The next evolution: Joining forces to better esports

ESL has been a platform for esports athletes bringing teams together to compete for 20 years now – in that time gaming has gone mainstream. Now we want to take it further. We know better than most, to win the game, you’re better going after it as a team. That’s why ESL’s merger with DreamHack is set to shake up the world of esports.

We have come a long way from the late 90’s gaming scene, when players first went online. When, video games were stigmatised – as with most new technologies – and players were thought of as lazy, rather than outstanding virtuous talent. This may have made ESL’s progress harder, but it also brought our community together and taught us to not take no for an answer.

What really changed the game for esports was a fusion of technological innovations, turbocharging the player experience, fan engagement and business models. For instance, the roll-out of affordable internet connections, made esports the most democratised sport around. These days, anyone can play with a mobile phone – it’s accessible for all. This means that any player can channel their competitiveness and gain the recognition they deserve for their achievements. Today, there is no doubt that video games are highly complex and intellectually challenging.

But it’s thanks to this fusion of transformations, that we have reached this point of credibility. Firstly, the switch from a box business model to free play switched our way of thinking and playing. Fans took advantage of the new platforms like YouTube and Twitch, where they could consume all the live content they wanted – and social media brought the game back to the people.

It is clear that interest in esports is accelerating. We have filled entire stadiums and we are emboldened and driven to go further. With DreamHack, we can expand our geographical reach, extend communities and offer more opportunities than ever to engage with games and compete at any level. We have overcome the same challenges from different sides of the same coin – and joining forces is an exciting cornerstone for more innovation.

But there is much still to do. Yes, esports is mainstream but next-up we have the opportunity to nurture gamers and future athletes in schools. To cultivate a love of the game from the grassroots upwards. To create spaces where kids can play video games together and against each other – and it is important for this to become the norm. In the meantime, we will continue to evolve high-class competitions with ample opportunities for fan engagement and opportunities for everyone to ladder up.

It has been a long and exciting road, but we are really only just beginning. I am sure together with DreamHack we will bring forth an experience that not only friends come together for – but families, too. That we can enable many more gamers to shine, for fans to follow and for everyone to be a part of it. In the meantime, ESL will continue to do what it does best – take risks, face fresh challenges, focus on virtues, and try to make players happy.