It has been called the “Olympics of eSports.” In the lead-up to the event, $3.45 million in prize money has been on the line. In 2014, it attracted 26,000 people in person and thousands more online through the DirecTV Virtual Ticket, a $40 pay-per-view-style way to watch the event that is hosted by our own Malik Forte and Michele Morrow. And this weekend, it is taking over the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA and transforming it into a veritable Thunderdome where screaming fans gather together to watch virtual bloodsport writ large. What are we talking about? Well, just in case you neglected to read the headline, it’s Blizzcon, the (mostly) annual convention for fans of all things Blizzard Entertainment.
While many fans made a beeline to the Southern Californian con for a chance to get the skinny on the new Hearthstone expansion, learn about Overwatch coming to consoles, and get their first official look at the Warcraft movie, many more are here for the thrill of seeing their favorite professional gamers from around the world compete in insanely high-level competitive play. But just how big of a deal are eSports at Blizzcon anyway? Who is competing for what and why? How much prize money is on the line? Well, allow us to break down the eSports of Blizzcon 2015 for you by the numbers, then take a look at this handy-dandy infographic designed by Newzoo.
What would you buy with all that money? Who do you want to see reign supreme this weekend? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
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Images: Blizzard Entertainment, NewZoo
Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. You can follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious).
Did you catch everything in the Warcraft trailer? Here’s what you missed!
Want even more Blizzcon goodness? We’ve got you covered all weekend long. Check out our complete coverage right here.
