By Ravinder Singh
The Breakers, Warriors, and some of New Zealand's top gamers treated local punters at Skycity Auckland to a rare Call of Duty Premiership event held by Let’s Play Live on Monday.
The Breakers wanted a chance to play against the Warriors who are currently ambassadors for the sport of gaming, with the two set to go head to head in a cross-code battle as curtain-raiser for the Call of Duty Premiership final next week.
E-Sport is burgeoning across the globe, and now has its own governing body which is seeking recognition by the International Olympic Committee as an official Olympic sport.
"That would be pretty cool to go to the Olympics and just sit in a chair with the controller and let your fingers do the talking, I guess it’s pretty cool if that can happen," says Warrior Tuimoala Lolohea.
The sport has grown exponentially over the last decade and is now a billion dollar industry, attracting viewership in excess of some of the world's biggest sporting events.
"Even in this country our viewership and rating across online and TV already eclipse some of the more traditional sports like hockey and netball, an early mark for E-Sports in New Zealand," says Let’s Play Live organiser Duane Mutu.
Gaming is clearly a popular past-time among professional sports teams, particularly when they're on the road.
"I do it in my free time because you can't always play basketball, you've got to be off your feet a little bit and having gaming in the background is pretty good," says Breakers centre Rob Loe.
"Yeah, I think it is [strong]," says Lolohea of the Warriors gaming culture.
"I think there are half a dozen players, maybe more, that play on the Playstation."
The Call of Duty Infinite Warfare Premiership final will air on Sky Sport on December 21st.
Newshub.
