E-sports split? For Olympic inclusion, a parallel universe may be the only solution as profit and businesses dominate landscape
Established organisations and game publishers may be unwilling to tone down violent games nor align themselves with National Olympic Committees
E-sports has grown into a multibillion dollar, business-oriented industry in which corporations and game publishers call the shots and violent games dominate the landscape.
To become an Olympic sport, though, e-sports players and organisations need to align themselves with a National Olympic Committee (NOC) within their own country or territory and play by Olympic rules, with IOC president Thomas Bach saying recently that violent games would never be allowed.
It is unlikely that gamers and publishers who have already established a successful and profitable e-sports culture are likely to acquiesce for the sake of an Olympic medal.
“I personally believe there will be two parallels,” said Allan Phang, from AirAsia Esports. “One business side to it where companies and organisations do their own thing.