Last month, ESL One – in collaboration with SLIVER.tv – announced that they would be streaming an upcoming Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament from New York. What makes this announcement unique is that, for the first time, viewers will be able to watch the tournament in virtual reality.
This is an exciting development for the ESports industry, which has recently seen substantial growth both in terms of players and spectators. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is currently the second most popular game by betting turnover, so for fans to be able to watch the game in VR is certain to add to the popularity and excitement of the tournaments.
Whether you log-in to watch the upcoming CS:GO tournament via a computer, mobile device or VR headset, viewers will be able to experience top quality, live professional gaming, through an in-game VR camera.
As technology has advanced, so have the graphic capabilities offered by consoles and by the games themselves. Some games are created purely from an aesthetic standpoint, to demonstrate the incredible visuals you can now be treated to on games consoles.
The next logical move is to incorporate VR technology into the video gaming experience. Sony recently unveiled their PlayStation Virtual Reality headset, or PSVR, which is due to hit stores in a few weeks’ time and is seen as video gaming’s most promising step into the world of virtual reality.
For classic 2D games like Street Fighter or Super Mario Bros. VR wouldn’t be entirely useful, but for most modern video games it is an incredibly exciting innovation.
Not only will you be able to watch ESports tournaments with VR technology, but you will soon be able to play your favourite games in virtual reality too. Another giant leap forward for a business that continues to grow, expand and evolve with every passing year.
For more information about ESL One, visit the official tournament website, checkout our video footage on our YouTube channel.
