Magic esports
Magic esports were introduced by Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast in 2019.[1][2] After a failure to launch successfully, the concept was abandoned in 2022.[3]
Description
Esports (also known as electronic sports, e-sports, or eSports) is a form of competition using video games. Most commonly, esports takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players and teams. Magic esports was planned to encompass both Magic games — Magic: The Gathering Arena and tabletop Magic. $10 million prize money was planned to be divided among all Magic esports tournaments.
Website
The Magic Esports website received a URL update in September 2019 from mtgesports.com to Magic.gg.[4] .gg is actually the domain extension for Guernsy, but video game and esports websites use it, because "gg" is commonly used in multiplayer video games as an abbreviation for the phrase "good game", usually said at the end of a match. In 2022 the Magic esports name silently disappeared from the gg website, being replace by Magic Play.
History
Initially, Esports events were called Mythic Championships, and later Split Championship. Esports also introduced the Magic Pro League and the Rivals League.[5]
However, in May 2021, a return to in-person play post COVID-19 was announced for the 2022–23 Players Tour Season.[6] Although digital play was considered here to stay it was supposed to be only part of the equation going forward. As a result, the 2021–22 Players Tour Season was the last season featuring the MPL and the Rivals League. Players did not compete for another League season, but for a place in the [2022 World Championship]] instead.
League Weekends and the Gauntlets were not run in 2021–2022[6] and the concept of Magic esports was abandoned after only three years.[3]
References
- ↑ Elaine Chase (December 6, 2018). "The Next Chapter for Magic: Esports". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ferguson Mitchell (December 7, 2018), "Wizards, Hasbro Reveal Magic: The Gathering Esports League, $10M Prize Pool".Esportobserver.com
- ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (March 31, 2022). "Return of the Pro Tour, Your Path to Playing Magic at the Highest Level". Magic.gg.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (September 22, 2019). "ESPORTS UPDATE – QUALIFIERS, FRACTIONAL INVITES, AND MORE!". Magic Esports.
- ↑ Elaine Chase (August 14, 2019). "The Future of Magic Esports". Magic Esports.
- ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (May 13, 2021). "Esports: Transistions And Getting Back To The Gathering". Magic.gg.