© Evo / Robert PaulIn single-player communities, such as Push Squareesports are being overlooked. But make no mistake, this market sector is huge: BBC regularly hosts Rocket League and League of Legends tournaments live on its website, while UKIE sets the industry’s total global revenue at $ 1.1 billion as of 2020 – and that number is only rising. Many world-renowned sports franchises, such as Paris Saint Germain, now have professional esports teams.
PlayStation has recognized this for a while, and while its efforts have remained a footnote on sites like this one, it might be worth a look at what it’s been up to behind the scenes. Gran Turismo Sport, for example, has quietly become a full esport since its release; its competitive live streams compete with real-life motorsport broadcasts. It has also sponsored several major events such as the Call of Duty League and the Capcom Cup over the years.
Evo is the most prestigious fighting game tournament in the world, but its origins as an amateur community event have made it a bit of a mess lately. Last year’s match was canceled due to allegations of sexual misconduct, and whether the event would ever return – especially as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is causing complications for such conventions has been questioned.
It is perhaps worth noting that now that the competition is already in a precarious position, Sony probably didn’t break the bank by acquiring the event; we are clearly not talking about a $ 7.5 billion investment here. But this further advances its ambition to become the home of both competitive and single-player gaming: the platform proprietor noted in a blog post that in 2020 players will have a dazzling 1.1 billion hours of fighting games on the consoles.
But those of you who have been paying attention will know that PlayStation has been coveting this market for quite some time. PlayStation’s Competition Center – an often-overlooked part of the platform holder’s website – is packed with events you can participate in, from games like Mortal Kombat 11 and FIFA 21 to NBA 2K21 and SoulCalibur VI. Many of these come with small prizes, with events taking place almost daily.
If you’ve ever watched the official PlayStation YouTube channel, you’ll find that if you filter out the trailers, there are tons of competitive live streams out there. Many of them attract thousands of viewers; It’s not hard to imagine how Evo, as one of the biggest esports events on the calendar, will significantly step up its efforts in this area. A larger audience means more engagement, and now that Sony is linking its brand to the action, that means more players on its platforms.
Sony clearly sees Evo as an opportunity not only to bolster its status the fighting game platform, but also to bolster its position as a console for competitive gamers. Esports may not be to your personal taste, but the Japanese giant is smart to increase the appeal of its box; It’s already the best place to play single-player story games, but the manufacturer wants to make sure that its device is also the defacto device for tournaments. All of that means more players, more subscribers, and ultimately more money.
What do you think about Sony’s decision to acquire Evo? What do you think this means PlayStation is moving forward? Reach the knockout stages in the comments below.