Ahri's unqualified thoughts #60

Easy to consume content: 1 quote, 1 tweet/storm and 1 article/video.

In this edition, we're focusing on GTA6 announcement' and the end/future of the infamous Overwatch League.

1 quote

“Like anything worth doing in life, happiness takes time and patience and consistency.” Mark Manson

1 tweet/storm

In 2016, Rockstar Games unveiled Red Dead Redemption 2 with a straightforward yet effective strategy. It began with a teaser featuring the Rockstar logo in the distinctive RDR color palette, followed by a series of RDR-themed artwork, culminating in a full announcement accompanied by an exciting trailer. This approach quickly captured widespread attention, fueled by Rockstar's renowned status in the gaming world and the anticipation of eager fans.

Fast forward to 2023, and the announcement of GTA6 has achieved an astounding level of engagement, amassing 1.4 million likes within just 24 hours - a testament to its immense popularity.

Meanwhile, GTA V continues to be a formidable presence, consistently ranking in the top 10 charts. GTA Online, in particular, is performing remarkably well, boasting impressive figures in terms of both revenue generation and player engagement.

Shifting to a topic that might be controversial for some readers… let's address the rumors circulating since May about GTA6 featuring cryptocurrency. These speculations were amplified by certain LARPs in the web3 community, to farm engagement. However, it's important to note that Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two Interactive, never explicitly mentioned the inclusion of crypto in GTA6. What he did say, during investor relations sessions and interviews, was that the company and its studios are exploring various new technologies. This statement is typical corporate language aimed at investors and is carefully crafted to avoid alienating gamers.

Similar rumors resurfaced in September, and yesterday, again appearing to be driven more by a desire for attention than by substantiated information or common sense. As for my perspective on this matter:

Should Rockstar decide to incorporate blockchain or web3 elements into the game, that could be interesting. However, until there's a definitive move in that direction, it would be more productive to steer clear of baseless speculation and focus on real stuff :).

1 article/video

Reflecting on the Overwatch League's journey, it's evident that it has become a symbol of the highs and lows experienced in the esports industry.

Launched in 2018, the league set out with grand ambitions of mirroring an international, franchised model akin to traditional American sports. Investors from the worlds of sports and entertainment poured massive funds into this, with initial team slots priced around $20 million, and expansion teams later paying close to $40 million, all driven by the aim to “redefine entertainment” (and let’s be honest - make money should this work out).

However, the league's plans were derailed by a series of unforeseen challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its core operations, and the league was further shaken by toxicity and harassment lawsuits within Activision Blizzard, leading to the withdrawal of key investors and sponsors. The Overwatch game itself struggled to maintain the anticipated viewer engagement, amid various controversial decisions about the competition format, or just the game in general.

Fast-forwarding five years, we find the Overwatch League at the end of its (current) road. Reports from Esports Insider indicate that a significant majority of teams have voted to disband the league in its current franchised format, with each team receiving a $6 million payout from ATVI (well, Microsoft now, lol)

Despite these developments, rumors are suggesting a potential revival of Overwatch esports, possibly under… ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), though this remains to be seen.

On a personal note, I've always had mixed feelings about the franchising system in esports, seeing pros & cons. While Riot Games successfully implemented it, it's more of an exception than a rule. During my time leading Rainbow Six Siege competitions, we extensively deliberated on this model as we sought to revitalize our approach, analyzing various options. Currently, we're observing a trend where more publishers, including names like Valve and Blizzard, are shifting towards a more open esports ecosystem. This transition reduces the revenue pressures on publishers and injects more spice into competitions, as we can have challengers coming from (almost) nowhere challenging the established teams. It also provides publishers the opportunity to issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and assess interest among tournament organizers, offering a more flexible approach to managing their esports ecosystems & budgets.