Passion drives attraction to TI

Developing the industry

Shanghai has been ramping up efforts in building a global esports hub over the past decade. Since 2017, the city has rolled out a slew of policies to support the development of the esports industry, forming a complete industrial chain and gathering the nation's most esports clubs and top-level tournaments.

Gu points out that culture and arts are important extensions of the esports industry, enhancing it with aesthetic appeal and cultural warmth and helping forge emotional connections.

"For any competitive activity to evolve from a simple contest into a culturally significant symbol with broad appeal, it needs to continually break out of its niche and nurture its cultural identity. Traditional sports took decades to make this leap, and esports is following the same path at a faster pace," says Gu.

At this year's TI, traditional Chinese cultural elements were delicately integrated into the tournament. Gu said that the event's visual system draws inspiration from traditional Chinese embroidery. They invited master artisans of Suzhou (Jiangsu province) embroidery to create an embroidered version of the iconic Aegis of Champions, the top prize of the TI, stitch by stitch. This exquisitely crafted and magnificent artwork captured massive global attention at the stadium.

Also, at the opening ceremony of the tournament's playoff stage on Aug 20, the video game's music was grandly presented by composer Tim Larkin in collaboration with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. Chinese folk instruments, including the guzheng (a Chinese zither), were tactfully incorporated into the performance, offering a refined artistic experience. Earlier, on July 11, the two partners had presented the world's first Dota 2-themed symphony concert at the Jaguar Shanghai Symphony Hall to hype up the TI.

"The collective emotions and memories accumulated by the Dota 2 player community over the past 15 years have already established cultural depth. Esports culture is continually breaking out of its niche in increasingly diverse ways, leading to the industry's maturity," says Gu.

The well-received concert also demonstrated the potential for integration between esports culture, urban culture and classical art. Embodying the city's openness and vitality, esports events are transforming from purely competitive activities into comprehensive experiences that boost international exchange, cultural tourism and urban experiences.

"Esports is a fusion of gaming, sports and culture. China has a complete esports ecosystem, and Shanghai's continuous efforts in the industry are inspiring," Gu adds.

Zhu Qinqin, secretary-general of the Shanghai E-Sports Association, indicates that Shanghai is already firmly standing as one of the most attractive esports cities worldwide. Additionally, more efforts are being made in sectors such as local esports talent cultivation, game production, tournament IP fostering, and overseas exploration.

Li Junfeng contributed to this story.