4 upcoming games that have esports potential

As the popularity of esports steadily grows, more developers are looking to get their
latest titles to be played competitively in the hopes of finding a bigger platform to
showcase their games and maintain a steady stream of revenue. 

Not all are worth of being showcased as an esport title. The ones that are though are easy enough to watch that a spectator can drop in on a stream and be able to appreciate the action going on. This builds the active community of fans and players that support these tournaments. Once it gets big enough, people will even be willing to pay tickets to see it live.

On the player side of things, the games are almost always easy to learn – but
difficult to master, thus separating the athletes from the casual gamers. The developers should also ensure constant updates to keep balance and patch out any issues experienced. There always has to be a level playing field in competitive matches, especially when there is a large prize on the on the line.

Considering all this, here are 4 upcoming titles we believe have great esports potential.

1) Call of Duty: WWII

A pillar in competitive gaming’s quick rise to mainstream popularity, Call of Duty: WWII is sure to make waves in the esports scene when it’s released. Going back to the basics, this latest entry in the Call of Duty franchise strips players of their jump jets and wall running abilities, in favor of old-school ‘boots on the ground’ run and gun with the second World War as its backdrop.

Bringing back the weapons of the time period and welcoming fresh changes to its perk system, it will be interesting how the pros adjust without the loadouts they have been so accustomed to from previous years. There have already been numerous reports of Call Of Duty teams rebuilding their roster of players heading up to the game’s release, which says a lot about drastic change in setting of the game.

Regardless of what some people say, Call of Duty is still drawing in massive attention
from streaming channels, news outlets, pro tournaments, and even casual players,
giving it traction in the world of esports. 

Call of Duty: WWII is going to be released on November 3, 2017 for Xbox One, PS4,
and PC.

2) Dragon Ball FighterZ

Recent entries in the fighting genre like Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite have seen the
execution of combos being streamlined to cater to a more casual audience, Dragon Ball FighterZ is no exception. Despite this, the game does not sacrifice or compromise its more hardcore fans who are always looking to play competitively and to take their skills to the next level.

Capcom titles like Street Fighter and the aforementioned Marvel vs. Capcom have
dominated the fighting genre side of esports; it’s high time a new contender like
Dragon Ball FighterZ enters the fray. This 3v3 fighter based on the popular anime draws inspiration from its competition and is said to be incredibly deep in its fighting
mechanics.

It has already drawn widespread acclaim when it was shown off in numerous gaming
conventions. Fans of Dragon Ball love how the game’s art style is very reminiscent of the shows. This coupled with the thrilling high-speed gameplay makes for an exciting
potential addition to the esports fighter scene.

Dragon Ball FighterZ is expected to come out early next year for the Xbox One, PS4,
and PC.

3) Quake Champions

With esports already in mind since development, Quake is making a huge return by
bringing back the much loved fast-paced arena shooter it’s known for with Quake
Champions. The biggest change in the latest entry: it’s abandoning the “level playing
field” of old and introducing a champion system where players now select their own
characters complete with unique abilities and stats while keeping the core gameplay
intact.

This big departure from the gameplay of previous games could help Quake Champions insert itself in the crowded esports scene of class/character arena based like Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch. It could potentially help generate interest from new fans who have yet to play a single Quake game. The only downside is that there have been reports from pro players about balance issues in the game, which is currently still on early access.

Above all else, the developers and the fans are dead set on keeping the game’s esports presence strong through various tournaments including the recent inaugural Quake World Championships at Quakecon last August. This type of support is very much needed when bringing the game to a much larger esports stage.

Quake Champions launched Early Access on Steam last month and is now playable on PC. No word yet on the official release of the game.

4) PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG)

Arguably the most popular game of 2017, PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is the nail-bitingly intense survival multiplayer shooter that pits players against a hundred others in a battle royale with the last player or squad alive claiming victory.

Shattering Steam records for sales and concurrent players, the game has already dipped its toes into the esports scene, holding an invitational LAN tournament at Gamescom last August. It achieved high viewing numbers, reaching 170,000 on its own stream and 400,000 on Twitch, as reported by Dot Esports.

As of writing, PUBG is still an early access game and have yet to officially make its
release. It is very new to scene and still have a lot to iron out when it comes to its
broadcasters and the way it’s going to pace the game to keep it entertaining for viewers all throughout the match.

A lot of players are getting into the game because its simple premise of “being the last
one alive” is easy to follow and understand. This is probably the main reason why it is
one of the most talked about and viewed games currently playable. And with its growing viewership numbers and as more updates are made moving forward to its release,

PUBG most definitely has all the makings of an esports mainstay.

PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS is currently on Steam’s Early Access and is
playable on PC. It is expected to officially launch on the PC and the Xbox One early
next year. – Rappler.com