The eSports scene is growing in stature each year, and in a few years’ time, it is conceivable that competitive gaming could have usurped a number of traditional sports in terms of revenue. There are some established giants in the industry already, including Overwatch and Dota 2. But recent hits like Fortnite have shown that new games can become instant sensations. In terms of a Star Wars offering, a Battlefront game would be the most likely candidate for eSports. Another option could be a card game based on Sabacc.
The biggest eSports are undoubtedly first-person shooters, which is why Battlefront would have the best chance of becoming a sport in the years ahead. However, the most recent title, Star Wars: Battlefront II is unlikely to make any waves in the industry. This is because the game has come under a lot of criticism, and would need vast improvements for it to be viable as a competitive game. For instance, at the moment EA is favoring a traditional release format by releasing standalone games. It would need to switch to the modern approach of online games which have regular updates if it is to become an eSport.
There would also have to be some other major changes and improvements. For instance, there would need to be a ranking system including stats, better balancing, and faster patch releases. The eSports that have found success have done so because they are considered fair, and a lot of the gameplay is down to pure skill.
Another option for a Star Wars eSport could be a card game in the same vein as Hearthstone. The title from Blizzard Entertainment has attracted a number of players who already enjoy traditional games like blackjack. Blackjack is still one of the most beloved card games on the planet, and players now enjoy the fact that they can play it on the move at online casinos. Blackjack at LeoVegas involves a wide variety of games, from low to high stakes. When players feel like a switch from blackjack, they turn to games like Hearthstone.
According to Star Wars lore, Sabacc is a lot like blackjack in terms of gameplay. For this reason, it could easily attract online casino players if it was made. It has only been mentioned a few times in the Jedi universe, but it is known to exist. This gives developers something to work with. If a fantasy game was created, it would most certainly bring in fans of the movie franchise who want to enjoy the George Lucas’s world in another way.
Over the next few years, there will be a whole host of developers trying to create unique offerings to be used in eSports. With Star Wars titles being at the heart of gaming for the last three decades, there is no doubt that the franchise will try to get involved with competitive gaming. It remains to be seen whether it will be a shooter or a card game release that brings Star Wars into the eSports scene.