Hundreds of new video game titles are set to hit the market in 2022, with the esports industry also anticipating many new games that could impact the billion-dollar industry. More people are enjoying esports, which have been dominated by a few major titles such as League of Legends and CS: GO. As the year comes to a close, a diverse group of new titles could make it into the mainstream and will be enjoyed by those who make eSports bets and casual fans alike.
The most well-known esports games have found success either from the interest of the entire community or the backing of a top developer as they rise in popularity. These new games will have some sort of impact on the industry, whether featured in multi-million dollar tournaments or modern esports betting. Here’s a look at some of the popular upcoming esports games for 2022.
Halo Infinite
This title is the next release from the long-standing Halo series that has dominated esports for many years. The popular first-person shooter could be the next competitive sensation on the next-generation consoles. Not many games have lived up to the hype like Halo has, which is why the latest chapter of this title will be no different.
The game was developed by 343 Industries and Skybox Labs and released in-house by Xbox gaming Studios, with fans hoping the new addition will take over the esports market. If things go as expected, Halo Infinite should ensure the franchise remains a staple in esports competitions for many years.
Overwatch 2
This team-based first-person shooter, which is popular in eSports betting, is the follow-up to the first title from Blizzard Entertainment. It was released in 2016 and had more than 40 million players worldwide. Since being announced in 2019, the Overwatch 2 development cycle has been slow, with the game entering the beta phase early in 2022. It still hasn’t been released but should be fully launched by the end of the year.
Most familiar with the title feel that Overwatch 2 is an uncommon upgrade that should have been released long ago when player interest started to decline. It focuses on Player vs. Environment (PvE) missions, with the game’s expansion also affecting the Player vs.Player (PvP) aspect.
There will be new PvP modes and several new maps for players to enjoy. The Overwatch League will start using an early build of Overwatch 2 this year, with the release to the public likely to be early in 2023.
Roller Champions
This competitive 3v3 multiplayer sports title played in the third person will be released in 2022, bringing an exciting gameplay experience to players on PC, Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Roller derby isn’t that popular in the US, but it’s still more popular there than anywhere else in the world. The fact that the sport hasn’t received any past recognition from any major developers will change as Ubisoft releases Roller Champions.
The game’s atmosphere is somewhat similar to Rocket League and is an exciting, fast-paced game in a futuristic setting where players fight for ball possession while skating around a rink. Players must carry the ball through several checkpoints in the arena to score goals. Ubisoft plans to land sponsors for esports competitions, as the developer has only held a few small Roller Champions tournaments.
Quake Champions
This fast-paced arena shooter has been popular worldwide for over 20 years since being developed by id Software. This most recent title in the Quake franchise will give its exceptional gameplay a fresh start in the esports genre. Different versions of the game have been played competitively for many years, which isn’t surprising given its competitions have attracted players worldwide eager to show off their skills.
Quake Champions has been played recently in the Quake Pro League and will be featured in the RESP Open tournament in 2022, bringing some of the world’s top players and bettors looking for eSports odds. The first-person shooter is a favorite among fans, and many gaming experts consider it the ultimate game in the world of skill-based shooters.
