After a year-and-a-half of build-up and a big promotional push from the NBA with assists from the likes of ESPN, the NBA 2K League began play last week with a $100,000 prize pool tournament but very few bothered to tune in. Check out the extensive piece written for Sporting News on the numbers it generated and analysis of the gameplay and presentation. Millions of dollars are being spent with no immediate return and only the hope that it will grow into a profitable venture. Sports games a...

It's no secret that sports video games have struggled to gain any traction in esports. Competing against and being compared to the real world sports they attempt to simulate, and video game tactics taking precedence over real strategy and coaching decisions, have resulted in general apathy and broadcasts with low viewership numbers. Millions of dollars are being poured into esports initiatives for games like Madden which draw only a few thousand viewers while games like Fortnite have organic...

The NBA and publisher 2K Sports announced an eSports initiative back in February that will involve the league teaming up with the NBA 2K video game in the competitive gaming space. NBA teams will have their own NBA 2K franchises, made up of 5 players using their MyPlayers, as they go through a league-like regular season and postseason structure. 17 teams will be ready to go for the inaugural NBA 2K eLeague season in 2018.  (more…)...