Heads up, gamers! Five of the six games to be part of the inaugural esports tournament in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, happening in the Philippines from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 next year, have been revealed.
The final medal count will include two medal events for PC games, two medal events for mobile games, and two medal events for console games. The games are gender inclusive and will be open to teams of both men and women.
The Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee and global lifestyle brand Razer announced hit multiplayer online battle arena game Dota 2 and real-time strategy game StarCraft II for PC category.
Meanwhile, MOBA games Mobile Legends Bang Bang and Arena of Valor were shortlisted for mobile phone category.
Organizers have picked fighting game Tekken 7 for gaming consoles. The sixth and final console game is undergoing evaluation and will be shortlisted in the coming weeks.
Upon confirmation, all six games will be featured as competition events in SEA Games 2019, where esports will be contested as a medal event for the first time in sporting history alongside traditional sports like athletics and aquatics.
Razer co-founder and chief executive Min-Liang Tan said, “In the three weeks since we announced esports as a medal event at SEA Games 2019, we’ve seen a phenomenal level of interest from all segments of the industry, most of all game publishers.”
Tan added, “The shortlisting of six games in such a short time is an evidence that the notion of esports as a legitimate sporting event is no longer a fad. We look forward to having more partners come on board and join us in defining a new generation of sporting heroes for the youth and millennials.”
A key selection criterion for the shortlisted games is the diversity of titles. A range of top publishers, genres, and gaming platforms were evaluated for inclusion to make sure the most popular and competitive games are represented.
The strategy and teamwork demanded by the games were also considered, ensuring that competing teams deploy multifaceted tactics to clinch victory. Lastly, the shortlisted games take into account the physical and mental intensity needed to persevere through marathon matches.