Xbox One Adds Another eSports Option (ESL's New App)

Xbox One attempting to be THE eSports Console

The Xbox One is quickly turning into the better option for console gamers interested in professional gaming.

Microsoft and the E-Sports League, the world’s largest independent pro-gaming association, released the organization’s app for Xbox One today. This enables owners of Microsoft’s latest home console to easily watch any of the ESL’s events. Pro gamers (and those of you aspiring to a career as a pro) can even use the ESL app to enter tournaments. With e-sports growing faster than ever, Microsoft is trying to keep its console out ahead of that trend. That could benefit the Xbox One console in the long run.

All of ESL’s hosted events will automatically show up through the app. This includes its major tournaments that fill up The Theater at Madison Square Garden as well as its partner events like Intel Extreme Masters.

Of course, many of you are likely most excited to have an easy and native way to show off your own gaming skills. The ESL app makes it so you can take part in tournaments without ever having to hop over to your laptop or tablet.

The league has it set up so that even people on the bottom rung can get their start in the competitive-gaming scene.

“Sign up for a tournament through the ESL app on Xbox One to kick-start your pro gaming career,” Xbox evangelist Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb wrote in his blog. “Begin with ESL Open tournaments to gain experience, then try competing in the ESL Major tournaments with the chance to earn prizes. Keep your eyes peeled for the ESL Pro competitions and qualifiers and you could become the next e-sports legend.”

When you sign up for a tournament on the ESL app, it will automatically add your showdowns into the “My Matches” section. This is where you can find all of the tournament details. You’ll find out when and where a match will begin, who you are playing, and how to contact the person or team to work out details.

This could open up e-sports to a class of gamers that want to compete but don’t necessarily wish to do so on PC, which hosts the bulk of e-sports events.

In addition to the ESL app, Xbox One also has the MLG.tv app that enables gamers to watch tournaments from that e-sports association. Meanwhile, Sony doesn’t seem as interested in pursuing the pro-gaming crowd as MLG’s and ESL’s services are not available on the PlayStation systems.

(Originally posted on VentureBeat)