What Makes A Game An Esports Game? (Opinion Piece)

So technically you could argue any game that has a competitive mode is an esprots game. But there is a reason we are not filling this sports site with any multiplayer game that has a VS mode. There are a lot more games out there than you might think that would go under the umbrella of esports but not every game qualifies.

Here is what make a game an esport game:

Big Tournaments And Large Crowds:

This is really the main factor of an esports game. Games like Fortnite has million dollar tournaments and fill arenas just like major sporting events do. These big crowds turn the game into an event and the roar of the crowd can help turn the game into a sport. I would argue any game with a competitive mode that can fill an arena should be considered an esport game. This is the same thing with games that have a league that runs a full season. If you have an accepted season like a sport you are an esport.

A Match-Like Mode With A Clear Winner:

If you are going high score it is not an esport. Games like Fortnite and PUBG are a battle to be the last man standing. While games like Overwatch and League Of Legends are team based games where you know who is leading. The game should run like a traditional sport does in which you have people competing with each other in a fixed mode with fixed rules.

Solo Or Team Doesn't Matter:

The game can be a 1-on-1 fighting game and be an esport (like tennis) or be 5-on-5 (like basketball) and still be a sport.

Genre Doesn't Matter Either:

Fighting games, Mobas, shooters and racing games can all be epsorts game if the community and audience is there.

At the end of the day it really comes down to a fun competitive match that people are watching. If there are matches that are on espn and you have people watching it then it can be an esport. But if it is a game that is lacking that competitive seen at the major level, even if it is a great game with an awesome competitive mode, I don't think it will qualify. You really need that community backing a league for it to be an esport.