On Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Sikes Lake Center MSU Texas eSports and Gaming kicked off its season with a series of tryouts for games such as Super Smash Bros. and Street Fighter. The event was open to all, whether seasoned veterans or passionate newcomers, offering everyone the chance to test their skills and potentially earn a spot on the competitive gaming team.
Zachary Zoet, the gaming coordinator, expressed his optimism about the future of esports at the university.
“I think the future of esports at MSU is bright. It’s continuing to grow every year. We’re entering year three, and this year in particular, fighting games are being platformed even more than they ever have been,” Zoet said, adding, “So we added Street Fighter 6 as an additional varsity-level title, which means the student who makes the varsity starter spot gets a scholarship. They get access to a coaching jersey, team manager, and stuff like that. Previously, we just had Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, so fighting games in particular are growing at MSU.”
The addition of Street Fighter 6 as varsity-level title marks a significant milestone for the program, offering more opportunities for students to compete at a high level while receiving the support and recognition typically reserved for traditional sports athletes.
Ryan Chancer, MSU’s eSports coach, also shared his insights on the broader landscape of esports.
“The future of eSports is looking really strong right now. Internationally, it’s the strongest it’s ever been. There are a lot of sponsors getting involved, a lot of circuits being built. This means people who want to go to an international level have a lot more avenues to get there and make it similar to professional sports,” Zoet said, adding, “We’re not quite there yet, but we’re making waves in that direction. Smash Bros. in particular, is a little bit more difficult due to not having much developer support, but the community is growing despite that. Especially if there’s another Switch or another game title dropping, the explosion of entrants will be enormous,” Chancer said.
As MSU Texas eSports and Gaming community continues to grow, the future looks promising not only for the university’s program but also for the wider esports community. With the dedication of players, coaches and coordinators like Zoet and Chancer, the esports scene is set to thrive for years to come.
MSU Texas eSports’ next event will be Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
