The future’s bright, the future’s a reality: how technology is revolutionising the e-sports fan experience
As part of our ongoing e-sports series, SCMP Sport looks at the technology that is fuelling a revolution in fan experience
E-sports and technology are inextricably linked to each other. As the two feed into each other amazing possibilities are born.
Some of the most exciting advances can be seen in viewing and fan engagement, where virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and game design methods are being used to revolutionise the fan experience.
With the progress being made, the live e-sports experience may soon surpass that of traditional sports.
E-sports has been tipped as a possible driver for widespread adoption of AR and VR and the beginnings of this can be seen at e-sports tournaments where AR is already being used to enhance the viewing experience and give fans greater insight into team compositions, match information and real-time game events.
Tournament organisers display scaled-up game characters and in-game information on stage in front of player booths, and the game maps on which competition takes place can be overlaid on stadium stages making incredibly complex play easier for fans to follow.
The immersive experience of virtual reality opens up possibilities for highly engaging spectatorship. Technologies are being developed that allow viewers to watch e-sports matches from any position or angle in the game.