Blizzard Entertainment will be reviving the 15-year-old Warcraft III for an upcoming eSports tournament. Prior to this announcement, Blizzard had introduced a public test realm (PTR) to the game, which brought about a new set of features and upgrades to the game. These new features led to the announcement of the Warcraft III tournament, which will occur at the end of February 2018 and feature top players from the past and present.
The decision to host a tournament for a 15-year-old game is a very strategic move for Blizzard, as it finally recognizes the history the game played in competitive gaming. The tournament in this sense is a thank-you to the community that brought eSports to the level it is today. This move could also come as an initiative from Blizzard to bring iconic competitive games into the current eSports scene.
The Warcraft III tournament will be hosted at the Blizzard HQ in Irvine, California. Live Twitch streams will be provided for the event and will be hosted by two casters from Back2Warcraft.
Classic Video Game Tournaments
Warcraft III Has Been Revamped for Modern Competative eSports
Trend Themes
1. Revived Classic Video Games - With the success of the Warcraft III tournament, there is a potential opportunity to bring other classic video games back to the competitive scene.
2. Esports History Recognition - Blizzard's recognition of the history of eSports highlights the potential for more companies to acknowledge the impact of competitive gaming on the industry.
3. Public Test Realms for Esports - The introduction of public test realms could change the way companies test and release games for the competitive gaming community.
Industry Implications
1. Gaming - The gaming industry could benefit from reviving classic games and recognizing the impact of competitive gaming on the industry.
2. Esports - The growth of the eSports industry can be further supported by acknowledging its history and recognizing classic games in tournaments.
3. Streaming - As eSports tournaments continue to gain popularity, the streaming industry can capitalize on the opportunity to provide live and on-demand content for viewers.