The Overwatch League is a still young league in the area of the also young e-sports. It is no wonder that not everything is running smoothly yet and the professionals still have to find themselves. Often they go too far. How should the league deal with it when its stars lose their nerves?
Anyone who has ever played a competitive game will know how stressful even a single match can be. From mild curses to heated rage-quits, reactions range when frustration breaks free.
If this happens to us in a quiet room, no one notices. But what if one is streaming their gaming and has viewers? And what if one is an Overwatch professional, contracted with a professional team, and it is expected of them to maintain composure at all times and in all places?
Young Men Under Steam – The Kettle Can Boil Over
Those in the spotlight as professionals break into new dimensions: As a young person, one is under constant observation, assessed, criticized by thousands, and must submit to the rules of the game, the community, and the team.
Yes, the professionals have chosen this life and the associated stress themselves – but it is no surprise when they eventually boil over.
Similarly, the owner and CEO of the Overwatch professional team “Dallas Fuel”, Mike Rufail, views this. In an interview with Kotaku during the Overwatch media event in LA, he expressed tolerance: “We embrace the idea that players remain who they are and how they are.” Aware that there are also hotheads in his own team.
The player “xQc” is considered the troubled child of the Dallas Fuel, having crossed the line twice.
The Case of xQc – New Country, Heap of Stress and Stream as a Vent
In the last two months of 2017 alone, Félix Lengyel aka xQc was banned twice for inappropriate behavior:
- The second time xQc was banned in December for 7 days. He had “thrown” games in the stream, meaning he intentionally sabotaged and gave up.
Training, Streaming, Applying for Social Security Number
xQc is a 22-year-old who is not long in the professional business and is known for his hot-tempered nature. Just a few months ago, he moved to another country, had to rebuild his life: applying for a bank account and a social security number, getting used to life in a small apartment. Besides, he still trains hard and streams.
He stated that he didn’t get a ten-minute break, explaining to Kotaku that his sense of duty towards the league was too great to allow himself the smallest break. Instead of taking a break, he stressed himself in his streams and vented there.
This should not happen again – in the future, xQc prefers to turn off the stream rather than explode publicly.
xQc seems to be quite aware of his weakness. In a video, he appeared remorseful after his ban and also promised in the conversation with Kotaku that it would be a one-time thing.
Despite Mistakes: Solidarity Remains
Dallas Fuel colleague Brandon “Seagull” Larned advocates for more understanding: “You have such a huge audience that a one-time failure is made bigger than it is.” Everyone has bad nights and games. Seagull himself admits to having also blown up during streams.
“Felix just attracts the trolls because he reacts so strongly. His mistakes are called out more because he has a very emotional audience,” Brandon “Seagull” Larned about Félix “xQc” Lengyel
For Seagull, however, his outbursts had hardly any consequences, and they were received better by fans because Seagull is generally a calmer person than Lengyel, who is more easily forgiven for missteps.
The Difficult Balance Between Authenticity and Mass Appeal
CEO Rufail does not want to patronize his players or impose an image on them that does not correspond to their true nature – the fans would see through that anyway.
Meanwhile, the Overwatch League also lives off merchandise, and fans would hardly buy mugs with someone’s face on them whom they find unsympathetic or even unbearable. Finding the right balance is difficult. It is important to guide the players and steer them gently onto the right path.
What Rufail insists on, however, is humane behavior: Racist remarks, physical violence, or harassment, for example, are taboo. Common sense dictates this.
The Pressure is Immense
Both the CEO and the players themselves are now aware of the pressure they are under. For many, this level of pressure is still unfamiliar, but they want to learn from mistakes.
Lengyel, for example, has adopted a kind of “mental brake” that he wants to rely on when he feels he is about to explode again.
Guddy says: The Overwatch League and its players are still young and inexperienced. They make mistakes, but one must not forget that a huge pressure rests on them. This does not excuse inappropriate behavior, but at least it makes it understandable.
One can be curious to see how the league develops over time!
