by SymphonieWorld of Warcraft is one of the most popular online games of all time. It is hard to argue this fact. WoW has hundreds of thousands of active players daily and millions of fans. There are those who no longer play but still remain close to the lore of World of Warcraft. WoW, as one of the pioneers in its domain, was a gaming revolution back in the day. Not even all of the tech developments of recent years managed to take anything from its charm. In fact, it only added a few more layers to the ever-expanding universe of WoW.
When you know that it is roughly estimated that there are more than 7 million people subscribed to WoW, it is easy to understand that it is a worldwide phenomenon that’s been going strong for more than two decades. With the number of users still growing, and the lore getting constantly expanded, one, or a few questions remain to linger. The one that bothers us the most is why WoW wasn’t a top draw in the world of eSports like League of Legends, for example.
This has been itching both the members of the World of Warcraft fan base and onlookers alike. After all, this massively multiplayer online role-playing video game is one of the most popular titles in its field of operation, so what gives? In this article, we’re going to provide answers for all of you who want to know what stopped WoW from becoming a top draw in the world of eSports. After all, we’re living in an age where online casinos, and online sports betting outlets provide odds for different forms of eSports, and where millions are invested in the further development of this form of sports.
And yet, it would appear that there’s no place for WoW in this universe. There are a few logically sounds answers, and we’ll try to touch upon them in trying to explain why WoW isn’t a top draw in the world of eSports, and why the chances are it will never achieve the levels that Dota 2 and League of Legends managed to reach in terms of being some of the most popular eSports.
WoW is Not Watchable
Yes, we understand, these are harsh words, but it’s true. Many fans agree that as far as playing goes, World of Warcraft is undeniably great. Yet, when it comes to watching someone play WoW, it leaves a lot to be desired. Those who are not all-in into WoW claim that when you watch someone play this game, it doesn’t provide much visually. The screen is just full of numbers, health bars that go up and down, and the animation of the game isn’t enough to make up for this.
Furthermore, as far as WoW lore goes, it is rather interesting. But, for the average person to view a WoW duel, they need to know a lot about it, and the same goes for the commentators. WoW needs an extensive base of viewers, not only fans of the game, to be successful in eSports. With a game that’s hard to understand if you don’t know the details your average sport betting fan will not come close to watching WoW and even less wagering on it, and as we said, to be a top draw in eSports you need a lot of Average Joe’s watching the play by play and not only the hardcore fans. Expanding an already massive domain such as WoW might not be feasible despite the money it could garners from participating in eSports.
The Game Design
When first introduced to the world, WoW was designed as an MMO. Massively multiplayer online games are fun to play, and there’s no denying it. In terms of quality and popularity, there is no better game than World of Warcraft in this domain. However, MMOs do not translate well to eSports. The fundamental design of WoW isn’t built for a competitive eSports setting.
For Blizzard Entertainment to make WoW viable for eSports, they’d need massive changes to their gameplay. But would they even want to? The answer so far has been no.
The Disparity Between Pro & Amateur Players
WoW has been around for two decades, and some players have been honing their skills for just as long. Compared to new players, seasoned veterans like Trill, Lightee, and Naowh are in a completely different league.
One of the biggest challenges for WoW as an eSport is that even experienced players struggle to understand top-tier gameplay. Unlike games like League of Legends or Counter-Strike, where a casual viewer can grasp what’s happening, WoW has an immense learning curve that makes watching competitions less engaging.
Lack of Big Tournaments
While WoW has tournaments, it doesn’t compare to eSports giants like League of Legends or Dota 2. For example, the 2024 League of Legends World Championship attracted a record-breaking 6.86 million viewers.
WoW hasn’t come close to such numbers. Additionally, Blizzard has not aggressively pursued eSports for WoW. Unlike Riot Games, which built an entire ecosystem around LoL’s competitive scene, Blizzard has been hesitant to push WoW as an eSport. The prizes in their tournaments are measured in millions and they attract not only viewers but also sponsors such as Stake that aid in elevating the game and the sporting domain alike.
The Lack of Trying
Blizzard Entertainment is not blind to eSports and the revenue it generates. Yet, they haven’t actively pushed WoW into competitive gaming. One reason is that even Blizzard developers understand that WoW’s gameplay does not transition well to a viewership model.
Other game developers have sacrificed aspects of their game to make them more eSports-friendly. However, Blizzard seems more focused on keeping WoW fun for players rather than reshaping it for an eSports audience.
eSports is Not for Everyone
Licenses Owned by Blizzard and Activison.
Blizzard has proven they know how to succeed in eSports with games like Overwatch and Starcraft 2. However, they never fully embraced WoW as an eSport. There have been issues with licensing agreements, tournament organization, and an aging game engine that isn’t suited for eSports broadcasting.
With WoW’s complexity and Blizzard’s lack of focus on competitive play, it’s clear that eSports and WoW were never a perfect match.
Final Thoughts: The Stalemate of WoW and eSports
At the end of the day, WoW remains one of the most popular MMOs ever made. However, it was never meant to be an eSport. Its gameplay is built around immersion, exploration, and storytelling—not competitive viewing.
Even if Blizzard wanted to push WoW into the eSports arena, it would require fundamental gameplay changes. That’s a risk that could alienate their loyal player base. While eSports is lucrative, WoW has thrived for decades without it.
For Blizzard, the best course of action might be to let WoW remain what it has always been: a fantastic game to play, even if it’s not great to watch.
