In 2006 a new series was released that helped catapult the Xbox 360 into industry stardom. That series was Gears of War, and the multiplayer took the Xbox Live community by storm. Boasting a continually-high player base, Major League Gaming circuits, and recognizable pro players helped Gears become a household name for years to come. Yet, through all the popularity the game also faced adversity. Being dropped from the MLG circuit and holding Hypefestation tournaments in hotel ballrooms became the harsh reality of Gears of War. That is until Rod Fergusson and The Coalition Studios gave Gears fans a reason to jump for joy.
Gears of War Ultimate Edition would be welcomed back to the MLG circuit, Gears of War 4 would have two seasons on the MLG circuit, and now the biggest news of all, Gears 5 will be featured on TBS due to a partnership with Eleague. The Eleague represents many great opportunities for Gears and a chance for the franchise to achieve more.
10 Higher Player Base
Gears of War 4 has been out for over two years, and, like most games, the player base has diminished over time. The results of a diminishing player base can be many such as less attention to servers or lack of needed updates, but in the case of Gears of War 4, it’s the ranking system. The system is currently struggling due to a lack of players, and high-level players in the elite Onyx or Diamond ranks are being matched up with Gold, Silver, and Bronze ranked players, resulting in frustrating gaming experiences for both sides. Seeing Gears of War on TBS could possibly increase this player base for both Gears 4 and Gears 5 fixing this problem.
9 More Viewers
Gears of War used to be one of the most watched Esports on the Major League Gaming circuit. It still maintains a very loyal fanbase, but with Esports becoming more popular than ever before, there is an opportunity to grow that fanbase larger than ever before. This could potentially mean more people at MLG Gears events, more supporters per team, and more Gears of War fans overall. It may also lead to more local Microsoft tournaments which gives unknown players an opportunity to make a name for themselves, which is great for the entire Gears community.
8 More Organizations
With prize pools growing larger and larger, Esports are gaining more attention than ever before. Celebrities such as Tory Lanez, Meek Mill, and even big businesses like BMW have taken notice of the money involved. The Gears of War 4 pro circuit season 2 prize pool was over $1 million, and with that large of a prize pool plus television exposure, it could lead to other big businesses or celebrities investing in an organization. Right now, Optic Gaming absolutely dominates the Gears Esports scene, but this could lead to more well-funded teams that can compete with them.
7 More Teams Per Organization
Tying in with the previous entry, more organizations could very well lead to more teams per organization. With Gears of War having a very global appeal with huge fan bases in Mexico and Europe, this gives more opportunities to teams not based in North America. Optic gaming once had an Optic Mexico team along with their North American team—two teams run by the same organization that were both heavyweight contenders on the scene. This hopefully will lead to more teams, under big-name organizations, in foreign countries.
6 More Events
With exposure, player base, and fanbase increasing, so should the number of events. This popularity increase should directly result in more players trying and willing to compete. This could lead to more amateur Microsoft store tournaments or even local regional tournaments. Creating a functional amateur circuit will help scout talent for professional teams similar to that of The Ultimate Fighting Championship. The UFC makes this approach very successful by scouting fighters at smaller shows and seeing firsthand who deserves to be on the big show.
5 Higher Prize Pools
With the rise in the competition also comes a rise in the spoils of war. With each event currently being around $300,000.00 dollars, the Gears of War community very well could see this number increase. Once again, similar to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as competition and recognition increased, so did fighter pay. A competitive player would rejoice, and newer players would see a reason to practice more than ever before.
4 Pro Player Recognition
Gears of War has long been home to star names such as Nickmercs, Xplosive, Ribs, Atmo, Fallout, Mental, ToySxldier, Cream, CDNthe3rd, and KennyBounce. These names are as recognizable as Brad Pitt in the Gears community, and the goal is to increase that stardom. In a day and age where Ninja is gracing ESPN magazine covers, it’s only right that the Gears community follows suit. These players deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication, and the Eleague deal provides that opportunity.
3 Sponsors
Optic Gaming, an organization that has absolutely dominated Gears Esports, has signed a partnership with Nissan North America in recent months. Both sides are benefiting from a two-way street where Nissan will reach a wider and younger audience, possibly creating lifelong customers, and Optic Gaming will receive automobiles for players and content creation purposes. This is great for the players, the community, and legitimizing the scene. The Eleague deal will hopefully result in more of these sponsors for other organizations that need support.
2 Better Coverage
The Gears of War talent team is absolutely incredible, but keeping up with all the action at a Gears event can be difficult. Many of the matches are happening at the same time, and it’s impossible to see every play of every game in the moment. The side stations at the venue are one of the most exciting parts of the event and cannot be seen unless physically present. Gears Eleague will hopefully be able to bring us all the action so we as Gears of War fans don’t miss out on any of the amazing plays.
1 Securing Gears Esports for good
The greatest benefit that could possibly come out of the Eleague partnership is securing Gears of War Esports for good. From the legendary first MLG season to the Hypefestation ballroom tournaments in North New Jersey, Gears of War has always had fans but has not always had the most stable home. This move represents something very big, that being a chance to secure and show the world how great competitive Gears is. A chance to cement the legacy of Gears of War along with the likes of Counter-Strike and League of Legends, a chance to make a home for Gears of War players permanently.