Intel Extreme Masters is Returning in 2022

Video games have come a long way since they first rose to prominence in the 80s. Back then, gaming consoles were considered little more than children’s toys, and their popularity, while rising, came nowhere near the level of what it is today. In the 21^st century, games have become a form of entertainment for people of all ages. Games geared towards adults are hitting the market with increasing frequency, and professional gaming is becoming much more popular than ever before.

Pro-gaming, or eSports, as it is more commonly called today, is a form of competitive gaming, where professional players join teams and compete in various tournaments, all around the world. These games have grown in popularity so much, that they are now watched, followed, and even bet on by various fans.

Most Popular Games in eSports

When it comes to the eSports scene in 2022, there are a number of games that have risen above the rest, in terms of popularity. By far, the most popular competitive game in the world today is League of Legends. LoL, as it is often abbreviated, is a multiplayer online battle arena game, where players join a team, and compete against another team, with the goal to destroy their headquarters. The popularity of League of Legends is poised to increase even further in the coming years, as the Netflix-original show, Arcane has been met with quite a positive reception.

Apart from League of Legends, games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite, Overwatch, etc. have all met great success in the eSports scene. When it comes to tournament scenes, the Intel Extreme Masters, CS: GO has certainly seen massive success. Though the IEM took a short break in 2021, ESL Gaming said in their statement recently, that the tournament is returning in 2022.

IEM 2022

Speaking of Intel Extreme Masters, let us take a look at one of the biggest eSports tournament series in the world today. Organized by the Electronic Sports League, IEM hosts tournaments and events in both Starcraft, one of the most popular and successful games in the eSports realm, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive, the biggest multiplayer FPS in the world today.

Of the IEM sanctioned events, one of the most successful is the Rio Major, which, after a two-year break, is making a comeback in 2022. This news could not have come at a better time, as another eSports tournament finished recently, allowing fans to quickly move over, and get ready for the upcoming Rio Major 2022.

The S-tier Global Offensive event is set to start on October 31, 2022, and will last two weeks, ending officially on November 13. Winners of the event will be awarded a hefty sum of half-a-million dollars. The teams are all getting ready, and preparing, hoping to win the prize, and earn the title of World Champion.