Call of Duty, VALORANT, and Overwatch snubbed from Olympic Esports Games
For years, esports has teetered on the brink of inclusion in the Olympics, with the IOC (International Olympic Committee) hosting multiple years of international events in selected games but never going all-in.
This changed in 2023 when the IOC held a very out-of-touch Esports Games with a string of simulation games, leaving the door open to expansion for more 'traditional' esports titles.
Now, the IOC has officially voted in favour of the Olympic Esports Games, which will have its first event in Saudi Arabia.
International Olympic Committee votes in favour of Esports Games in Saudi Arabia
The IOC has now voted in favour of the Esports Olympic Games, which will differ from the Esports World Cup, although both appear to be running in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
"With your votes, you have created the Olympic Esports Games," IOC President Thomas Bach said, adding "Also, congratulations to our friends and partners from the Saudi National Olympic Committee."
Reports from L'Equipe in France claim titles such as Rocket League, EA FC 25, and League of Legends are all being considered alongside more "virtual sports" games like sim-racing or Tic Tac Bow.
Shooter games ruled out of official Olympic Esports Games
Click to enlargeThe International Olympic Committee has ruled out shooters, though, as reputable journalist Rod "Slasher" Breslau pointed out.
Games such as Call of Duty, VALORANT, Overwatch, and Counter-Strike are all set to miss out, while Slasher also claims Nintendo isn't likely to grant a license for its Smash Bros. games.
Shooter games take up six of the ten highest-peaking games in terms of viewership, which already suggests considerable resistance to the Olympic Esports Games, although a League of Legends international tournament might be popular.
