Introduction to the Olympic eSports Games List
You can’t argue that the Olympic Games is a massive sports event even if you are not a participant but a mere watcher. If you are also a gamer, then you’ve probably heard that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) had debates and consultations about including to their list of games the major competitive titles to define the best eSports athletes in the world. Since the LoL and Dota 2 International tournaments usually attract millions of spectators annually such intentions are quite understandable. A couple of years ago the IOC finally decided to run a separate global competition called the Olympic eSports Games with certain well-known eSports disciplines. While the Olympic eSports Games list has yet to be announced officially, YaninaGames has decided to analyze the possibility of certain games appearing on this list.
What Do We Know About Olympic eSports Games So Far?
Despite the official announcement, we don’t have much information about the major event that will happen allegedly in the summer months of 2025 in Saudi Arabia. What we know for sure is that you can watch all the competitions from the list of Olympic eSports games on your couch since the international broadcasts were confirmed as well.
If you are interested in a more competitive role than just a spectator, you can bet on your favorite teams using global platforms like GGBet. All you need to do is sign up for the unique GGBet login to start betting on your favorite eSports team, athlete, or event. Such platforms offer multiple options for passionate video gamers and eSports fans.
Though, we still don’t know exactly (can only guess) what games will be in Olympic eSports, the whole event is going to be massive, luxurious, and very expensive. Just look at the statistics.
| The official name | Olympic Esports Games |
| Main location | Saudi Arabia |
| The motto of the event | “Play Beyond Possible” |
| Approximate prize pool | $ 60 million (may change) |
| Duration | A few weeks after national pickups |
| Determination | The Olympic eSports Games and IOC concluded the partnership for 12 years in a year |
| Judging | Olympic games for eSports fans will be picked according to the International Olympic values |
| The role of International eSports Federations | Will participate in the game selection and organization |
| Local statistics on gamers | Approximately 67% of the Saudi population identifies as gamers |
| Historical status | This event will be the first official Olympic Esports Games after the success of the Olympic Esports Series held in Singapore in 2023 |
| Audience engagement | Previous eSports events in Saudi Arabia attracted nearly 4 million fans and collected 1.3 billion views online |
How Will They Pick the Olympics eSports Games List in 2025?
According to the official statements, there will be a few steps during the process of selecting the title for the Olympic Esports Games list in 2025. The voting committee will have to make sure that the chosen titles fit the Olympic values.
“For us, it is essential to present a world-class esports lineup that celebrates diversity, promotes inclusiveness, and reflects the spirit of the Olympic values,” said the representative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) early in January 2025.
Which factors will be considered during the selection of titles for the Olympic eSports Games list:
- Collaboration of the title’s developers and publishers with International eSports Federations;
- Popularity of the title;
- The engagement of the title’s community;
- Positive future trends for the discipline;
- The number of qualified national teams or athletes;
Soon we expect that the IOC and the committee behind the Olympic eSports Games list selection and organization will share more details about the date, and venue and determine the schedule of matches/games for the fans to enjoy.
Review of All Possible Olympic eSports Games
For now, we can only speculate about what games are in Olympic eSports. However, there is already a bit of interesting news that was highlighted during the 142nd session of the IOC in Paris. This session approved the creation of such an event as the Olympic eSports Games. They agreed on the location and major sponsors.
Additionally, the sponsors agreed on the presence of “real sports simulators”. Basically, it means that we can see such titles as NBA2K and EA Sports FC included in the Olympic eSports Games list.
Also, the IOC decided that violent and niche competitive games wouldn’t be included. It doesn’t mean that we should forget about Call of Duty Warzone or CS: GO but the developers may need to modify these games to eliminate the violent factor (just like they did for PUBG in some Asian countries).
And at last, the IOC wants to pick only one game from a single publisher. It means that LoL and Valorant can’t be picked simultaneously. We think that they will choose new titles for each new event of the Olympic eSports Games annually.
Summing up, this half-confirmed, half-rumored news, we picked the most possible titles that can be included in the list of major disciplines in Saudi Arabia Olympic eSports Games in 2025. These are only our suggestions but, anyway, this guessing game was very fun for our team!
1) League of Legends
League of Legends (LoL) is a MOBA game that combines tactical fights and battles against AI-controlled opponents and other players with simple card game elements. It has been an absolute favorite among the fans of the global eSports community since 2009. Annually, LoL international tournaments gather a massive global player turnout and an even more established competitive scene. Riot Games puts many resources into developing their eSports ecosystem – they will definitely want to be included in the Olympic eSports Games list. They already have a bunch of professional teams and a devoted community who can support the Saudi Arabia event.
2) Dota 2
Dota 2 from Valve is another popular MOBA title that has developed a reputation for its deep gameplay mechanics and large prize pools at events like The International (which remains the most popular eSports event annually). Dota 2 offers strategic depth and teamwork as its core, which fits well with the Olympic values.
3) Fortnite
Fortnite from Epic Games is a massively popular battle royale game that combines the elements of building and shooting without violence depiction. Since its release in 2017, this game has become a cultural phenomenon and a major part of the esports scene. Epic Games is already discussing the nuances of adding Fortnite to the eSports Olympics Games list. Thinking of its popularity and massive appeal, there is almost a 99% chance, we will see Fortnite in this list.
4) Street Fighter 6
Capcom’s famous fighting game franchise is back with Street Fighter 6. Fans are in love with it because of its deep mechanics and diverse roster of fighters. The series is a staple of competitive fighting titles. Also, Street Fighter 6 is a good and quite rare example of individual skill and tactical thinking – an easy pick for the IOC. The game’s rich history as a competitive discipline means fans are ready to support its presence at global tournaments. Given its cultural impact in eSports, it is an essential candidate for an Olympic Esports Games list.
5) Overwatch 2
Blizzard Entertainment’s hero shooter Overwatch 2 regularly adds new heroes, maps, and gameplay modes to make the competitive spirit alive while keeping the groundwork intact for its consistent team dynamics. Like many traditional sports celebrated at the Olympics, Overwatch’s emphasis on teamwork and strategy is a great reflection of these values. Its heroes are so unique, vibrant, and engaging that the game itself becomes a great spectator experience that may appeal to various audiences all over the world. The Overwatch League is an already established competition space and given the size of this space, it could probably be used in a global international competition like the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia in 2025.
6) EA Sports FC (former FIFA)
Of all the sports simulators in the video game industry, the FIFA series (now titled EA Sports FC) is one of the most popular titles in the world. Players can act and think as real soccer players using the stats of real teams and players. EA Sports FC has the status of the best sports simulator with millions of soccer fans around the world. It can be an ideal representative of the first Olympic eSports Games because the title is very competitive and popular – also, being a very good pick for bookmakers (who are major sponsors of the event). Also, Electronic Arts has already established a few international tournaments with professional teams that can easily take part in the Olympic eSports games.
Surely, this list is only our suggestion and we can’t wait to see what titles will be officially confirmed for the first-ever Olympic eSports Games.
Frequently Asked Questions
What games won’t be included in Olympic eSports Games in 2025?
As we stated above, there is a high chance we won’t see in the list of Olympic eSports Games very violent games like the recent COD: Warzone with the Rebirth Island update, CS: GO, or PUBG. Unless the developers change these games for the event, which is quite a challenge.
What are the differences between the Olympic Esports Games and traditional Olympics?
A separate IOC-controlled organization will run the upcoming Olympic Esports Games in 2025. Instead of traditional sports, this event will purely focus on the popular eSports titles played between national teams or athletes. Unlike the Olympic Games, it’ll appeal to a younger, digitally engaged audience and make revenue mostly through niche sponsorship.
What was the first game played displaying the Olympic emblem in an esports event?
Some sources claim that Fortnite has been showing the first-ever Olympic emblem during their latest events at the end of 2024. However, there were no official statements about partnerships. Still, we think that Fortnite will be included in the Olympic eSports Games list for sure.
Which game is considered as eSports?
eSports is not a game, it’s a competitive video gaming industry. Yes, it covers everything from multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) such as League of Legends and Dota 2 to sports simulators like FIFA and Madden NFL. The most popular and violent-free games will be picked for the Olympic Esports Games list in 2025.
How will the Olympic eSports Games work?
The traditional Olympics and the Olympic Esports Games will work simultaneously but under different jurisdictions. International federations will branch off from the IOC to plan, organize, and monitor the events of the Olympic eSports Games according to the standard Olympic values. And they will work with the IOC to select the games but that’s it. Before the events in Saudi Arabia, the IOC will patronize the national eSports tournaments the winners of which will go to the major event later in 2025. Competent judges will focus on the principles the competitive integrity and fair play through local and global events. The games promise to be quite spectacular.
Conclusion
It seems that the Olympic eSports Games that will be held in 2025 are going to become the biggest eSports event this year. The YaninaGames team can’t miss such an opportunity to share more information about the events and games after the official statement. Make sure to bookmark our website to follow the latest news about the competitive titles and participants of the Olympic eSports Games. And we like to collaborate with talented teams to create awesome new games together. Feel free to contact us anytime!
