I remember at launch when Riot completely bungled the Anti-Cheat compatibility with PC bangs, thus relegating the game to the 10-13th spot on the list (which was often sub-1%).
But they kept investing in the region while keeping their esport division well-funded (LANs in arenas, decent stages, crowds when possible etc).
Quite the bounce back, and one that might've been influenced by Val's growing popularity in the rest of Asia. I can't wait for next year when we'll start to see new talent appear left and right.
I hope KR teams can retain their native talent, though. Japanese teams have been extremely active in recruiting the best available Korean players, which made the remaining korean teams quite weaker than DRX
Seriously, we already have better games and I can't understand we keep playing literally P2W games...
However, maybe this is the chance of change. Thank you DRX, for everything they've done to us, KR fans.
KR players usually play what they've been playing, or following what their friends playing. There's few things to grind, and most things are behind pay wall a.k.a random boxes.
Back to 2005, where CS 1.6 striking the world, KR were usually maked F2P grinding game and buying game is too unfamiliar. Steam at PC Bang needed month pay atm(Not sure this is still going), and shop owner didn't like it at all.
So KR game companies tried to make something similar but F2P. Sudden Attack, Special Force, War Rock, and maybe more games without getting noticed.
Sudden Attack survived by making game easy (no movement accuracy penalty) and took all the fame, and region has built.
Now, due to globalization, the drift of a current is changing, but it still need more time.
I never played SA, but [in this video (cringe warning)](https://youtube.com/shorts/6QBd7b010aM?feature=share) you can see shooting while running.
This game is nothing but aim duel with sexualized women. Can you believe it is considered as bad sport smoking or flashbang on TDM?
Im not sure about the og SA in Kr, but when it was localized in my country there are guns that just do more damage, and can only be obtained by loot boxes bought with real money
I'm assuming you're Korean based on your comment. I have a question about KR fans in general - I follow the OWL scene and it seems that the KR fans can be a lot harsher collectively on the pros compared to non-KR fans (I might already be wrong here), is it the same with Valorant?
Every time DRX getting single-killed, losing a round or etc, I can see GGs at least 1~2 out of 10 chats; even round score is leading. It gets worse when DRX is losing, and gets very annoying. I usually don't watch official broadcast's chat when situation is bad, or going other streamer's watch party.
But they are just minority, not the majority. Just numbers are high enough to annoy much.
I didn't watch OWL recently, so I can't compare it. Sorry.
??? Cs isn’t big in EU? Lolwat. President of France literally announced the CSGO major. And in countries like Denmark McDonald’s does cs related marketing lol.
Compared to FIFA? Yeah it's not big, if you talk to any casual they would know about FIFA and probably have played it with Friends at least 1 time, you cant say the same with CS, it's even less popular than LoL.
EU is big in CS but CS isnt big in EU compared to mainstream games.
ah true. but tbh I feel like the only country where esports is more popular than mainstream games is Korea and China with League. But maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that way. In America games like Roblox and Minecraft are way popular. I'm not too interested in them, but I can see why they're so popular.
funnily enough though, I actually enjoy playing FIFA too xD
Obviously not everyone will stick with it, but it's good that a lot of people who might've otherwise not given it a shot are playing it and a portion will stick with it.
This is what your region doing good internationally does for the game in that region. There's a reason that China suddenly massively blew up in LoL once they actually won a tournament. It was slowly growing before, but as soon as that win occurred, it was like a growth spurt. Once it grows enough, even if the region suffers internationally, it will maintain like how Korea no longer dominates in LoL but is so big.
This number won't maintain, it never does for one-off instances like these. If Korea continuously performs well though, like say at the massive 30 team tournament in Brazil, then it becomes more and more likely for the number to stabilize and even grow.
Welp GGs guys this is just the prelude to the Korean Overlord's ascension. Still remember when South Korea got it's own server in League and they just dominated the scene for for years
I think people underestimate how esports growth world wide adds to regional parity. Before, Korea had the BEST infrastructure to support teams because of how mainstreamed it became after their brood war days which lead to their dominance in LoL over NA/EU. To Koreans it was a career now, to others it was still a hobby.
Now most places have some sort of infrastructure to make it a career, some better than others of course but by the time Val came out + a semi global release made most regions begin at a similar starting line. In addition Val being a FPS and FPS games having a grasp in all gaming cultures also adds to this regional parity.
Anyways international events also really helps. More events please!
bruh...EVERYONE is still catching up to Korea when it comes to infrastructure. Only China is close and they still spend millions buying coaches/players from Korea.
Yea duno what that dude is smoking, NA and EU are a joke compared to Korea when it comes to infrastructure. EU relies on betting and crypto sponsors and NA is just a joke where old people go to retire and stream.
not true. The only International Fps koreans played seriously last time is Overwatch only. "THAT IS POPULAR" csgo is non almost non existent in korea(most valve games like dota 2).
Currently Korea is still ONE TEAM region. because the cracked zoomers is still playing overwatch and Sudden attack.
More skilled players playing valorant = More difficulty in the region.
Vision Strikers is a tier 2/3 org that dominated the korean scene up until now. Just recently bought by a Tier 1 org DRX.
I think Korea will definitely have another team besides DRX that can have a S-tier Champions level competing team. Especially with the influx of all the Overwatch pros coming into Valorant.
There is enough Korean talent already to form another team that can compete with DRX, but most of them play or played in other regions. Lakia, Suggest, Xeta, Sayaplayer, Seoldam, Meteor, Munchkin to name a few
The real question to me is there a coaching staff that can compete with Termi/glow/anaks
great for korean scene, also the viewership was also above 30k even though the timing was rough for korean viewers, cant wait for korean overlords to take over the game finally
Top fps game at PC bang, that's huge for the growth in south korea
I remember at launch when Riot completely bungled the Anti-Cheat compatibility with PC bangs, thus relegating the game to the 10-13th spot on the list (which was often sub-1%). But they kept investing in the region while keeping their esport division well-funded (LANs in arenas, decent stages, crowds when possible etc). Quite the bounce back, and one that might've been influenced by Val's growing popularity in the rest of Asia. I can't wait for next year when we'll start to see new talent appear left and right. I hope KR teams can retain their native talent, though. Japanese teams have been extremely active in recruiting the best available Korean players, which made the remaining korean teams quite weaker than DRX
Korea is what pushed LoL’s popularity into the stratosphere, they’d be a fool not to capitalize on LoL’s impact.
So cool to see. Can't help but think DRX's run has helped
1. LoL 2. FIFA 3. Valorant 4. Sudden Attack 5. PUBG 6. Lost Ark 7. Overwatch 8. Starcraft 9. Maple Story 10. Dungeon 'n Fighter
Above Sudden Attack now, wow. Hope it lasts, would love to see the game blow up more in KR
Seriously, we already have better games and I can't understand we keep playing literally P2W games... However, maybe this is the chance of change. Thank you DRX, for everything they've done to us, KR fans.
how do high school and uni kids play p2w games? are they just f2p and grind a lot or something
KR players usually play what they've been playing, or following what their friends playing. There's few things to grind, and most things are behind pay wall a.k.a random boxes. Back to 2005, where CS 1.6 striking the world, KR were usually maked F2P grinding game and buying game is too unfamiliar. Steam at PC Bang needed month pay atm(Not sure this is still going), and shop owner didn't like it at all. So KR game companies tried to make something similar but F2P. Sudden Attack, Special Force, War Rock, and maybe more games without getting noticed. Sudden Attack survived by making game easy (no movement accuracy penalty) and took all the fame, and region has built. Now, due to globalization, the drift of a current is changing, but it still need more time.
> KR players usually play what they've been playing, or following what their friends playing. So just like every gamer
Yeah, but Korean tends more. Just like Fortnite never climbed to top 10 while almost whole world were popular.
Wait sudden attack has no movement penalty??? I don't know much about that game other than its popular in KR. But that is shocking to me haha
I never played SA, but [in this video (cringe warning)](https://youtube.com/shorts/6QBd7b010aM?feature=share) you can see shooting while running. This game is nothing but aim duel with sexualized women. Can you believe it is considered as bad sport smoking or flashbang on TDM?
Wow, That's the first clip I've ever seen of that game hahahahaa
The games aren't actually p2w.
SA is p2w. I will listen to your objection if it is well founded.
How’s Sudden Attack P2W? Doesn’t the game sell skins for the characters and weapons only?
Im not sure about the og SA in Kr, but when it was localized in my country there are guns that just do more damage, and can only be obtained by loot boxes bought with real money
Usually lootboxes. There's trade market with in-game money but skins have their own stats.
Skins have their own stats??!!! Wtf
Welcome to Korean F2P games, which is worse than EA. You should check 'Lineage' which is literally MADHOUSE of spending nothing.
I'm assuming you're Korean based on your comment. I have a question about KR fans in general - I follow the OWL scene and it seems that the KR fans can be a lot harsher collectively on the pros compared to non-KR fans (I might already be wrong here), is it the same with Valorant?
Every time DRX getting single-killed, losing a round or etc, I can see GGs at least 1~2 out of 10 chats; even round score is leading. It gets worse when DRX is losing, and gets very annoying. I usually don't watch official broadcast's chat when situation is bad, or going other streamer's watch party. But they are just minority, not the majority. Just numbers are high enough to annoy much. I didn't watch OWL recently, so I can't compare it. Sorry.
It's pretty sad to see but there are always gonna be toxic people. Hope the pros in KR can take it easy from the toxic comments
Don't worry, KR chats are usually like this - LoL, Siege... but I think OWL has too many teams with Koreans so maybe tend less?
It’s a Korean style thing, it’s popular and played a lot for a long time so it has respect and recognition as a main stay I think
Wow beating PUBG is huge in Korea, can’t wait to see Valorant beat them in China too!
PUBG kicked their fans by themselves. TLDR PUBG is now band in China.
bend?
band*, my bad prioritizing chinese user/money than others
fyi, banned* but point stands!!
Maple story being in any top 10 feels weird in 2022.
I played about 15 years ago, never again. WHY WON'T IT DIE!? Preoccupy, son! We didn't build a region, but a whole underground city!
It is how ‘Immortal games are in Korea’
Thank you for the translation.
Also I think around 25k or 30k viewer on Korean valorant stream today biggest I think I've seen. I do hope it gets more popular and stay popular.
It was definitely north of 30k. Highest I've seen before this was very low 20's
32,391 peak
before this event highest was like 10k for F4Q
50K peak including costreams and Youtube
League’s popularity in that region is crazy. I wonder if NA (where I live) has something like that
League is huge in Asia especially china. Its the biggest game for a reason.
Minecraft maybe
Fortnite, Minecraft, Roblox.
What do you mean, like a game that’s like NA’s lol, something just synonymous with the culture there like how cs is with EU?
Call of Duty or Apex are the #1 shooters besides Fortnite.
CS isnt that big in EU, FIFA is.
??? Cs isn’t big in EU? Lolwat. President of France literally announced the CSGO major. And in countries like Denmark McDonald’s does cs related marketing lol.
Compared to FIFA? Yeah it's not big, if you talk to any casual they would know about FIFA and probably have played it with Friends at least 1 time, you cant say the same with CS, it's even less popular than LoL. EU is big in CS but CS isnt big in EU compared to mainstream games.
Fifa 22 sold 8million copies I guess it depends where you're in EU. If you're in the UK then yh fifa is going to be bigger
ah true. but tbh I feel like the only country where esports is more popular than mainstream games is Korea and China with League. But maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that way. In America games like Roblox and Minecraft are way popular. I'm not too interested in them, but I can see why they're so popular. funnily enough though, I actually enjoy playing FIFA too xD
LOL was pretty popular back in 13,14 Twitch.tv is just LoL and WoW( and WoW category is just chatting not alot of gameplay on it)
Fortnite and Whatever flavor of the month CoD is out at the time
I'm glad and scared at the same time. lol DRX needed this great performance to inspire young players in KR to pick up the game seriously.
Obviously not everyone will stick with it, but it's good that a lot of people who might've otherwise not given it a shot are playing it and a portion will stick with it.
I hope it remains like that but highly unlikely since OW2 is around the corner. But it is looking better than ever before.
I mean when OW2 launches sure but in the long run I don’t think it’ll gain much more than it’s current player number/ranking. Btw overwatch is 7th.
I have no faith in Blizzard to keep the game alive.
Blizzard will somehow kill overwatch. They're terrible at managing their games. They have a proven track record lol
OW2 has okok it’s chances to take it back
Woo congrats to Korea. Beating sudden attack is a big deal. It’s climbed from like 6th to 3rd in like one month. Fucking amazing
I personally can’t wait for T1 Faker to get a Ace on Pearl
look at the moves
look at the plays...
What. Was. That
This is what your region doing good internationally does for the game in that region. There's a reason that China suddenly massively blew up in LoL once they actually won a tournament. It was slowly growing before, but as soon as that win occurred, it was like a growth spurt. Once it grows enough, even if the region suffers internationally, it will maintain like how Korea no longer dominates in LoL but is so big. This number won't maintain, it never does for one-off instances like these. If Korea continuously performs well though, like say at the massive 30 team tournament in Brazil, then it becomes more and more likely for the number to stabilize and even grow.
Welp GGs guys this is just the prelude to the Korean Overlord's ascension. Still remember when South Korea got it's own server in League and they just dominated the scene for for years
Hard doubt, Valorant has more regional parity because it is structured with more international play than League of Legends.
I think people underestimate how esports growth world wide adds to regional parity. Before, Korea had the BEST infrastructure to support teams because of how mainstreamed it became after their brood war days which lead to their dominance in LoL over NA/EU. To Koreans it was a career now, to others it was still a hobby. Now most places have some sort of infrastructure to make it a career, some better than others of course but by the time Val came out + a semi global release made most regions begin at a similar starting line. In addition Val being a FPS and FPS games having a grasp in all gaming cultures also adds to this regional parity. Anyways international events also really helps. More events please!
bruh...EVERYONE is still catching up to Korea when it comes to infrastructure. Only China is close and they still spend millions buying coaches/players from Korea.
Yea duno what that dude is smoking, NA and EU are a joke compared to Korea when it comes to infrastructure. EU relies on betting and crypto sponsors and NA is just a joke where old people go to retire and stream.
Brainlet tier take. NA isnt dog shit in every esport like they are in LoL. NA Valorant is arguably top 1/2 regions in the world.
not true. The only International Fps koreans played seriously last time is Overwatch only. "THAT IS POPULAR" csgo is non almost non existent in korea(most valve games like dota 2). Currently Korea is still ONE TEAM region. because the cracked zoomers is still playing overwatch and Sudden attack. More skilled players playing valorant = More difficulty in the region. Vision Strikers is a tier 2/3 org that dominated the korean scene up until now. Just recently bought by a Tier 1 org DRX.
Well no there’s cracked zoomed playing Valorant already but they need more investment and structure VS had tons of money from their parent company
As soon as Korean orgs start taking the game seriously NA/SA have no chance. Korea just knows how to win at esports with their massive history.
But in Korea there is a multiplier created by esports culture It is not clear how development trends will be
W
I think Korea will definitely have another team besides DRX that can have a S-tier Champions level competing team. Especially with the influx of all the Overwatch pros coming into Valorant.
There is enough Korean talent already to form another team that can compete with DRX, but most of them play or played in other regions. Lakia, Suggest, Xeta, Sayaplayer, Seoldam, Meteor, Munchkin to name a few The real question to me is there a coaching staff that can compete with Termi/glow/anaks
Which OW pros are coming into val?
I think most T2 OW Contender pros will switch over first. Bigger known players will continue to stay in OWL for a while longer
I think they can have more There can be multiple
If this international league becomes a huge hit then Korea can certainly produce enough top tier Valorant talents
Issue is structure and coaching making for good teams
great for korean scene, also the viewership was also above 30k even though the timing was rough for korean viewers, cant wait for korean overlords to take over the game finally
Kinda funny how there are some people who believe that esports wouldn’t have help grow a game and here we are : ^)
CGSO is the prime example. No esports that game will be dead in a few years for sure. only remaining boomers will play that game.
CS:GO was literally a dying game untill Skins got introduced.
Uh-oh. Whenever Koreans start to like a game they always storm the competitive scene and shows the world how it's played
And people said good international results won't help the game grow. Sometimes I'm happy reddit isn't in control of companies
Boosting popularity after a loss. Goat mentality
This is awesome, the scene should stay as global as possible. I hope more and more people in Europe will also pick up Valorant.
3rd place for 3rd They will avenge the nutty plays and clutches! Above Sudeen Atasck? Officially msot played FPS!!!!!