The future of Overwatch and what it means for collegiate eSports
By: Walter Sosa
Tags: Esports, Gaming

It’s been over two weeks since Overwatch League was announced. Much of the player hype and debacle has faded, however the industry leaders and decision-makers are still pondering over the ramifications this has for our industry and the culture of eSports or “Esports”. We a-dults now b o y z. This has lead to a chain reaction with publishers and leagues rethinking their 5 year plans.

Overwatch moving forward

With Overwatch’s immense growth this was an inevitable. The debatable eSports failure that was Heroes of the Storm left Blizzard Activision with an uneasy feeling of defeat. In addition to HoTS losing its unique fandom Starcraft has lost its prominent Korean league. Their much needed traction as a relevant eSports publisher/organizer truly was and is hinged on the success of Overwatch as not only a casual game but a competitive global league.

For players it facilitates a truly global competition with players across the world uniting under one banner to play for fame glory cash and prizes. For businesses and brands it facilitates the ability to get into eSports while it’s hot. Purchasing coveted chartered memberships. There is a lot of anticipation and truthfully everyone’s watching including Riot Games. Just recently, a source close to the situation noted an estimated 90 million dollar (USD) partnership between Riot Games and MLBAM to stream LoL eSports.

A deal which certainly has been in the works for months if not years now, but this couldn’t have come at a greater time.

Riot Games and the boy who cried wolf

Riot Games have been under immense pressure from Lol sports team owners, in a leaked document team owners came together to demand more transparency, stipends, prize pool and opportunities of earning money including enfranchisement, broadcast and itemization revenue sharing as-soon-as-possible. It’s very clear that they are looking for more ways of making money to keep them afloat as most, if not all are running in the red this fiscal year.

If the market continues to over-saturate player earnings they will continue to rise while the organizations who aren’t-ventured-back will continue to lose an incredible amount of money. They’ll have to cut back staff members, cut whole teams or even forfeit spots if they can’t pay for them.

Debate aside whether you believe Riot should franchise now, tomorrow, or never, the 90 million annually will certainly help keep LoL eSports’ team owners happy if that comes their way. In no shape or form is Riot hurting for them to keep that 90 million, with their valuations and profits estimating to remain within the high 6 figures, this deal will certainly indulge the luxury of their LoL eSport’s ecosystem. Reaping the rewards and solidifying deals with decision-makers across the traditional media pond, keeping LoL eSports alive and well for years to come.

Overwatch can be the next best thing

But let’s jump back to Overwatch League. They plan on franchising, revenue sharing, globalizing teams, all altruistic in nature. With their tenured experience as a game publisher and the critical success that was Overwatch World Cup, it was the sign they needed to green-light this new ambitious venture. What we know now is simple — eSports just took 10 steps forward in the right direction.

The industry is self-reliant on sponsorships from endemic companies. Without them, they can’t afford to keep the lights on at the end of the month. With new venture capitalists and angels entering the scene there have been a fortunate handful of who forego the tradition of relying on sponsorships.

By introducing chartered spots you allow new players to enter the fold, who are ready to invest into the industry, or allow the veteran players to imprint their brands for years to come. Advertisers and sponsors in and out of eSports won’t be afraid that an LCS team will be relegated to the Challenger Series to lose the brand exposure or sales they needed. Their worst nightmare now finally in the process of disappearing into the past.

I’ve written about the future of eSports at least a dozen or so times now. The narratives are the same, but depending on the game I associate the write-up with, minuet changes are made however the foundation always remains the same.

You get the best of both worlds. Everyone makes money. Players are secured and protected. Organizations, publishers, and partners share a piece of that oh so good pumpkin pie. What about collegiate eSports, how will that be affected?

Collegiate eSports will expand or integrate into the league circuits

Photo credit: Riot Games

As chartered memberships (enfranchisement) and other outside supportive partnerships form you’ll see a large debate about balancing and filtering old from new. Worthy from unworthy. Money talks and for that reason many have raised their pitch-forks contesting enfranchisement in eSports. To keep the competitive integrity alive by rewarding those who come here to be the best, not those with deepest pockets.

We in eSports are akin to nothing and we are constantly going through the process of trials and tribulations figuring out how to implement a strategy correctly that works for everyone.

With relegation and promotion looking to be fazed out we’ll be hit with a dilemma that could jeopardize the competitive integrity of the LoL & Overwatch League. One way I see this being tackled; turning collegiate eSports into combines (scouting grounds) or competing in smaller circuit leagues for scholarships and prize pools leading up to collegiate event equivalent of ‘Worlds’.

As I said earlier only time will tell, but we’re heading in a good direction. Rocky but every rocky road leads to safe ground.. we hope.

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Managing Director @eSportsRDANet. I like food and good screenplays. I don’t hold my tongue, sorry mom. Inquiries w.sosa@esportsra.net or Tweet me @MellowWalt for updates.