Esports 2: The Next Expansion of Competitive Gaming

Esports has made remarkable progress since its inception and has exploded in popularity over the past decade. The industry has grown exponentially, and its impact on the consumer economy cannot be underestimated. As Esports continues to evolve and expand, some are wondering if it's time for Esports 2. The concept of Esports 2 represents a significant shift in the industry towards newer, more innovative gaming experiences that address some of the fundamental issues with the current esports model.

In his Substack post titled "Esports - what went wrong pt 2," Oliver Maxfield outlines some of the critical issues with the current esports industry, including ownership and popularity. Maxfield proposes several solutions, including the Open Esports Initiative, user-generated content, and a more community-driven approach to esports. These solutions align with the concept of Esports 2, which is all about embracing a more collaborative, digitally native, and community-driven approach to esports.

The Open Esports Initiative is an excellent example of a more collaborative and digitally native version of esports. This initiative aims to create a standardized framework for open esports games, which allows the community to create esports products and services more freely. This would result in a more innovative and engaging gameplay experience that could attract a new generation of gamers who demand more from their gaming experiences.

Moreover, Maxfield's proposal for user-generated content (UGC) reflects the idea of Esports 2. By investing in communities' creativity, game publishers/developers can build tools and infrastructure that allow players to build their in-game experiences. This would result in a more immersive and engaging gameplay experience, which could attract more players and viewers to the industry.

Maxfield's call for a more community-driven approach to esports also aligns with the idea of Esports 2. By embracing this approach, the esports industry could shift away from relying on large and costly organizations for content and instead atomize into smaller, creator-led enterprises. This would result in a more decentralized and diverse esports ecosystem, which could attract more players and viewers to the industry.

Esports 2 is all about addressing the fundamental issues with the current esports industry and embracing a more collaborative, digitally native, and community-driven approach to esports. By doing so, the industry could unlock its full potential and attract a broader audience. The expansion of games like Counter-Strike 2, which incorporate features discovered by other genres, could create a whole new ecosystem of esports professionals, opening up new opportunities for players, coaches, commentators, and other professionals in the esports industry.

Moreover, the use of AI in marketing could further boost the growth of Esports 2. AI can help brands to increase their touchpoints with consumers of Esports, as it can analyze data from social media, gaming platforms, and other sources to provide personalized recommendations and offers. This could help to create a more engaged and loyal fan base for Esports, which could translate into more revenue for the industry.

In conclusion, the concept of Esports 2 represents a significant step forward in the development of the esports industry. By embracing a more collaborative, digitally native, and community-driven approach to esports, the industry could address some of the fundamental issues with the current esports model and unlock its full potential. The expansion of games like Counter-Strike 2, the Open Esports Initiative, user-generated content, and AI in marketing are just some of the ways that the industry could move towards Esports 2.