When it comes to traditional sports games, you can watch them on cable TV. Yet esports are a whole different world. They are mostly viewed on the Internet or through a mobile app. The vast majority of viewers prefer to use Twitch to watch esports.
Twitch
This free app can be downloaded to an Apple or Android device. It is the most popular way to access esports from all over the world. Most of the games that you play on consoles like Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC can be streamed to Twitch.
It combines the best of both worlds, because you can chat with other viewers during any live broadcast. You can talk strategy while watching games like Minecraft, Overwatch, League of Legends, and Hearthstone matchups.
Your viewing options on Twitch include multiplayer as well as single player games. While you can watch games played live you can also watch many past played games on demand, at any time. The most popular games watched on Twitch are Fortnite, League of Legends, and Call of Duty.
Of the three, League of Legends has put Twitch on the map.Riot Games, the company that owns LOL, has one of the most popular channels on the platform, with more than two million people subscribing to it. The Riot Games channel includes clips of previously played LOL games and live streams of current games with pro players. Special events are also featured, in which you can win prizes for competing in the game.
Not only can you watch esports games on Twitch you can hold your own. Using your preferred console you can set up a live stream of yourself playing your game of choice.
There is a lot of content on Twitch and it might be difficult to find the games you want. This is made easier by the esports directory. It includes a complete list of sports channels and gives you a chance to watch your favourite players in action.
If you are looking for a specific tournament, the directory can be a useful tool. Categories include live and past tournaments. You can also find live streaming video of professional players in the industry. Twitch allows you to customise your directory so that it only lists the games and tournaments you are interested in.
Another benefit of watching esports on Twitch is that even if you are viewing a live broadcast you can pause your viewing and resume it later. When you do, the video will pick up where you left off so you can watch on your own timetable.
One of the reasons why this platform is so popular is that it also lets you easily bet on the esports you watch. When a player or team is streaming on the platform you can place bets in real time. Artificial intelligence is used to track a player’s movements in the game to give you their odds, for betting purposes.
As of now some of the games you can bet on include League of Legends, Fortnite, and Apex Legends. Of the three, Fortnite is the game most often bet on. But this list is expected to grow in the future.
Alternatives to Twitch
While Twitch is the most popular way to watch esports there are other ways to as well. For certain games, YouTube is also a popular choice. Overwatch has its own YouTube Gaming channel with viewers all over the world. You can catch live streams, old matches and game highlights. The same can be said for the League of Legends channel, which has more than three million followers. LOL airs on YouTube thanks to the cooperation of Riot Games, who recognises that not every esports fan uses Twitch. Every LOL tournament in history is available to be viewed on YouTube Gaming. This makes it a great place to start watching your favourite esports.
One easy way to keep track of when esports games are played is by using Facebook Gaming. With a page devoted entirely to esports, Facebook will send you a notification when a game you are interested in is airing on the page. This is the one benefit that it has over other sites that also host esports games.
With esports being a worldwide industry, Microsoft launched Mixer to act as a platform for the live broadcast of games. Its crown jewel is the fact that it broadcasts in 21 different languages. Mixer launched as a result of a partnership with Ninja to help support the esports industry.
One benefit of using Mixer is that it encompasses just about every game included in esports. Another benefit is that you can easily communicate, in real time, with any gamer on the platform. It is a great starting point if you are new to watching esports.
