popular with people looking for something less fast-paced than MOBA and RTS games. Auto Battler would be an interesting genre to add to eSports in the future.
Mobile Games
Mobile games have already begun making their mark in eSports, gathering a huge viewer base among mobile gamers. While eSports have been traditionally played on PCs, a shifting trend is showing an increase in players opting for mobile which may be what the future of eSports holds.
Speedrunning
Speedrunning refers to the process of finishing a game as quickly as possible, with some truly ridiculous world records. Combining skill and timing, this genre could also make a big break, especially when two or more players compete to finish a game as quickly as possible.
Challenges For New Genres
While these genres have the potential to break into eSports, there are still a host of challenges that shape the direction of the eSports ecosystem. Let’s take a look at a few key challenges.
Regulations
Regulatory challenges regarding age restrictions, licensing agreements, and other hurdles have to be navigated carefully to ensure compliance and legitimacy in eSports tournaments, especially when talking about genres like casino games.
Player and Viewer Bases
One huge challenge that potential genres face is establishing a large enough player base and following to create a sustainable eSports environment. For example, in 2020 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive saw a viewership of 1 million people. That’s a huge viewer and potential player base that new genres will have to compete with.
Competitive Framework
Game developers and organisers have to work together to design balanced gameplay mechanics, clearly defined rules, and game structures that are engaging for viewers, and fair for players.
Competing With Established Genres
While new genres have their fanbases, there’s still going to be competition with established genres such as FPSes and MOBAs. Creating games that have unique features and compelling gameplay is going to help games in new genres set themselves apart.
Will eSports Games Ever Expand Into Other Genres?
While there are some challenges, the potential is definitely there. New games often come into the eSports world from time to time, so a new genre being included may not be too far off.
As long as a new genre can make itself unique, fair, competitive, and (most importantly) interesting to watch, there’s nothing stopping any genre from breaking into eSports!
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