Epic Games raised the bar on eSports tournament prizes.
Epic Games announced it will devote $100 million to a Fortnite eSports league in 2018. The money will go for prize pools on the Fortnight tournament circuit.
Currently, Epic Games is flush with cash, as its battle royale shooter, Fortnite, is the most popular video game on the planet. The studio wants to use some of that cash to build the world’s best eSports circuit for its last-player-standing game.
While it is famously difficult to market to the 21st century game enthusiasts, seeding a tournament circuit with so much cash would appear to have high odds of succeeding. Having record prize pools should draw the best competitors in the world. Viewers should tune in to watch the best and most popular players compete at the most popular game of the moment.
The game is a pop culture phenomenon with Generation Z players. Fortnite broadcasts are the most viewed game on Twitch. For that reason, a well-funded eSports event circuit promises to be a huge factor on Twitch.
$100 Million for Fortnite Season 1 Events
If $100 million goes to seed Fortnite tournament prize pools, expect the Fortnite circuit to gather a huge following. The game’s popularity likely would create a lot of interest in the eSports version of the game, but a tournament circuits which outstrips all other eSports combined should be a huge draw for talent and fan interest alike.
Esports personality Scott Smith tweeted, “To put this in some perspective, in 2017, the top 10 games combined gave out $91.2 million in prize money. Fortnite with the biggest [hold my beer] in esports history.”
The Fortnite team is hyping the possibility on the Epic Games blog already, posting this week, “Since the launch of Fortnite: Battle Royale we’ve watched the passion for community competition grow and can’t wait to empower you to battle with the best.”
How Popular Will Fortnite eSports Be?
Such a huge prize pool naturally is going to attract all the best players. It is the best chance to get rich playing electronic sports to date. The best players are going to draw viewers from across the eSports spectrum, while bringing in a new audience consisting of Fortnite fans.
The impact on Season One viewership should be huge, while the buzz in the gaming media will only fuel viewership. Epic Games has clarified already that the $100 million bundle is earmarked for Season One alone.
Epic Games Targets Mass Market Audience
Epic Games‘ marketing strategy appears aimed at the mass market and not simply the traditional eSports fan. An Epic Games blog post noted, “We’re getting behind competitive play in a big way, but our approach will be different. We plan to be more inclusive and focused on the joy of playing and watching the game.”
The Traditional eSports Fan Base
Traditionally, eSports fans are obsessed with games like Dota 2 and League of Legends. That fandom is considerable. In fact, it represents a burgeoning billion-dollar industry, according to a report released by Newzoo recently.
Newzoo said eSports should generate $905.6 million in 2018, up 38% year-over-year from 2017. In short, League of Legends and DOTA2 are not going anywhere. Fortnite-centered eSports should push the revenues much higher, over the $1 billion mark.
