With in-person games on hold for the moment, London’s Western University has announced that its popular intramural competitions will be replaced with video gaming for the fall of 2020.
The games will include electronic versions of the sports that would typically be played, such as FIFA 20 for soccer and NBA 2K20 for basketball, as well as more fantastical fare like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Rocket League, both popular multiplayer games. Games will be offered across multiple consoles as well as on PC, but players will have to have their own machine. The season will be separated into Open-Beginner and Open-Advanced divisions, to include players with little digital experience.
Like physical intramural sports, the electronic season will culminate in a series of playoffs to crown the best at the school, with winners receiving the coveted “purple shirt”. Competitive video gaming, or e-sports, is a booming industry, with its own superstar competitors, jerseys, and championship banner printing.
Some universities are branching out into electronic competition alongside more conventional teams and clubs, and social distancing restrictions are encouraging online gaming as a way to stay connected to friends and family. Western also hosts a competitive League of Legends team that plays against other Ontario universities.
Western University’s varsity e-sports season will run from October 5 to November 8, with playoffs to follow for teams who have played a minimum of five matches.
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