Fortnite has just been added as a late entry to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) latest venture into esports. In a surprising twist, the IOC has decided to include the massively popular game Fortnite in the Olympic Esports Series, marking a significant turning point for the industry.
The event will showcase nine virtual sports, each represented by a different video game, including Just Dance and Gran Turismo. However, the news that Fortnite has been included as the tenth discipline, specifically for the “sport shooting” category, has generated significant buzz.
What’s fascinating about this decision is that it represents a significant U-turn in the IOC’s stance on so-called “killer games.” Previously, the organization had been adamantly opposed to including violent video games in the Olympics, citing concerns about promoting violence and discrimination.
In fact, IOC President Thomas Bach had famously declared in 2018 that “we cannot have in the Olympic programme a game which is promoting violence or discrimination.” But it seems that the IOC has had a change of heart, perhaps due to the immense popularity and cultural significance of Fortnite.
While Fortnite is certainly a shooter game, it is widely considered to be family-friendly due to its lack of gore and the presence of whimsical items. Nevertheless, the core gameplay still involves defeating opponents to win, which raises some interesting questions about the values and principles that the Olympics represent.
On the other hand, the inclusion of Fortnite also highlights the potential and popularity of virtual sports, which have been steadily gaining traction over the past few years.
So what does this mean for esports fans and gamers around the world? Well, the inclusion of Fortnite in the Olympics could potentially open up new opportunities for professional players, particularly since the top 12 players from the 2023 Fortnite Champion Series will be invited to participate.
This is consistent with the approach taken by other virtual sports included in the roster, which are largely being handled by the game developers.
The final event will be held in person in Singapore from 23rd to 25th June, where a total of ten virtual sports will be featured, including archery, baseball, cycling, sailing, taekwondo, tennis, and even chess.
Just Dance will represent the dance category, while Gran Turismo will be used for racing. Mobile game apps will represent the other sports, such as Tic Tac Bow for archery, which combines traditional accuracy requirements with the gameplay of noughts and crosses.
Overall, the inclusion of Fortnite in the Olympics is a bold move by the IOC, one that reflects the changing times and the evolving nature of sports and entertainment. Whether it will be a success or a failure remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the world will be watching.
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