Guild Wars 2

I am a WvWer player and a casual pvper, and i did not know what was the ESL until a few days ago.

Was Esport a problem to the progression of PvP?

The ESL decision has ZERO impact. Most ESL-level players quit in the months after HoT. The ones that won money stuck around until the money dried up months ago.

The terrible state of PvP is due largely to HoT power creep. It killed normal PvP and killed ESL-level PvP.

esportz was never a problem to progression of PvP. ANet was.

The fact the PvP team is unable to balance anything (due to the balancing team being separate and answering to all 3 modes) totally killed PvP. Bunker mesmer in S1 lasted almost the entire season. S5→S6 meta no change at all basically etc

ESL was basically what was holding the high tier players in the game. We wanted competition, ESL was that competition. The goal of forming a competitive team was to be able to play in ESL. But because they dropped it now we literally have no competitive incentive at all to form a team. This game is 100% solo queue with no competition drive now.

Anet already is the issue. not ESL. The devs are inexperienced of e-sport and PVP design. You can see the skill CD, skill range , class function, damage/kinds of boon/condi all be broken when HoT.

And they miss the main point and process of a e-sport game:
funny-balance-fair > population > pro player-pro team > viewer base > star player > e-sport > sponsor —-— rotation.

Let see what have Anet done this year:

1. Ridiculous skills design / HoT power creep >
Let’s see the DH , Let’s see 10+ Rev plus Mes ESL , Let’s see 14 stacks of burning in a sec burn 70000 dmg ….

2. Balance from ESL-Level >
Kill the population – New player and low skill player can’t handle this block block block blind blind inv inv evade evade healinnnnng system. Less touch time mean huge damage. Kill them in a sec. They can’t survive in this environment. No new blood and less players will join and stay.

3. Less population >
Increase the PVE rewards to attract PVEer join PVP.
PVEer come to take rewards and leave the game. ….. People play your game don’t for rewards. If your game not fun and not fair. This is meaningless. Still no one will stay.
Then they cut the team queue because of less population. Veteran can’t play with friend and play with new player / low skill player in every match because of less population. Veteran feel not funny then leave the game.

4. ESL game over >
Less viewer because of less population.
Less viewer = no advertising = no sponsor = no ESL player.
Anet have done their GREAT job…….

All kitten thing is basal on population. And population come from your balance / fair / fun.
Less population just have one reason – Your kittenING game not fun!