Riot Games Delivers Ambitious Event for VALORANT with wwFest
Last month, Riot Games showcased its first-ever event for its tactical shooter, VALORANT, with wwFest. This ambitious event aimed to blend art, music, culture, and VALORANT, with artists embodying the characteristics of the individual agents.
An Impressive Artist Lineup
The festival boasted an impressive artist lineup, including Grammy-nominated Madeon, Moore Kismet, Ookay, and Whipped Cream.
A New Level of Intimacy with Drones
Drones were utilized during the show to give viewers the simulated perspectives of the agents, creating a unique sense of intimacy that traditional concert-goers wouldn’t typically experience. This type of event sets a new standard for future marketing endeavors.
Creative Events Shape the Future of Esports
Riot Games sees the future in events like wwFest. For many organizations, content is essential for their success, making them more akin to media marketing companies than traditional sports teams. The addition of culture to esports spectacles has significantly strengthened the League community and solidified Worlds as one of the premier esports events.
While wwFest was a one-off event, it may not be the last of its kind for VALORANT. Riot Games’ successful utilization of cultural events for promotional and marketing value could inspire other esports organizations, such as TSM or Cloud9, to follow suit.
The Future of Spectacles in Esports
Esports organizations need to consider their financials and how they can leverage their personalities to create engaging events. With the fusion of esports, streaming, and marketing scenes, it’s likely that organizations like TSM and Cloud9 will join in on the spectacle sooner rather than later.
Update Feb. 4 1:45pm CT: This article has been changed into an opinion piece.
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