What are the most effective ways to build a sense of community among esports players?

1 Create a shared identity

One of the first steps to build a sense of community is to create a shared identity among players. This can be done by designing a game that has a clear theme, lore, aesthetic, and style. A shared identity can also be fostered by allowing players to customize their characters, teams, and profiles, and by encouraging them to express their personalities and preferences. For example, League of Legends has a rich and diverse roster of champions, each with their own backstory, voice, and appearance. Players can choose their favorite champions, skins, and roles, and form bonds with other players who share their tastes.

2 Provide social spaces

Another way to build a sense of community is to provide social spaces where players can interact with each other, both in and out of the game. Social spaces can be physical or virtual, and can range from chat rooms, forums, and discord servers, to in-game hubs, lobbies, and spectator modes. Social spaces can facilitate communication, collaboration, feedback, and support among players, as well as create opportunities for fun, humor, and friendship. For example, Overwatch has a social menu that allows players to join or create groups, voice chat, send messages, and invite friends. It also has a custom game browser that lets players create and join custom matches with different rules and settings.

3 Reward participation

A third way to build a sense of community is to reward participation, both individually and collectively. Participation can include playing the game, completing challenges, achieving goals, contributing to the game's development, or engaging with the game's media and events. Rewards can include in-game items, currency, cosmetics, badges, titles, or recognition. Rewards can also be based on the performance or behavior of the whole community, such as unlocking new content, modes, or features, or receiving praise or feedback from the developers. For example, Fortnite has a battle pass system that rewards players for completing various tasks and progressing through different tiers. It also has community quests that require players to work together to reach a certain goal, such as collecting resources or eliminating enemies.

4 Encourage competition

A fourth way to build a sense of community is to encourage competition, both within and across the game's communities. Competition can create a sense of challenge, excitement, and achievement among players, as well as foster a spirit of sportsmanship, respect, and fair play. Competition can also create a sense of belonging and pride among players who identify with a certain team, region, or faction. Competition can be implemented through various modes, such as ranked matches, tournaments, leaderboards, or clan wars. For example, League of Legends has a ranked system that assigns players to different divisions and tiers based on their skill level. It also has a global esports scene that features professional teams and players from different regions and leagues.

5 Support diversity

A fifth way to build a sense of community is to support diversity, both in the game's design and in the game's culture. Diversity can refer to the representation and inclusion of different genders, ethnicities, cultures, languages, abilities, and preferences in the game's characters, settings, and stories. Diversity can also refer to the acceptance and appreciation of different play styles, strategies, opinions, and perspectives among the game's players and communities. Supporting diversity can enhance the game's appeal, relevance, and accessibility, as well as create a sense of respect, empathy, and solidarity among players. For example, Overwatch has a diverse and inclusive cast of heroes, each with their own unique abilities, personalities, and backgrounds. It also has a code of conduct that promotes positive and respectful behavior among players.

6 Promote collaboration

A sixth way to build a sense of community is to promote collaboration, both within and across the game's communities. Collaboration can create a sense of teamwork, cooperation, and interdependence among players, as well as foster a culture of learning, sharing, and helping. Collaboration can also create a sense of innovation and creativity among players who can create, modify, or improve the game's content, features, or experiences. Collaboration can be implemented through various modes, such as co-op missions, raids, workshops, or mods. For example, Fortnite has a creative mode that allows players to design and build their own maps, games, and scenarios. It also has a support-a-creator program that enables players to support their favorite content creators by using their codes in the game's store.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?