THERE has been talk of esports joining the Olympics for a number of years, but it seems the committee is finally ready to take the plunge.
The International Olympic Committee has attempted to integrate esports events into its roster in the past, but it was not what players were anticipating.
Instead of hosting popular esports like League of Legends, the Olympic Esports Series featured a number of virtual sports like taekwondo and tennis.
While players were technically playing a video game, they were using their bodies as controllers while the characters on the screen copied their movements.
The Olympics is finally ready to include traditional esports into its events after it has entered into a 12-year partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has invested significant money into its entertainment industry over the past few years including gaming and esports.
The country is currently hosting the 2024 Esports World Cup with over $60million (£45million) in prize money up for grabs.
Players and teams from all over the world are in attendance, taking part in matches for games like EA FC 24, Apex Legends, League of Legends, and Street Fighter 6.
Though the games for the event have not been announced, it seems that the Olympic Esports Games starting in Saudi Arabia in 2025, will feature these more traditional titles.
Rocket League, Street Fighter and League of Legends are all rumoured to be part of the event but are yet to be confirmed.
While the partnership will continue over the next 12 years, it is also still unclear whether it will take place every four years like other Olympic events.
It has also not been announced whether it will be hosted in Saudi Arabia every time or not.
If you want to read more about gaming, check out why The First Descendant has seen a surge in popularity.
Get the lowdown on more of the latest PS5 releases from our expert reviewers.
For Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch, check out our full game reviews section.
