Not every multiplayer video game has what it takes to be an esports title, and that’s a good thing.
With the constant rise in popularity of esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends over the past decade, many developers have felt compelled to design their games with competitive viability being the first thing in mind.
From indie devs to billion-dollar studios, the rush to create the ‘next big esport’ has become a recurring trend in gaming, and as history has shown time and again, it’s not always a healthy one.
Over the past few years, numerous ‘esports-ready’ games have surfaced that have struggled to gain traction in the competitive scene, despite the devs prioritizing esports from day one. Ubisoft’s XDefiant, the servers of which were shut down last month, is one prominent example of this.
Does this mean that the market for esports-focused titles has saturated, or is the real issue that modern esports titles have themselves degraded in quality?
This obsession with esports is often misguided. Not every game is meant to be competitive, and trying to force it can hurt more than help.
What Makes a Game Esports-Worthy & Why Most Don’t Qualify
To find out why many, if not most, esports titles are failing to make an impression on gamers, we first have to understand what actually makes a multiplayer video game a strong candidate for esports.
There are some obvious points like clear gameplay rules, deep game mechanics that are easy to get into but hard to master, and competitive balance, but there’s much more to it than just design fundamentals. A successful esports title needs to be spectator-friendly, able to foster a community and generate constant hype through its events.
Two of the biggest esports titles in the world, Counter-Strike and Rocket League, are good examples of games that check all these boxes. Their spectator-friendliness makes them enjoyable to watch even for non-gamers, and while they’re incredibly easy to pick up, their high-skill ceilings give players something to constantly strive toward.
Other titles, however, start chasing the esports status without even ensuring that they’re balanced, stable, and fully formed for casual players. This leads to an inevitable disconnect between what the developers envision and what the player base actually wants, ultimately resulting in the game’s failure.
When a game launches with esports-oriented features like a ranked mode and broadcast tools but lacks core gameplay polish or enjoyable mechanics, it struggles to retain even a basic player base, let alone foster an esports scene.
Instead of letting competitive ecosystems emerge naturally, these games try to manufacture hype, and when that hype fades, there’s nothing left to fall back on.
When Esports Hype Backfires
Recently, we’ve seen one too many instances of devs forcing esports support on games too early or unnecessarily, and the consequences have been rough.
Instead of launching Overwatch 2 with a PvE-focused game mode as originally promised, Blizzard chose to pour a massive amount of resources into the Overwatch League to try and help grow the game’s esports scene. However, the overall balance and content within the game itself continued to suffer, and the OWL was ultimately shut down in early 2024.
While the OWL was replaced by the Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS) shortly after, it failed to draw in nearly as many viewers as its predecessor. For instance, the Overwatch League hit a peak viewership of around 437K concurrent viewers in 2018, but the new OWCS tournaments can only draw around 150K max.
The release of Marvel Rivals in December 2024 only exacerbated the situation, drawing in a portion of the Overwatch 2 player count towards itself while also developing its own largely successful esports scene.
Another good example of this is Halo Infinite, which launched in November 2021 with a strong push toward reviving the Halo esports legacy. As a result, Microsoft and 343 Industries wasted no time in announcing the Halo Championship Series (HCS) and proceeded to secure partnerships with major organizations like Cloud9, FaZe Clan, and NAVI even before the game’s full release.
However, this esports-first rollout came at a cost. While the core gunplay and sandbox of the game were fairly decent, Halo Infinite launched with major issues in its ranked structure and matchmaking systems, not to mention the absence of campaign co-op and Forge at launch.
Ranked was riddled with bugs and inconsistencies, progression was confusing, the SBMM was widely criticized, and the experience was terrible for casual players.
Despite HCS receiving a strong start at first, including solid viewership for the Kickoff Major in Raleigh, it didn’t take long for the momentum to fade.
Games Can Thrive Without Esports
Not every multiplayer video game needs to have an esports scene to succeed. In fact, it’s not hard to come up with a list of long-standing titles that thrive to this day despite the absence of competitive play.
Minecraft is the first title that comes to mind. The 2009 video game by Mojang Studios is dominating the multiplayer video game scene to this day with its open-ended gameplay, creative freedom, endless customization options, and a constant flow of new updates from the devs.
Minecraft gives players the freedom to play the game however they want, at their own pace. The absence of a competitive mode hasn’t hurt the title at all; if anything, it has actually contributed to its growth.
Baldur’s Gate 3, a game designed primarily as a single-player or co-op experience, still consistently ranks towards the top of the Steam Charts, despite being released over two years ago.
So, how does a story-driven game maintain such strong momentum over the years?
Baldur’s Gate 3 provides replayability through the sheer amount of choices players can make across a playthrough, alongside its gameplay mechanics that let the player do whatever they want. While the overall plot of the game remains roughly the same, there are so many different ways for players to approach each scenario that every playthrough feels unique.
At the end of the day, video games need to be fun, and they can achieve that without constantly relying on competitive modes or striving to be the next big esport.
How Organic Esports Scenes Grow
Instead of spoon-feeding esports to players, more video games should focus on letting their competitive scenes grow naturally and organically from genuine player interest.
Dota 2 is, without a doubt, one of the best examples of an esports scene that has flourished organically from a passionate player base rather than being forced by the devs. Originally launched as a Warcraft III custom map, the MOBA has grown into one of the biggest esports in the world, consistently featuring record-breaking prize pools and a pro scene that continues to evolve every year.
During the early stages of its Warcraft III days, Dota wasn’t necessarily viewed as a hyper-competitive title, but just a fun, chaotic game to play with your friends. Its complex game mechanics and engaging gameplay loop resulted in the title drawing a competitive following, and over time, grassroots tournaments began to pop up across online forums and LAN cafes.
Once Valve stepped in, they doubled down on the game’s esports scene while retaining its core gameplay. Dota 2 was a significant improvement over its predecessor, both in terms of visuals and gameplay elements, offering a more polished experience on an accessible, stable platform without sacrificing any of the depth that made the original so beloved.
What started off as a casual way for friends to kill time at internet cafés eventually evolved into an esports juggernaut that’s now being played in front of millions, and a legitimate career path for countless aspiring pros.
Dota 2 is a testament to how multiplayer games can naturally grow into esports titles if the core gameplay is fun and gives players a reason to keep coming back. Organic growth not only leads to a larger overall player base but also fosters healthier ecosystems and more loyal communities.
Verdict
At this point, it’s pretty safe to say that esports obsession is doing more harm than good for the industry. Focusing on the competitive scenes of games from the get-go will never be able to compensate for bad game design or tedious gameplay loops.
The solution to this is simple: focus on fun, replayability, and polish first. The competitive layer of multiplayer games should only grow if there’s genuine demand from within the community. Forcing an esports scene, especially for games that aren’t built for it, can often backfire, and gamers are no strangers to how this approach can harm both the game and its player base.
Not every game needs to be played in front of thousands, balanced down to the frame or pushed into high-stakes competition as soon as it drops. Some games are much better served by embracing their identity as casual, community-driven experiences.
Esports is in no way a requirement for success, but rather a byproduct of a good game and a passionate community.
