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ESL Pro Tour for SC2 discontinued - Page 2

Forum Index > SC2 General
77 CommentsPost a Reply
Prev 1 2 3 4 Next All
SC2 at Esports World Cup announced
Balnazza
Profile Joined January 2018
Germany1337 Posts
April 04 2025 19:45 GMT
#21
On April 05 2025 04:41 Waxangel wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 05 2025 04:05 Antithesis wrote:
On April 05 2025 03:52 CicadaSC wrote:
On April 05 2025 03:50 dysenterymd wrote:
On April 05 2025 02:20 Waxangel wrote:
On April 05 2025 02:17 Balnazza wrote:
On April 05 2025 01:52 jinjin5000 wrote:
With esl being gone, what crank said is seemingly coming true, with scene only extending for few months and no future in sight and risk of repeating the past 6months of limbo once again as soon as Saudi ewc ends.


Not really a "limbo", we now know that there will be no ESL/EWC tournament for atleast a year. So either the scene fills the void (then we have something) or it doesn't then we have nothing (and most certainly not an EWC next year).
It was the unclarity that was so unsettling the past couple of months


Time to see what kind of legs SC2 has as a 'normal' competitive esport, like War3, fighting games, and all the other scenes that aren't heavily bankrolled by a big company (well, some fighting games have become esports-ified, but I digress...).

Obviously ESL/Blizzard can never be replaced, but I think if we get 3-4 more offline tournaments like BGE/HSC a year we can still have a nice little scene. Not the same as the glory days, but still fun to follow.

Even that might be too much to hope for though, the next few weeks will be telling in that regard - if orgs exist that are willing to put on smaller LANS(big if) they would probably be in a holding pattern up until now.

It would be great if we found a way to centralize crowd funding. A place that says, "are you a fan of SC2 esports and want them to continue? Donate to THIS patreon." rather than having 15 different places you have to donate to.

Yes, absolutely. I had the same thought the other day.

Actually, too many places to donate to are one of the reasons why I haven't donated much yet. I want to support HSC, but also PigSty, and also Wardi, and so on. A central SC2 crowdsourcing platform would be great.


Well, the main problem with this issue is "who decides how the money is spent?" It's just unrealistic for a bunch of independent streamers/organizers to work out some theoretically ideal way to split a joint crowdfunding pot. And it's not just because of (understandable self-interest)—it's just too damned complicated.

I think it's much more realistic for 2-4 streamers to temporarily collaborate and organize $20-30k size online events (or whatever sum it takes to get Serral to play), and crowdfund on a per-tournament basis.


It's also what just worked for other games. AoE 2 and WC3 run under the same principle, though Microsoft is augmenting the prizepools for AoE.
Either you have major players involved (like Riot, ESL, BLAST etc.) or you do it community-based...but then you need to run it like it is community-based aswell.
"Wenn die Zauberin runter geht, dann macht sie die Beine breit" - Khaldor, trying to cast WC3 German-only
Nebuchad
Profile Blog Joined December 2012
Switzerland12491 Posts
April 04 2025 20:05 GMT
#22
Good.
No will to live, no wish to die
myghal
Profile Joined November 2021
Poland5 Posts
April 04 2025 20:23 GMT
#23
It sucks that they waited so long. It’s just like beating a dead horse. Everyone knew this was going to happen, but the fact that they waited so long is just painful.

Now, let’s see what the community can do and whether we can manage to maybe even organize some small offline events.
idk
myghal
Profile Joined November 2021
Poland5 Posts
April 04 2025 20:23 GMT
#24
On April 05 2025 03:52 CicadaSC wrote:
Show nested quote +
On April 05 2025 03:50 dysenterymd wrote:
On April 05 2025 02:20 Waxangel wrote:
On April 05 2025 02:17 Balnazza wrote:
On April 05 2025 01:52 jinjin5000 wrote:
With esl being gone, what crank said is seemingly coming true, with scene only extending for few months and no future in sight and risk of repeating the past 6months of limbo once again as soon as Saudi ewc ends.


Not really a "limbo", we now know that there will be no ESL/EWC tournament for atleast a year. So either the scene fills the void (then we have something) or it doesn't then we have nothing (and most certainly not an EWC next year).
It was the unclarity that was so unsettling the past couple of months


Time to see what kind of legs SC2 has as a 'normal' competitive esport, like War3, fighting games, and all the other scenes that aren't heavily bankrolled by a big company (well, some fighting games have become esports-ified, but I digress...).

Obviously ESL/Blizzard can never be replaced, but I think if we get 3-4 more offline tournaments like BGE/HSC a year we can still have a nice little scene. Not the same as the glory days, but still fun to follow.

Even that might be too much to hope for though, the next few weeks will be telling in that regard - if orgs exist that are willing to put on smaller LANS(big if) they would probably be in a holding pattern up until now.

It would be great if we found a way to centralize crowd funding. A place that says, "are you a fan of SC2 esports and want them to continue? Donate to THIS patreon." rather than having 15 different places you have to donate to.



You have a good point
idk
outscar
Profile Joined September 2014
2832 Posts
April 04 2025 20:46 GMT
#25
Let the dark ages begin! No one supported BW other than bunch of die hard members when KeSPA dropped it. Now the same is happening for SC2. Thanks Blizzard for killing your RTS IP. Thank god they never touched BW scene.

User was temp banned for this post.
sunbeams are never made like me...
Telephone
Profile Joined October 2010
United States149 Posts
April 04 2025 21:20 GMT
#26
Glad that I was able to make it to Dreamhack Dallas last year. Wish I would have gone to more events. Thankfully, the real premier tournament (GSL) is not confirmed dead.
kajtarp
Profile Joined April 2011
Hungary492 Posts
April 04 2025 21:34 GMT
#27
I'm personally quite enraged they didn't let us crowdfund it. I'm not sure how much money these tournaments costed though, but i'm sure something reasonable could have been worked out.
Why so serious?
CicadaSC
Profile Joined January 2018
United States1983 Posts
Last Edited: 2025-04-04 21:35:34
April 04 2025 21:35 GMT
#28
On April 05 2025 06:20 Telephone wrote:
Glad that I was able to make it to Dreamhack Dallas last year. Wish I would have gone to more events. Thankfully, the real premier tournament (GSL) is not confirmed dead.

Compared to other events now (outside EWC ofc) GSL now offers one of, if not THE largest prize pool in SC2. I wonder if we will see more pros traveling out there to compete in future seasons.
Remember that we all come from a place of passion!!
Ch3rry
Profile Joined July 2011
Poland229 Posts
April 04 2025 21:36 GMT
#29
On April 05 2025 04:41 Waxangel wrote:
I think it's much more realistic for 2-4 streamers to temporarily collaborate and organize $20-30k size online events (or whatever sum it takes to get Serral to play), and crowdfund on a per-tournament basis.

Someone willing to try organize semi-PayPerView tournament, even $2 per user can generate some revenue. And put open stream with 1-2 hour delay.
TaKeTV
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Germany1201 Posts
April 04 2025 22:24 GMT
#30
On April 05 2025 06:34 kajtarp wrote:
I'm personally quite enraged they didn't let us crowdfund it. I'm not sure how much money these tournaments costed though, but i'm sure something reasonable could have been worked out.


While the community of Starcraft is incredibly supportive - shown over and over again - no amount of love of the community could raise the capital needed to run offline major events, support the prizemoney, work behind the scenes, venues and more.

We are talking 7 figures at least and since businesses cannot take charity it would be seen as income which is taxed. There really is no crowdfunding such a big circuit.

Commentator
sc2turtlepants
Profile Joined December 2023
60 Posts
April 04 2025 22:54 GMT
#31
On April 05 2025 04:05 Antithesis wrote:

Yes, absolutely. I had the same thought the other day.

Actually, too many places to donate to are one of the reasons why I haven't donated much yet. I want to support HSC, but also PigSty, and also Wardi, and so on. A central SC2 crowdsourcing platform would be great.


You absolutely have the power to donate a small amount to each one instead of doing next to nothing.
ejozl
Profile Joined October 2010
Denmark3531 Posts
April 04 2025 23:01 GMT
#32
And they have a reputation, they cannot put up a crappy product just because the community money didn't pour in.

esl -starcraft was awesome, I rly hope we see a return someday in a game that is not too dissimilar, or who knows sc2 could get a resurrection, just see wc3.
SC2 Archon needs "Terrible, terrible damage" as one of it's quotes.
goody153
Profile Blog Joined April 2013
44283 Posts
April 05 2025 00:24 GMT
#33
On April 05 2025 08:01 ejozl wrote:
And they have a reputation, they cannot put up a crappy product just because the community money didn't pour in.

esl -starcraft was awesome, I rly hope we see a return someday in a game that is not too dissimilar, or who knows sc2 could get a resurrection, just see wc3.

Tbf crowdfunding worked out really really well with Dota2 that was valve handling it who arent also known for taking charity but they it for their official tournament anyways.

They had stupidly hyped and big events because of it although they stopped doing it recently cause the game wasnt their focus iirc.
this is a quote
NeWHoriZonS
Profile Joined April 2018
57 Posts
Last Edited: 2025-04-05 00:50:29
April 05 2025 00:30 GMT
#34
On April 05 2025 01:52 Devangel wrote:
The farewell video on youtube was posted by esl on 19th of Dec and was hidden till today’s publication. So the decision was made earlier than that.

One may wonder why it took extra 3 month to announce it. Is there a chance another company would pick SC2 circuit going forward? If not then what was the reason of such a late announcement…


How do you see that? It says a few hours ago on Youtube for me.
I can't see anything in metadatas either.
Kitai
Profile Joined June 2012
United States885 Posts
April 05 2025 01:10 GMT
#35
This was sad, but not unexpected. Good games everyone. Also, I think if BW and WC3 can have resurgences, it's easy to imagine SC2 living to see more days in the sunshine.
"You know, I don't care if soO got 100 second places in a row. Anyone who doesn't think that he's going to win blizzcon watching this series is a fool" - Artosis, Blizzcon 2014 soO vs TaeJa
FataLe
Profile Joined November 2010
New Zealand4557 Posts
April 05 2025 02:54 GMT
#36
It's been great to grow up alongside SC2. Many fond memories have been formed and will stay with me for the rest of my life. Thank-you SC2 community!
hi. big fan.
Vision_
Profile Joined September 2018
876 Posts
April 05 2025 07:30 GMT
#37
The agony has been so long, I would have preferred it to happen sooner
Creager
Profile Joined February 2011
Germany1958 Posts
Last Edited: 2025-04-05 07:37:24
April 05 2025 07:35 GMT
#38
Thanks for supporting the game for as long as you did. Sad day, but as others have already pointed out at this point not really unexpected. All good things come to an end, after all.
... einmal mit Profis spielen!
MvpRaiden
Profile Joined April 2018
3 Posts
April 05 2025 07:36 GMT
#39
Big Thank you to ESL and everyone who participated to this incredible journey. I'm not sure I can see a business running so long just with the power of passionate people like I've seen with this game. I'm sad but grateful at the same time that we could enjoy such quality content on this amazing game despite the small size (but very devoted) of its community.
jodljodl
Profile Joined October 2016
182 Posts
Last Edited: 2025-04-05 09:12:38
April 05 2025 09:11 GMT
#40


edit:
On April 05 2025 16:36 MvpRaiden wrote:
Big Thank you to ESL and everyone who participated to this incredible journey. I'm not sure I can see a business running so long just with the power of passionate people like I've seen with this game. I'm sad but grateful at the same time that we could enjoy such quality content on this amazing game despite the small size (but very devoted) of its community.

yes, indeed. thank you
Kim Doh Woo
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