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Esports is constantly growing and developing at an unstoppable pace every day. From the early 2000s when esports were overwhelmed by real-time strategies (RTS) to today when other genres have caught up with them, and some have even surpassed them. From humble beginnings and prize pools of just a few hundred euros to prize pools amounting to tens of millions of US dollars.
Now is the time to elevate esports to the next level, the level of the Olympic Games.
Between 2025 and 2035, Saudi Arabia will host the first Olympic Esports Games in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the World Cup Foundation and the Saudi Esports Federation. These games will be held every two years, with six cycles until 2035.
The first Olympic Esports Games will bring together the best players, teams and organizations in the world and at the same time connect esports with traditional sports through simulations. This will be a moment of great importance for esports. It will be a repeat of 2011 when Valve announced a $1,600,000 prize pool for its Dota 2 title and created a turning point for the entire esports industry.
The Olympic esports games will be divided into three categories:
- Esport titles in cooperation with publishers,
- sports simulations in cooperation with sports federations such as FIFA, FIBA and FIA i
- simulations of sports such as cycling, sailing and taekwondo.
Esport titles in cooperation with publishers
In this category there are games from the world's most famous publishers such as Valve, Riot and Psyonix gaming companies. They will select Tier 1 teams to compete in the Olympic Esports Games instead of national teams. The games in question are:
Dota 2
Dota 2 is the epitome of esports as we know it. Dota 2 is the game that started the esports "craze" and pushed esports to great heights. It is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) with a strong focus on strategy and teamwork. The presence of this title as the most prestigious in the industry is a confirmation of the credibility of the Olympic esports games. Tournaments attract millions of live viewers, while online broadcasts reach over 100 million views on platforms such as Twitch and YouTube. Dota 2 has almost eight million monthly active players. The most prestigious tournament titled "The International" (TI) is also the most prestigious tournament in the industry with a prize pool of over $40,000,000.
League of Legends (LoL)
Like the previously mentioned title League of Legends or LoL is an online battle arena for multiple players which is also the most watched esport on the planet. The presence of this title created by Riot Games studio brings high viewership and an opportunity to engage young generations around the world. This game has an incredible 180 million monthly active players while their most prestigious tournament “League of Legends World Championship” (Worlds) has a prize pool of $2,000,000.
It is interesting to note that Worlds 2022 had over five million simultaneous viewers during the grand final.
Rocket League (RL)
This title represents a unique combination of traditional sports, football, and futuristic design. It is especially attractive to the younger population. Played by over 90 million players per month across all platforms combined, the most prestigious $1,000,000 Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) tournament attracts hundreds of thousands of live viewers and millions of views online.
Valorant
Perhaps the youngest game on the list of titles of the Olympic esports games, but certainly promising. It is a first-person shooter (FPS) from the same publishing house as LoL - Riot Games. This game combines the modern and strategic side of esports and attracts younger fans of the FPS genre. Valorant has over 20 million monthly active users, and its tournaments reach two million simultaneous viewers during major events. The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) has a prize pool of $1,000,000.
Fortnite
Fortnite is a third-person shooter where a large number of players compete to be the last person or team standing. Fortnite provides an opportunity to prove the younger generations as well as a chance to present esports as a fun and competitive sector. The World Cup final attracted over two million simultaneous viewers. Over 110 million people play this game on a monthly basis, and the most famous tournament, the Fortnite World Cup (FWC), has a prize pool of $30,000,000.
Sports simulations in cooperation with sports associations
These titles are becoming a key element of the eSports Olympics as they provide a realistic representation of real sports in digital form. Cooperation with sports associations such as FIFA, FIBA and FIA enables the development of specialized video games that faithfully reproduce professional sports, while maintaining the rules and characteristics of those disciplines. The titles of this category are:
eFootball
This is a football simulation that combines real football and your wildest football dreams. You have the opportunity to play as a real authentic national team and to get as close as possible to traditional sports and attract a traditional sports audience. The finals of the most famous tournaments, UEFA eEURO attracted millions of viewers live and online. This game has over 100 million downloads.
NBA 2K
NBA 2K is an emulation of traditional basketball and serves as a connecting point between traditional sports and simulation when it comes to global basketball culture. This title has over 50 million downloads and the most famous tournaments like the NBA 2K League have a pool of several hundred thousand US dollars. This game has several million views on Twitch and YouTube platforms.
Gran Turismo
This is a game that presents a highly realistic car racing simulation and provides a great opportunity to connect the digital audience with motorsport culture. This game has over 80 million downloads and several hundred thousand live and online viewers. The most famous tournaments such as the FIA Gran Turismo Championships in cooperation with the FIA have a prize pool of $750,000.
Digital Chess
Digital chess is actually just traditional chess in digital form. The premise of the game is completely the same, except that the transparency of the chess board has been replaced by a digital board on the monitor. This is a way for all fans of this strategic giant, regardless of age, to participate in the Olympic Esports Games. Through platforms like Chess.com and Lichess, over 200 million people regularly play digital chess. The most famous tournaments like the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad have thousands of competitors from over 100 countries. The prize pool of the tournament is $1,500,000.
Sports simulations
The third category introduces digital versions of traditional sports. Games in this category simulate real sports disciplines and include:
Bicycling
Virtual cycling simultaneously promotes a healthy lifestyle and a competitive spirit. Virtual cycling is very accessible to all ages. Millions of cyclists follow online broadcasts and participate in local qualifications around the world. The most famous tournaments like the Zwift Cycling Esports World Championships have a prize pool of $60,000.
Sailing
Virtual sailing is truly an incredible experience and a recommended first step for every sailing enthusiast. With the combination of technology and nature, you have the opportunity to sail in various weather conditions. Virtual sailing competitions attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts worldwide, and the most famous tournaments such as the Virtual Regatta (VRWC) have a prize pool of $10,000.
Taekwondo
Digital Taekwondo is a good opportunity for athletes to improve their skills in a digital environment. This contributes to the spread of the sport as well as its availability in the world. The competitions attract an increasing number of spectators, especially in Asia and Europe, where this sport has a long tradition. The most famous tournament, the Digital Taekwondo World Championships has a prize pool of $10,000.
Montenegro is on a good path to esports development
The Union of Electronic Sports of Montenegro (SESCG) and the Montenegrin Olympic Committee (COK) have been cooperating for years. They work on the development and promotion of esports and the gaming industry in Montenegro, the region, Europe and the world. Through joint projects, promotion of esports as part of modern sports society and investment in new generations of players, SESCG and COK are laying the foundations for the future of esports in the country.
The plans for 2025 are:
- organization of qualifications and selection of the best competitors in Montenegro and their presentation at international tournaments, including the Olympic Esports Games.
- creation and promotion of national leagues tasked with identifying the best teams and players in the country
- Montenegro will host the largest esports and gaming conference in Europe - the European Gaming Summit, which will take place on May 10 and 11, 2025 in Bar.
These are very important steps on the way to the Olympic esports games, but also to the development of the esports and gaming industry in Montenegro.
