With Esports continuing to grow exponentially, organisers and broadcasters are embracing the latest immersive technologies to create high-spectacle events.
Over the last few years, the explosion of Esports has been nothing short of a phenomenon. From Dota 2 to Fortnite, the biggest games are generating millions of dollars for the people behind the sports. Now considered to be the fastest-growing spectator sport in the world, it was a major talking point throughout IBC 2019. Thanks to a wave of new innovations and the presence of a number of technology leaders in Esports, various broadcasters and solution providers featured this fast-growing sport (and plenty of Esports technology) in their live demonstrations.
One of the main highlights at this year’s show was the Esports showcase presented by ESL with support from EVS and NEP The Netherlands. In addition to the main auditorium production, which was broadcast online and on IBC TV, NEP also set-up a green screen studio to host a virtual commentary show. Located next to the Esports competition, the virtual studio was powered by two Mo-Sys StarTrackers and two Zero Density Engines, as well as broadcast cameras from Grass Valley.
In regards to the Esports technology they showcased, the ESL commentary team said: We’re not actually within a map, this is all just green screen. I’ve always wanted to be within a [game] map. That’s the cool thing with this technology, there is so much pushed in Esports which you just can do in other sports broadcasting”.
By using a virtual studio, the commentators and pundits can be immersed directly into a game-like environment as if they were in the same world as the Counter-Strike gamers and their avatars. This gives the spectators, both online and in the audience, a unique mixed-reality experience, enabling stats and gameplay to be dynamically shown around them.
When using virtual sets and augmented reality in live sports or Esports productions, data can be presented in new and interesting ways for a much higher level of viewer engagement. The future of Esports technology will see audiences kept more entertained and tuned-in for longer
For more information in the way that Mo-Sys’ technology can create virtual studios and provide maximum benefit for Esports, get in touch with our team today.
