We spoke with John Corpening, Game Director of Guild Wars 2 PvP and WvW and Steve Fowler, Head of Global Marketing about the eSports potential of the MMORPG Guild Wars 2.
John: We are very successful at creating a competitive landscape for our players and the growing community. That has always been our goal. The pro leagues are a natural next step for our community. This is based on the growth we see in PvP and the momentum we have gained from the World Tournament Series: our first tournament with large cash prizes that gave players the chance to travel to different places around the world and play for cash prizes.
“We are number one in our genre in competitive PvP”
Regarding market saturation, I think it’s one of the greatest strengths of Guild Wars 2 and also one of our greatest opportunities. We are number one in our genre in competitive PvP and have been in the leadership position for over a decade. It’s really not about getting a foot in the door, but rather about building on the growth we have seen since launching the Guild Wars brand. The first Guild Wars already had significant competitive PvP events when hardly anyone in the West was holding such events. And now PvP in Guild Wars is bigger, bigger than it has ever been in the history of the Guild Wars brand.
[pullquote]We are different from anything out there in the top scene of competitive games.[/pullquote]We are different from anything out there in the top scene of competitive games. Everyone in Guild Wars 2 is on the same level – you download the game for free, complete a quick tutorial, and then you can jump straight into PvP with a max character, max gear, and all unlocked abilities. You don’t have to grind to unlock stats, traits, or gear and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep up with everyone else.
The barrier to entry is very low. In Guild Wars 2, it’s only about who the best player is and having the best team to win – apart from that, everyone is equal. We are a team-based, competitive MMORPG – our games are super action-oriented, fast, and usually last no longer than 15 minutes. This allows you to quickly play a game during lunch or in the evening with a busy schedule.
If you are a spectator, there is always exciting action to watch. You can observe more games, and there are no lulls with moments where nothing happens between the action. When one team dominates, it ends quickly, so you can jump to the next match without having to endure a long game where the result is already clear, and you are just waiting for it to end. These are just some of the things that set Guild Wars 2 apart from other games.
Steve: Guild Wars 2 launched three years ago with a fully balanced PvP mode designed around skills and not item upgrades. Since then, the community has embraced this game mode and has organically organized its own competitive games. Over a year ago, we formalized a partnership with ESL and launched the Go4 Cups, weekly tournaments with cash prizes, as well as the World Tournament Series, our first tournament for Guild Wars 2 with big prize pools. Since the launch, and especially during the past twelve months, we have seen strong growth in PvP games. PvP is the fastest game segment in Guild Wars 2. The pro league strategy is a natural evolution and supports this organic growth.
“We offer an alternative in eSports to established genres like MOBAs and first-person shooters”
Regarding saturation, I think eSports has yet to unlock its full potential. The sky is the limit when it comes to the popularity of eSports. And this is not just my opinion – reputable research from institutions like Newzoo and Superdata has made predictions for growth in eSports. The numbers they have published indicate a massive explosion in this area. I believe Guild Wars 2 offers a unique approach to competitive gaming, as the combat is so fast and you need a maximum of 15 minutes for a match. We provide an alternative in eSports to established genres like MOBAs and first-person shooters.
On the next page, we confront John and Steve with why Guild Wars 2 has not yet made a breakthrough in eSports and whether MMORPGs are perhaps not suitable for this…
