Esports events will be contested at the Asian Games for the first time in Indonesia, with players and advocates hoping it will show skeptics that video gaming belongs in the big leagues.
With the stakeholders hoping the demonstration event will help build the case for making esports a medal event in future Olympics, the activity must battle the stigma that it glorifies violence and exacerbates mental health issues linked to so-called gaming disorder.
Game developer Konami Digital Entertainment Co.'s popular "Pro Evolution Soccer 2018" — known in Japan as "Winning Eleven 2018" — and Riot Games Inc.'s "League of Legends" battle arena game are among six titles selected for the event, which will start on Aug. 26 and run for seven days during the Asian Games.