Asian Games 2023 esports: what are the games, how are they played, and who is expected to win?
- Hangzhou features seven different games in esports competition including League of Legends and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
- Team China have won first esports gold medal after defeating Malaysia in the Arena of Valor Asian Games Edition final on Tuesday night
Esports is the newest event at the Asian Games and, arguably, the most divisive.
Say what you will about its inclusion next to events such as boxing, where athletes put themselves through rigorous training camps to reach the pinnacle of fitness to withstand a barrage of punches – the reality is, esports is hugely popular.
And history was made on Tuesday night as China won the first-ever esports gold medal at any Asian Games.
Nearly every esports session in the host city of Hangzhou is expected to be a 5,000-seat sell out, according to official data, and China – who already dominate physical sporting events, accumulating more than 100 medals as of Wednesday morning – are expected to take command of the virtual sports as well.
There will be a total of seven esports gold medals up for grabs as athletes compete against each other on popular games including EA Sports FC Online (previously known as FIFA4 Online), League of Legends (LoL) and Street Fighter V: Champion Edition.
South Korea is also expected to be in the running for gold. On their roster is Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, dubbed the Michael Jordan of LoL, who is a multimillionaire boasting sponsorship deals from both Nike and Red Bull.
Arena of Valor Asian Games Version
A 5v5 game where athletes choose different “heroes”, who have a wide range of abilities, as playing characters.
To win the game, one team must destroy the opponent’s base twice.
This game is exclusively played on smartphone devices while teams communicate through headsets..
China pipped Malaysia to gold on Tuesday night, while Thailand beat Vietnam for silver.
League of Legends
LoL is similar to Arena of Valor in the sense that it is a strategy game where teams are made up of fantasy characters with different abilities.
The aim of the game is also similar: move across the map towards your opponent’s Nexus (base) and destroy it to win.
Victory is secured by taking down the enemy’s base twice – something China managed over Macau in the quarterfinal on Wednesday morning.
Players can also get gold coins during the battle and use it to purchase items to enhance their abilities throughout the game.
If you are in the mood for a wild Friday night, the LoL final will be played at 7pm.
EA Sports FC Online
It looks like Hong Kong’s and China’s football potential is not just a disappointment in real life, as both failed to reach the final of EA Sports FC Online, which will be played at 8.30pm on Wednesday.
The final will see Thailand’s Teedech Songsaisakul face either compatriot Phatanasak Varanan or South Korea’s Kwak Junh-youk.
Previously known as Fifa Online 4, EA Sports FC Online is a football video game. Competitors play three 15-minute matches to determine the winner.
The competitors create their team using a list of current and past footballers from real life.
Street Fighter V: Champion Edition
This legendary one-on-one arcade fighting game sees athletes face off in matches that usually last about one or two minutes.
Games are decided using a best of three format.
There are 40 characters to choose from, and each has his or her own special abilities as well as punch, kick and throw combos and defensive strategies.
The final will be at the China Hangzhou Esports Centre FOP Area on Thursday at 8.20pm.
DOTA 2
Defence of the Ancients 2 is another 5v5 strategy game where the goal is to destroy the opponents’ Ancient (base) – do you see a pattern developing here?
The average DOTA2 game lasts 30 to 40 minutes and the quarterfinals, semi-finals, and final will be played in a best-of-three format.
The final will commence at 7pm on Monday, October 2.
Peace Elite Asian Games Version
Peace Elite is another game, played in teams of four, that is exclusively for mobile devices.
Just like the hugely popular Fortnite, teams are parachuted into a map with zero equipment and have to pick up weapons and armour to eliminate their opponents.
As the game progresses, the map gets progressively smaller so that players are forced to confront each other.
The Game differs from Fortnite in that there is no building of fortresses.
The final will be played on Sunday, October 1, and, because of the game’s popularity on the mainland, expect Team China to be there.
Dream Three Kingdoms 2
This 3D multiplayer online battle arena was actually developed by a local company, Hangzhou Electronic Soul Network Technology.
Players take on the roles of warlords and generals with different skills and attempt to defeat their opponents by commanding an army of troops and implementing tactical manoeuvres to outsmart the enemy.
Just like the other strategy games at the Asian Games, teams consist of five players with the champion winning the best of three.
The final kicks off at 7pm on Saturday.
