Upcoming Esports Games | Five Games That Will Impact Esports

Every year, hundreds of new games hit the storefronts, both digital and physical. There’s a diverse and dynamic array of titles popping up each and every day, from the most small-budget, indie titles, to the AAA blockbuster games. Today, we’re here to look at key upcoming esports games in 2022, determining what may impact the industry. It’s important to highlight that, while some games may have multiplayer modes, they’re not inherently ‘good’ for the esports ecosystem.

We’re going to highlight five upcoming esports games that will impact the industry in some way. It doesn’t matter if that’s a multi-million-dollar tournament or advanced esports betting opportunities – they’re all relevant. From shooters to sports titles, what follows are five of the key upcoming esports games that are launching in 2022.

Which upcoming esports games are you most excited for in 2022?

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

In 2022, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is set to launch to a remarkably thankful audience. Recently, Call of Duty has been in a slump, with Cold War and Vanguard being two of the lowest-rated Call of Duty titles in history. They were almost completely dismissed by the community at large, and as a result, Call of Duty esports took a hit.

However, in 2022, Modern Warfare 2 will release, advancing the story from 2019’s Modern Warfare. This was the best-selling Call of Duty in history, shattering records and returning the franchise to its previous splendour. It’s no big secret that the older Modern Warfare franchise was peak Call of Duty, and the reboot was received just as well as the original series.

When Modern Warfare 2 drops, it’ll bring with it a fresh season of the Call of Duty League. This is the biggest COD esports tournament around, serving as the regular league and the world championship stage for Call of Duty. However, it doesn’t end there, as there’s something of a twist present with Modern Warfare 2.

For the first time in over 15 years, Call of Duty will not have an annual release, as in 2023, there will be no new Call of Duty title. So, for the first time in more than a decade, Call of Duty esports will be played on the same game for two years back-to-back. How will this upcoming esports game impact the Call of Duty ecosystem?

Overwatch 2

Early in 2022, Overwatch 2 entered a beta phase, with players and content creators being invited to test out the game. While it wasn’t seen as much of an improvement over the first Overwatch title, it still certainly exists as one of the key upcoming esports games. For years, Overwatch has enjoyed a popular, valuable, and prolific esports scene that has resulted in millions of fans tuning in to watch gameplay and even placing some esports bets.

Overwatch 2 was first announced in 2019 and owing to a relatively slow and lengthy development cycle, it still hasn’t been fully released. Unfortunately, it seems that there have been very few changes made within Overwatch 2 when comparing it to the first title. However, for some, this might be an ‘if-it-isn’t-broke’ scenario – after all, Overwatch and the Overwatch League have remained popular and consistent for years up until now.

By the time 2022 is over, Overwatch 2 should have launched in full and will be enjoying a bustling esports ecosystem. It’s powered by Blizzard Entertainment, one of the forefather organisations where the esports industry is concerned. Is that enough to make this one of the best upcoming esports games in 2022?

Call of Duty: Warzone 2

It might seem a little cheap to list two Call of Duty titles here, but that’s just the way it is. In the last two years, Call of Duty: Warzone has established itself as a fan-favourite, standing firm as one of the best battle royale games of all time. It’s a veritable breeding ground for esports tournaments, and many high-profile events are held throughout the year. However, while there’s a bustling amateur community, the only official Warzone esports tournament at present is the World Series of Warzone.

When Warzone 2 launches later in 2022, it’ll bring with it fresh opportunities for the Call of Duty esports ecosystem. Not only will Warzone 2 feature an entirely new map, weapon selection, a new engine, and new movement mechanics, but it’ll also (hopefully) revitalise the entire Warzone platform. In recent months, many have claimed that Warzone is dying a slow death, especially since the introduction of the latest map, Caldera.

Will Warzone 2 prove to be one of the best upcoming esports games of 2022? There’s a high chance that it will, given that the announcements regarding both Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 have already received extremely positive feedback.

FIFA 23

In a shock announcement, it was revealed in May of 2022 that FIFA 23 would be the last EA FIFA-branded game in the franchise. This effectively brings to an end almost thirty years of the relationship between Electronic Arts and FIFA. However, it’s not expected to be the last football game that EA will release, especially given how popular the FIFA soccer franchise has grown to become. In the future, these games will simply be known as ‘EA Sports FC’.

Ever since it became a competitive title, FIFA has boasted a relatively dynamic esports ecosystem. At the core of the FIFA franchise sits a vibrant multiplayer-focused community, driven by the world’s leading FIFA competitors. While FIFA 23 is expected to mark the close of the franchise, it will still become the key platform for all FIFA esports until the next title is released. It’ll undoubtedly bring with it a whole host of new mechanics, modes, and of course, the usual array of transfers and new players for gamers to enjoy.

Next year, we’ll likely be highlighting how EA Sports FC will be one of the key upcoming esports games in 2023.

MLB The Show 22

Admittedly, this upcoming esports game is a little out of left field. As a baseball game, MLB The Show 22 fits into an extremely niche category, with the mainstream bulk of gamers not even giving the title a second glance. However, for those connected to the game, there’s a vibrant esports scene beginning to surface. In 2022, an esports season will be hosted, focusing on MLB The Show. There was an announcement in April of 2022 that explained how a $25k tournament called the Summer Circuit would kick off the esports action.

As esports become increasingly popular in general, these sports titles are perfectly placed to take advantage of the growth. While they’re not going to enjoy the attention that CSGO would, for example, they’re fulfilling the role of serving a niche market. It’s important for developers to attract these users just as much as it is for the big esports titles to pull in millions of viewers. While it’s tougher – and sometimes not possible – to find esports betting markets for these games, they’re still able to be enjoyed simply by consuming the content.

Are you a fan of baseball? Do you think MLB The Show 22 is one of the best upcoming esports games in 2022, at least within its own circle?