A Closer Look at Its Esports Scene – Cryptopolitan
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In the realm of esports, few titles boast a legacy as enduring as StarCraft 2. Despite the absence of new content and waning developer support, the game continues to thrive within its competitive community. The question on many minds, however, is whether StarCraft 2 is on the brink of extinction or if its competitive spirit can sustain it. Esports tournaments: A barometer of health For those questioning the vitality of StarCraft 2, a crucial factor lies in the vibrancy of its esports tournaments. While Blizzard has shifted focus away from active support, the competitive calendar remains populated with regular events. Notably, in 2024, the game is set to return to IEM Katowice, a prestigious tournament organized by ESL, featuring a four-day spectacle and an enticing $500,000 prize pool. The fact that ESL, a major tournament organizer, continues to invest in StarCraft 2 suggests there is still a viable audience. However, it’s essential to dissect the tournament’s landscape further. Although the prize pools may not rival giants like Dota 2, StarCraft 2 still commands respectable figures, attracting top-tier players and maintaining a competitive edge. Yet, an observable trend reveals a decline in the total number of events across various competition tiers since the game’s zenith. This dip could be a sign that, without active development, StarCraft 2 might be entering a phase of stagnation in its esports growth. Viewing numbers: A mixed bag of signals Viewership serves as a key metric to gauge the popularity of any esports title, and StarCraft 2 is no exception. While it may not have consistently matched the viewership figures of some of its counterparts, the game has historically drawn in a decent audience for major tournaments. The recent ESL SC2 Master 2023 Winter tournament, for instance, peaked at 35,618 viewers, with an average viewership of…
Filed under: News - @ December 27, 2023 4:14 pm