Picture a smoky LAN room in the late 1990s — clunky CRT monitors, local area cables snaking across the floor, and amateur shoutcasters yelling into headsets with taped-on microphones. Now, fast forward to today: million-pound productions in packed arenas, drone cameras, immersive augmented reality, and pro players with personal nutritionists.

That’s the astonishing leap we’ve witnessed in just a few decades. In this post, we’re diving deep into old vs new esports, offering a thoughtful comparison of esports then and now, and examining the contrasts and lessons of traditional vs modern esports events. Whether you’re a nostalgic gamer or a modern esports fan, this will help you appreciate how far we’ve come and where we might be headed next.

The Foundation: What Defined Classic Esports?

A dimly lit room filled with individuals engaged with glowing screens, creating a warm, focused atmosphere.

Community-Driven Beginnings

In the early 2000s and before, esports events were often:

  • Organised by volunteers or small enthusiast teams
  • Sponsored minimally or not at all
  • Promoted via IRC channels, forums, and fan sites

Popular formats:

  • LAN parties
  • Small tournaments at gaming expos (e.g. DreamHack beginnings)
  • Early online cups hosted by platforms like ClanBase and ESL

Iconic Games of the Era

  • Counter-Strike 1.6
  • Warcraft III
  • StarCraft: Brood War
  • Quake III Arena

These games set the mechanical and competitive foundations for the future.

Atmosphere & Accessibility

The experience was intimate:

  • Fans could meet players easily
  • Players often brought their own gear
  • Competitions were raw but personal

Despite limited budgets, these events built lifelong communities.

Rise of Modern Esports: High-Tech and High Stakes

A gamer raises their fists in victory, wearing headphones, with

Professionalism & Infrastructure

Today’s tournaments are worlds apart:

  • Global broadcast deals on Twitch, YouTube, and cable
  • Million-pound prize pools
  • Production teams with 100+ staff members

Teams have access to:

  • Psychologists
  • Strategic analysts
  • Custom-built gaming houses

Franchise and League Systems

Modern formats now include franchised ecosystems, such as:

  • Call of Duty League
  • Overwatch League
  • League of Legends LEC/LCS/LPL

These leagues mirror traditional sports in:

  • Season format
  • Revenue sharing
  • Team branding and localisation

Game Diversity and Platform Evolution

Where classic esports focused on PC FPS and RTS titles, modern esports include:

  • Battle Royale (e.g. Fortnite)
  • Mobile games (e.g. Mobile Legends)
  • MOBA (e.g. LoL, Dota 2)
  • Fighting games with rollback netcode for global reach

Want to dig deeper? Marvel at the top prize pools in esports tournament history.

Key Differences Between Classic and Modern Esports Events

1. Production Value

Classic:

  • DIY stage setups
  • Delays due to faulty LAN connections
  • One or two commentators, if any

Modern:

  • Augmented reality graphics
  • Pre-recorded team hype videos
  • Multilingual broadcasts with real-time translation

2. Player Lifestyle

Classic Players:

  • Balanced gaming with jobs or studies
  • Self-managed training and scheduling
  • Little to no media training

Modern Players:

  • Full-time professionals
  • Paid salaries and sponsorship deals
  • Managed schedules, fitness, and brand image

3. Monetisation & Revenue Streams

Classic events relied on:

  • Low-ticket prices
  • Limited sponsorship
  • Community donations (if any)

Modern events earn from:

  • Merchandising
  • Media rights
  • In-game purchases (skins, battle passes)

4. Viewer Engagement

Then:

  • VODs uploaded days later
  • Limited camera angles
  • Forums used for live discussions

Now:

  • Live Twitch chats with polls and emotes
  • Watch parties hosted by influencers
  • Twitch Drops and exclusive content giveaways

5. Global Reach

Classic tournaments were mostly local or regional due to:

  • Tech limitations
  • Language barriers

Today’s events reach:

  • Viewers in 20+ languages
  • Every continent, with regional qualifiers

What We Lost in the Shift

A gamer in a hoodie shows frustration after losing a game, staring at a monitor displaying

While the polish of modern esports is undeniable, there are things we left behind:

1. Raw Passion

Classic tournaments had an irreplaceable sense of authenticity — players competed for pride, not pay.

2. Direct Community Engagement

Modern setups make it harder for fans to casually interact with players.

3. Grassroots Opportunities

Franchised leagues often have high barriers to entry, reducing opportunities for indie teams.

4. Game Longevity

Older titles had cult followings that lasted decades. Today’s games are more ephemeral, sometimes replaced every few years.

What We Gained

1. Career Viability

Players can now pursue lifelong careers as:

  • Pro gamers
  • Streamers
  • Coaches
  • Analysts

2. Industry Sustainability

Thanks to new revenue models, the esports economy has more predictable growth.

3. Spectacle and Entertainment

High production value events are:

  • More engaging to casual viewers
  • Attractive to mainstream advertisers

4. Inclusivity and Accessibility

Technological advances have allowed for:

  • Improved disability access (e.g. adaptive controllers)
  • Multilingual support
  • Global online qualifiers

Real Voices: Then vs Now Anecdotes

“I remember sleeping under tables at DreamHack just to play the next day.” — Andreas, retired Quake player

“Today, our bootcamp facility includes sleeping pods, dieticians, and a meditation room.” — Kim, LoL Head Coach, Korea

These quotes illustrate the stark contrast in player experience and resources.

A Look Ahead: The Future of Esports Events

Hybrid Formats

Combining the intimacy of LAN events with global reach through:

  • Virtual arenas
  • Metaverse-based viewing rooms
  • Interactive digital ticketing

Sustainable Practices

Expect to see:

  • Carbon-neutral events
  • Paperless operations
  • Greener venue partnerships

Broader Audience Appeal

Future events will likely:

  • Integrate more pop culture (e.g. musical guests, influencers)
  • Expand age and gender representation
  • Offer family-friendly side events and workshops

Honouring the Past, Embracing the Future

When we compare classic vs modern esports events, it’s not about declaring one better than the other. Each era brought its own strengths, stories, and significance.

The old vs new esports debate is really a celebration of progress — from hobbyist gatherings to global spectacles. Understanding esports then and now helps us appreciate how deeply this industry is rooted in community, innovation, and passion.

Want to dig deeper? Check out our deep dive into the first esports tournaments that changed the industry.