One of the oldest esports titles has lost a major pillar of its competitive scene. EPT SC2 has officially been discontinued. The ESL Pro Tour and all affiliated tournaments will be discontinued, marking the end of the competitive format of StarCraft 2 as we know it. While smaller tournaments may continue, the game will no longer be a major part of the global esports calendar.
StarCraft 2 is one of the oldest esports games, having skyrocketed especially in South Korea and dominated the early era of the esports world. Its success was even the reason why situs gacor companies like Blizzard began to take the esports industry more seriously. However, in recent years, StarCraft 2’s popularity has continued to decline. The hope of a StarCraft 3 seems increasingly distant, and with the discontinuation of EPT SC2, tournaments have also disappeared. Additionally, Blizzard’s passive attitude seems to indicate their disinterest in the game’s continuation. The question is: is there still room for this RTS at the highest level of esports?
EPT SC2 Officially Shuts Down After Five Years
In an official blog, ESL Gaming announced the future of StarCraft 2 in the competitive realm: they will be ceasing all operations. As the organizer of various major tournaments, this means that there will be no more big events such as DreamHack, IEM Katowice, and others for StarCraft 2.
However, they emphasized that this is not the absolute end for SC2. There will still be one new champion determined at the Esports World Cup, which will be the end of the EPT. But without another party willing to take over, the big circuit will no longer accommodate this game.
Why is EPT SC2 Shutdown?
ESL also explained the reason behind this decision. Basically, EPT is no longer economically viable. They have struggled to get funding in recent years. This is likely exacerbated by Blizzard’s attitude that seems to let StarCraft 2 slowly sink into unpopularity.
The closure of the entire circuit raises a big question: is there someone else capable of taking its place? Without a major change to the game’s appeal, it seems unlikely that organizers will be willing to host a large-scale event. Given StarCraft 2’s age, hopes for a new revival are looking increasingly slim.
What Does This Mean for the Future of SC2?
SC2’s esports appeal is no longer as strong as it once was. The game hasn’t attracted many new fans in recent years. With interest in its esports declining, SC2 has been on the wane for quite some time. The EPT circuit seems to outgrow its current fanbase.
However, that doesn’t mean that competition is going away completely. Community and grassroots esports can still thrive. The game will also still be featured in the Esports World Cup. However, with Blizzard’s lack of support for SC2, the decision to end the major circuit seems inevitable.
Now, the biggest hope for StarCraft’s future may lie with Microsoft, who could decide to revive the legendary franchise in the future.