The countdown has begun for the first edition of the Olympics eSports Games which will be held in 2025 in Saudi Arabia after the 142nd International Olympic Committee session unanimously voted today for the creation of the Olympic Esports Games.
The main summer Olympic Games 2024 will start in Paris on Wednesday, with eight soccer games before events like swimming, beach volleyball, and gymnastics. Esports can now watch out for the video game version on the world stage.
However, despite the vote in favour of the creation of the Olympic eSports Games at the 142nd IOC Session, the enthusiasm and body language of esports fans to the update has been indifferent. There are fears of the consequences that this decision can make for the eSports industry in the future.
Many are bothered that the eSports Olympic games could affect the growth of competitive gaming from a broader perspective.
One of the stakeholders in the eSports industry, Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur, stated that support for esports may also be affected at another level.
“This may not matter much to the average esports fan, but this has huge implications for government and educational support for esports at all levels. Whether it’s renting a venue for a match in Seoul or receiving course credit for an esports/gaming industry course, this is big.” Hur said.
Meanwhile, this may also be argued as shooter games and popular esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 or Call of Duty, other titles like LoL, Rocket League, Street Fighter, Tekken, iRacing, NBA2K, FIFA, and mobile games will not feature.
The IOC President Thomas Bach called it a new era for the IOC as the confirmation by the IOC Session of the creation of the Olympic eSports Games meant that the IOC are keeping up with the digital revolution.
The Olympic eSports Series, a separate and different competition, was held for the first time last year.
