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The battles of Fortnite items as an e-sport were especially apparent over the weekend, when two major competitive gaming events took place. While the next week of Summer Skirmish was the best to date -- there were not any major controversies, at least -- it paled in comparison to offerings from other games.
The biggest spectacle was that the Overwatch League grand finals, a best-of-three show that happened over two days in the Barclays Center at Brooklyn. Blizzard's league is arguably the most ambitious e-sports competition ever put together, emulating traditional sports leagues with big-money owners, a normal schedule to followalong with city-based teams to encourage local and more casual lovers. Since its debut in January, the Overwatch League has mostly looked the part of a significant professional sports league. The broadcasts are more ESPN compared to Twitch, with sleek graphics and engaging hosts, serving the present dedicated Overwatch viewers, while also easing in new audiences. There are numerous camera angles designed for audiences, and maps and replays that help make a better comprehension of the general battle.
For the finals, this was on display, but for fortnite traps a far larger audience. The Twitch stream averaged more than 300,000 concurrent audiences during the two matches, although the finals were broadcast on ESPN. Blizzard says that 22,434 people took in the contest live in New York. When the London Spitfire eventually lifted the trophy after a dominant performance, it felt just like a momentous occasion.
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