While the world is facing this inevitable enemy, it has entered into every sphere of life be it industries, household work, aviation, railways, field sports, and even esports. After the global lockdown world has come to a standstill where everyone is trying their best to survive. The fear of COVID-19 has grappled the entire human race with governments confused on how to deal with this virus. Its tremendous rate of infection has stunned everybody and adversely affected the economy. Lives of people are at risk and the solution to it is a social distancing that has compelled them to sit at their respective homes and work from their itself.
After its declaration as a Pandemic by WHO major esports leagues and tournaments got canceled. Similar to other industries, esports industries dealt a fatal blow. Many tournaments that were due this year had to be canceled. The earning from esports and the digital gaming industry will also drop this year. The esports mark earning that was once estimated to touch the $1 billion mark in 2020 is sure to drop thanks to Corona Virus.
Given the nature of video games, one might think that the esports industry will remain unharmed but the reality is just the opposite. The esport tournaments and leagues require audience and public gatherings just like any other sports. Cancellation of these events will certainly lead to this industry into a black hole.
Esports Coronavirus Effects on Events and Tournaments
1. League of Legends (LoL)
The League of Legends championship series and League of Legends European championship have announced that they will continue with no spectators or press at the event. Riot Games also announced that the 2020 League of Legends(LOL) mid-season Invitational would be postponed until July 3-19.
2. Dota 2
ESL has announced the postponement of ESL One Los Angeles, originally scheduled to run on February 9 to March 23.
3. Call of Duty
Activision Blizzards has canceled all home series weekends for the rest of the season. The matches will be played online instead and broadcast to fans with new dates to be announced.
4. Counter Strike: Global Offensive
CS:GO also felt a strong Esports Coronavirus Effects. The Polish Gouverneur of Silesia ordered the annual CS: Go event closed to the public just before it began. It was held without fans.
On March 23rd, ESL announced that ESL One Rio Major has been rescheduled to November 19 to 22 with an increase in the prize pool of $2 million.
5. FIFA
FUT champions cup stage V that was due to be held in March was canceled along with the PlayStation licensed qualifying events that were due in May. On March 13th, all FIFA 20 global series events suspended until further notice.
6. Fighting games
Bandai Namco’s first Tekken Masters tournament that was planned for 4-5th April has been postponed until the later time this year. The Mortal Kombat 11 championships titled Final Kombat 2020 was finally held without an audience in Chicago. Tekken and Final Kombat just like other Esports felt coronavirus effects.
7. PUBG
The first event of the 2020 season for PUBG scheduled in April was canceled. It was to be held in Berlin. The PUBG Mobile Pro League that began on March 19, was an online-only competition.
Not only are the fans and players facing the mayhem of this virus but also the journalists that are devoted to bringing us fresh updates related to various events. Ashley Kong a Korean reporter who had devoted her career to bring content from Korean players and teams to an English speaking audience after quitting her job of a software engineer was disappointed when Riot Korea announced that the League of Legends championship would be suspended after 6th March due to more cases of Coronavirus erupting in South Korea.
Despite this downfall, there is still a ray of hope for the Esports industry. As it could fill the void while the sports world fell silent.
” It’s certainly an opportunity for the space to demonstrate that esports can scratch the itch on competition,” said Lee Trink. Lee Trink CEO of FaZe Clan, holds a team in the Call of Duty League.
Although revenue generation from live events is temporarily unavailable, the Esports industry should focus more on broadcasting online events that could engage the players sitting back at home to minimise the Esports Coronavirus Effects.
According to a report, the online audience has increased over the past few weeks. This is because of the lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak. There has been an 18.2% bump in Chinese viewership over the last two months on live streaming sites Douyu and Huya for PUBG and LoL teams.
Michael Patcher an analyst at Wedbush Securities monitoring the video gaming market said,” There is an opportunity to expand their audience. It won’t expand by 50% but it could possibly expand by 20% while Esports Coronavirus Effects is at large.
It is high time now that we look towards the brighter prospect rather than lamenting on what has already been occurred. This is rightly said that ” If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade”
