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April 26, 2020, 04:05:52 PM |
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Esports have never had it so good. Although competitive video gaming hasn’t proven entirely invulnerable to the coronavirus pandemic, it isn’t doing so bad out of it either. With mainstream sports around the world on hold, people are increasingly turning to gaming to fill the empty hours of lockdown and isolation.
The playing of video games is up – Verizon reported that US domestic peak-hour usage was up 75% in the first week of quarantine – but tellingly gaming as a spectator sport is also through the roof. Twitch, one the world’s biggest streaming platforms for gamers, is estimated to have grown its audience by up to a third in March alone. “With more stay-at-home mandates being issued around the world and the entertainment industry finding new ways to migrate their offerings to livestreaming platforms, we expect to see these numbers rise,
You could be forgiven for thinking that we’ve wandered into an alternate universe since the outbreak of the coronavirus COVID-19.
It’s a pandemic that has taught us just how unprepared we were for a disease to spread with such speed and reach, and virtually everyone stands to be affected in some way. And the world of traditional sports, often a welcome distraction during times of economic turmoil or political unrest, has been hit just as hard as the rest of us.
Fortunately, despite the cancellation of leagues and tournaments across the globe, sports is finding solace in its younger brother: esports.
A virtual oasis: sports world turns to esports during COVID-19 crisis
Image credit: Codemasters
An unlikely alliance
Esports has been far from sports’ biggest ally during its burgeoning growth across the last few years. An ageing audience has left some major sports with stagnating viewership, especially across the US, as leagues fail to catch the attention of younger fans; which is precisely the demographic that is turning to competitive gaming for their entertainment. Yet now, esports is providing a welcome reprieve for sports teams and players that are struggling to provide content during the current crisis.
Of course, esports itself is hardly unaffected; there’s a growing list of tournaments and events (including our own ESI New York) that have been affected by the virus. But competitions and influencers alike are returning to the roots of the industry and streaming online, allowing fans stuck at home easy access to a constant flow of entertainment.
Sports bodies have been catching on. Perhaps the best example is Formula One, which recently announced intentions to launch a sim racing series. The Virtual Grand Prix Series has seen a number of current F1 drivers compete on F1 2019, alongside guests from esports and gaming. Its reveal follows confirmation of similar events from NASCAR and the Supercars Championship, with teams and drivers going head-to-head online.
Racing is almost the perfect match for such a crossover; technology has become so advanced that professional drivers can use simulation racing to accurately practice for major races in a safe (and relatively inexpensive) environment. But it’s far from the only sport to use esports as an outlet during the downtime created by the ongoing pandemic.
NBA side Pheonix Suns tweeted that it would play out the rest of its season on NBA 2K20, broadcast on Twitch. Monumental Sports Network and NBC Sports Washington announced plans to broadcast Washington Wizards’ NBA and Washington Capitals’ NHL games through NBA 2K20 and NHL 20. And a mega 128-team FIFA charity tournament is set to take place, inspired by a viral campaign from Leyton Orient’s social media manager.
So what do sports broadcasters, operators, teams and players stand to gain from gaming?
Quite a lot, as it happens.
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