The World Series of Warzone (WSOW) hosted its international final in London throughout the weekend, which occurred at a noteworthy juncture for the UK's esports industry.
This month, the London Royal Ravens of the Call of Duty League revealed their relocation to the United States, thereby depriving Britain of a standalone representation in the competition.
If one had viewed the final of the WSOW, a competition based on the battle royale derivative of the first-person shooter, it may appear that the UK esports scene is doing well.
An attendance of approximately 3,000 people was recorded, with contestants from all corners of the globe and an immense number of viewers streaming the event online.
BBC Newsbeat consulted with Daniel Tsay and Rob Belk, managers of the Call of Duty esports, regarding their choice of London for the event.
Rob, the product manager, asserted that their previous experiences had demonstrated that the enthusiasm and vigor of the crowd would be remarkable.
There will be cheering and people will be on their feet.
Daniel, the general manager, mentioned that one of the most requested things from the elders of the Call of Duty fandom has been for an event to be held in the UK.
He mentioned that when the team was pondering which destination to pick, London gained prominence fairly naturally.
It had been four years since we last visited this spot. This is something that Call of Duty fans are desperately longing for.
Ultimately, the competition was led by squads not based in the UK or Europe, and Team Biffle from the US was granted the prize of $100,000 (equivalent to £80,716).
What are gamers' opinions on the current condition of the UK esports industry?
Kelsie Grieg, referred to by many as Kels, became the first female to make the cut for Call of Duty Challengers Elite competition.
Kels told Newsbeat that when she arrived at the tournament, she found it 'upsetting' that the UK no longer had a franchise in the scene.
However, she believes the happening demonstrates that esports still have an audience in the UK.
Presently, we stand here at the event and can witness the crowds and hear them. This suggests that electronic sports may still be on the rise in the United Kingdom and Europe. It's a big ol' party."
It unifies everyone. Everyone is joining in the game, everyone adores the game. It is a huge celebration.
It's so invigorating, having the same enthusiasm. It creates a sense of unity among people, it really does.
Jukeyz, a British gamer from Liverpool, participated in the WSOW final and his team placed 10th.
He believes that the lack of a UK franchise in the North American league is due to the UK teams not measuring up to the standard of North American teams.
He states that the premier teams are all based in the United States.
It was clear that we weren't equipped to compete with the US teams. The London Ravens existed for a brief period of time, but it was clear they weren't going to be able to keep up with the American squads.
It is anticipated that in the coming two years, there will be an increase in the number of teams and organisations that participate.
In Jukeyz's opinion, holding events such as the WSOW global final in the UK would be an effective method for increasing enthusiasm for esports.
He looked at the primary broadcast of the event during the competition and reported that there were 100,000 viewers logged in - with the possibility of even more viewing on additional channels.
He believes that if they continue holding events like this, it will be beneficial for him as he would not have to purchase a plane ticket, and it will also draw a large group of people. Just for me."
I have friends back home who don't normally pay attention to Call of Duty but were watching today just for me.
If you manage to recruit just a modest number of people who share your interests, it could quickly snowball, particularly in the UK.
For Kels, being hailed a trailblazer for women in esports has an extra perk - having the opportunity to meet fans and maybe even the future of esports.
She recalls the first individual that approached her, and pondered if she was being made fun of.
It's amazing that people view me as a role model and recognize the work I am doing for women. They are gaining confidence and becoming inspired, which is incredible.
That means more than anything else to me; that is my primary concern.
Keep up-to-date with Newsbeat by following us on Twitter and YouTube.
Tune in to Newsbeat at 12:45 and 17:45 on weekdays - or check out the recordings here.
top of page
bottom of page
Komentarze