Interest in cyber sports games is on the rise in 2024, and for good reason: legends continue to capture the hearts of millions, and new breakthroughs are creating adrenaline rushes around the world. This year has been a true sea change in cyber culture, with key disciplines demonstrating the breathtaking skills of players and developers.
Perennial favourite: League of Legends
League of Legends (LoL) continues to be one of the great cybersport titans. The developers are once again surprising fans with updates that drastically change the gameplay. The main difference this year is a new item system and an overhaul of the forest mechanics, including unique buffs for each forest monster. New champions include Constant, who can temporarily block damage across the entire team, and Blade of Wind, whose abilities focus on speed attacks and tactics to infiltrate the enemy’s defensive line.
The most significant changes are the addition of two new artefacts to Sapport’s options: the Crystal Maelstrom, which gives the team a temporary armour boost, and the Unity Mirror, which allows them to redirect damage from allies to themselves. These changes increase the relevance of cybersport games in 2024 and give professional competitors new tools to dominate tournaments.
Professional leagues and competitions
The global LoL scene is full of events, each of which is a real treat for fans. Tournaments such as the LCK and LEC continue to attract millions of viewers, but the real highlight of the season is the World Championships. This year’s World Championship was won by Team T1, who returned to the throne after a difficult start. In the deciding game, they employed a new strategy called ‘Capture the Forests’, actively gathering resources and organising attacks on the opponent’s base.
The arena battles show why LoL remains one of the best tournament games. Each match is a real-time chess game, with tactical moves and instant decisions. Teams now utilise a double attack tactic, using a killer champion (Zed) along with a supporter, which leads to more aggression on the frontline and increases the chances of winning.
Dota 2: Tactics make the difference
Dota 2 continues to conquer the top and inspire thousands of players to new heights. The updates include changes to the heroes and their abilities that turn the usual meta on its head. For example, there is a new hero, the Storm Magister, who can accumulate an energy charge and summon a lightning bolt that damages all enemies within range. The new artefact ‘Phoenix Shield’ gives players the ability to resurrect after their first death, which significantly changes the dynamics of battles.
Cyber sports games in 2024 use the example of Dota 2 to show how the story can develop without losing depth and complexity. Particular attention is paid to the tactics of map conquest and the use of new artefacts.
The international tournament and other events
The International 2024 was once again the epicentre of the eSports universe, bringing together the best of the best from around the world. The prize money totalled a record 50 million dollars. This year’s event is most remembered for the incredible battle between PSG.LGD and Team Secret, which PSG.LGD managed to win despite losing two key baselines. The main tournament shows the level of the participants and sets trends for the entire community. Events of this magnitude are a demonstration of the strength, skill and amazing abilities of the professionals.
How players succeed
The key to success in Dota 2 lies in analysis and planning. Professional competitors like Puppey analyse each opponent closely to identify their weaknesses. What games do professional cyber athletes play to prepare for tournaments? They spend hours in test matches, practising new strategies by using heroes with increased mobility (such as Ember Spirit) to attack and retreat without losing.
CS:GO: Timeless classics with a modern twist
CS is still one of the pillars of cybersports today and continues to delight fans. With the latest updates, new maps and weapons have been added that have a significant impact on the dynamics of the game. The new map ‘Bastion’, for example, has a unique multi-level structure that allows for different tactics to conquer key points. Popular cybersports games in 2024 continue to inspire, and CS is one of the best examples of how to maintain audience interest without changing the core mechanics.
Why is CS still so popular?
Cybersport disciplines like CS remain relevant thanks to their unique combination of speed, tactics and dynamics. The updated weapon recoil mechanics have added realism and force players to learn how to control each shot. This makes for an exciting session, as each round is a battle of wits, reflexes and precision, where every mistake can cost you victory.
Valorant: a mixture of strategy and speed
Valorant continues to evolve: the developers have significantly changed the balance of the agents. There is a new agent – ‘Knox’, he can create toxic zones that temporarily prevent opponents from using their abilities. Cyber sports gaming in 2024 has gained an even greater tactical element that requires teams to adapt quickly.
How is Valorant conquering cyber sports?
Valorant is becoming increasingly popular with new cyber sports players and fans. The best tournament games require not only shooting skills, but also strategic thinking. Valorant competitions like Masters 2024 attract top teams from all over the world. This year, Fnatic came out on top with their strategy of using support agents to take complete control of the map, which earned them first place. The report shows that Valorant is a fully-fledged tactical game where the ability to utilise skills determines the winner.
Overwatch 2: the rebirth of team dynamics
Over the course of the year, Overwatch 2 will receive updates that bring significant changes to the gameplay. New heroes such as Ultim, a tank with the ability to create a force barrier, and Scorpion, an attacker specialising in close combat, open up new tactical possibilities for teams.
Overwatch 2 competitions and championships
Overwatch 2 tournaments are a true spectacle, where every match is a battle of strategies and skills. The Overwatch League presented new teams and outstanding performances. Dallas Fuel won first prize with their mobile barrier strategy, which allowed them to effectively defend control points and fend off the enemy onslaught.
Conclusion
The year 2024 was an important milestone for cybersports games. The five projects analysed – League of Legends, Dota 2, CS, Valorant and Overwatch 2 – continue to set standards in the world of eSports, attracting new fans and offering unique opportunities for professionals. This year, watch tactics evolve, new heroes emerge and exciting tournaments unfold. Try your hand at one of these games and immerse yourself in a world where every moment can be decisive.
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