Despite the obvious limitations caused by internet ping issues and game release date schedules, Australia has long been an important part of the global esports ecosystem, featuring notable teams and players across the entire landscape of competitive gaming. Australia is also proudly involved with some of the most exciting esports events around as the host nation: here are the biggest ones you should definitely keep an eye out for going forward.
ESL One Sydney
It’s the quintessentially Aussie audience that makes this CS:GO event a must-watch for Counter-Strike fans around the globe, with roaring crowds cheering on each and every local player and drinking shoeys live on air, much to the bafflement of an international audience. With the playoffs stages held in Sydney’s legendary Qudos Bank Arena (also known as the Sydney Super Dome), the incredible atmosphere is always guaranteed at this event.
Its place on the calendar also tends to serve as the source of exciting storylines in the world of CS:GO , and its 2019 edition, known as Intel Extreme Masters Season XIV – Sydney in full, was among the most popular events according to esports betting site Rivalry.
Melbourne Esports Open
The Melbourne Esports Open is a bit more of a family-friendly affair, featuring many thousands of attendants having a good time trying out some of the most notable upcoming games in the market alongside ESL-hosted competitive tournaments for the biggest esports out there.
Previously, the event also hosted the grand finals of the League of Legends Oceanic Pro League, a competition founded in 2015 and shuttered by Riot Games in 2020. It was replaced by League of Legends Circuit Oceania in 2021, and it would be no surprise to see its exciting conclusion take place at the expo as well.
Should the pandemic situation permit it, the Melbourne Esports Open is slated to return in 2021 at the end of August, promising a good time for Australian gaming fans of all types, be they casual gamers or hyper-competitive nerds, as part of the Melbourne International Games Week.
PAX Aus
Another Melbourne outing disrupted by the ongoing global pandemic, last year’s edition of PAX’s game expo went the online route, merging with PAX East and PAX West to create a massive online event in place of the usual gaming festivals. The event was set to take place between October 8 and 10 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre in 2021 but the organizers announced on August 9 that it will have to be moved back to 2022 to ensure a safe and healthy environment for convention-goers.
This time, the replacement event will be exclusive to PAX Aus in the form of PAX Aus online, but there’s little doubt that the triumphant return of the convention to the offline environment will provide something really special to Australian gaming fans everywhere next year.
Freeplay Independent Games Festival
Described as “the world’s longest-running festival celebrating the art and culture of independent games and playful media”, the Freeplay Independent Games Festival has been a mainstay of the Australian gaming scene since 2004. Featuring local content creators and independent games, the event has long been a key part of the aforementioned Melbourne International Games Week, featuring award-winning game developers and a string of ideas you will not find anywhere else.
Oz Comic Con
Though not, strictly speaking, gaming-focused events, Comic Con’s celebration of all things geekery serves as another way to experience the communal side of gaming and esports in Australia as part of their slate of conventions in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
The event “truly connects fans with their pop-passions and fosters bonds and lifetime friendships across pop culture fandoms in Australia”, serving as a unique way to meet like-minded individuals in the gaming scene.
Final thoughts
This vertical slice of Australia’s vibrant esports world should serve as proof that the competitive gaming scene is truly alive and well in the nation. Getting into the scene has never been easier and offers a lot of unique and exciting experiences in this emerging tech-slash-entertainment industry. Australia has a unique role to play in the esports ecosystem and its continued growth will no doubt bring along even bigger and even better events in the future.
Original article Posted: https://www.onyamagazine.com/australian-affairs/these-are-the-biggest-australian-gaming-events/
