Learnings from eSports for hybrid events

The importance of high-quality production. Major eSports events are known for their focus on high-quality production, which improves the experience for both virtual and in-person audiences. As we’ve already reported, what is probably the largest eSports event on the scene today (not only because of its size, but also because of its prize pool, which ranges from $2.2 million to $2.4 million since 2019), the League of Legends Worlds had a brutal rollout in its 2022 edition. Advanced technology was used, including a jumbotron-style screen at ground level, a circular stage with LED mosaics, and holograms created with 3D Holonet technology, which projected images onto three 15-meter-high panels around the stage. In addition, 55 cameras, a nine-story lighting structure, 24 30K projectors, and a media center capable of handling 600 million pixels were used. A display that is sure to delight even the most unimpressed of eyes! Investing in high-quality streaming technology and a skilled technical team is essential to ensure a memorable experience for all attendees.

Take advantage of an already-established community. eSports events are built on established gaming communities, which has been key to their success. The League of Legends community, for example, is known for its passion and competitiveness, which is reflected in the spectacular nature of its world championships. Organizing competitions at a regional, national or global level strengthens the sense of belonging among fans, similar to the fervor of football fans. Although we have already told you how to create a community, taking advantage of the pull of these communities and strengthening them can bear fruit as we are seeing.

Flexibility in participation. eSports offer high flexibility for players and audiences, allowing them to compete from anywhere and watch events live or on demand. In addition, they offer various financing options to improve accessibility. At the 2019 Fortnite World Cup, held at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, a 13-year-old from Argentina, Thiago “K1ng” Lapp, took fifth place and a prize of $900,000, thanks to the global nature of the competition, as he initially competed remotely from home. Offering multiple ways to participate and access content in different formats and times is key to reaching a global audience.

Efficient content flow management. In eSports, content flow management is crucial. Events like the Overwatch League or Gamergy are designed to maintain a constant pace, with fluid transitions between matches, expert analysis, and ad breaks, keeping the audience engaged throughout the event. For hybrid events, it is essential to design a program that offers a balanced mix of dynamic content, ensuring there is always something interesting happening.

Strategic use of social media. Major eSports events maximize the use of social media to amplify their reach and generate content around the event. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and especially Twitch are used to share key moments, interact with the community, and attract new viewers. Implement a solid social media strategy that includes promotion before, during, and after the event, using hashtags, polls, and live streams to engage the audience. Twitch is a very useful and ideal platform to implement in hybrid events due to its characteristics, as it creates a community, allows real-time commenting, and has affordable and simple monetization systems.

The 2024 Olympic Games have already adopted this strategy with great success, allowing viewers to experience the event in a variety of ways. So now you know: even if you don’t organize a mega esports event, you can learn a lot from this sector that is triumphing, as the big players are already learning.