During Blizzcon 2017, I had a chance to chat with one of the nicest guys in esports – Patrick Soulliere, the Global Esports and Gaming Marketing Manager for Micron (and Ballistix ergo). We followed up after the show, and as this new season of major esports begins (OWL anyone?) to check in with Ballistix, and Patrick’s opinion on the state of esports as a whole.

Q: Hey Patrick. So it’s been a while since the BlizzCon finals, and Ballistix did not manage to repeat its stunning victory from 2016. What happened?

A: Hi Bill, great to speak with you again! While we did not have a winning team at BlizzCon this year, we still had a great performance with our Ballistix team finishing in the top four. Additionally, Fnatic – also sponsored by Ballistix – reached the Grand Finals. With two of our teams in the top four this year, it is another proof point that Ballistix is one of the premier brands in Heroes of the Storm eSports.

The competitiveness of the event demonstrates how well the HGC 2017 was structured. The HGC was designed to provide stability and support to increase the level of play in all regions, and it did just that. We saw Europe rise to become an even match for Korea, North America return to “major region” status, and even minor regions stepping up and taking games from major regions. Kudos to Sam Braithwaite and his team at Blizzard…HGC 2017 was the breath of fresh air Heroes of the Storm eSports needed. Heroes of the Storm is now recognized as a competitive eSport around the world, and that provides opportunities for new challengers to step up and lead in the global spotlight.

Q: What is the team doing during the off-season to prepare for the HotS champs next year?

A: We’ve been focused on a couple major initiatives, the biggest one being re-signing L5 as Team Ballistix for the 2018 season. This extra level of support will provide them with everything they need to take first place at BlizzCon 2018. As part of this effort, we added a new player to the team – Magi, who was brought in to replace Swoy when he retired at the end of the 2017 season. The team is very excited about this roster addition, and bringing on Magi could be just what they need to get back to the top of the league.

Team Ballistix just finished playing the Gold Club World Championship in China, where the new roster of players took third place. It’s quite an accomplishment to finish in the top three in a global event like that, and it demonstrates to the eSports community that we are more dangerous than ever heading into 2018!

Q: Is Ballistix getting into any of the up and coming OW Contenders league?

A: We are definitely keeping an eye on the Overwatch community; it’s a great game with a terrific, dedicated fan base. I am very curious to see how the OW Contenders scene plays out over this season and beyond.

Q: Where is Ballistix looking to expand in terms of eSports in 2018?

A: When you look at our current lineup of team sponsorships – Liquid, Fnatic, LDLC, and more – the Ballistix brand is well represented in almost every major eSport category and we’re proud to be sponsoring so many incredible teams! That said, we are always on the lookout for new opportunities within the eSports industry.

Q: You got your own start in the Starcraft scene right? What do you think of the status of the RTS and Starcraft right now?

A: I started off my own eSports career in Starcraft, predominantly Starcraft II. I love that series and RTS in general, but it’s no secret the RTS scene is struggling right now. Starcraft is the only game of its kind with such a large player base, and the reality is there’s nothing new or exciting on the horizon for the Starcraft community. The dilemma is there’s not a real thirst, even from the player base, for a new RTS; most people will either play Starcraft or stick to their old 90’s-2000’s RTS games, the same ones they have been playing forever.

I personally believe the RTS genre is falling behind the curve right now and it’s going to take something big to re-energize it. Casual gamers aren’t interested in the insane mechanics of Starcraft, and they don’t gravitate toward slower gameplay like older RTS games either. The genre needs an innovative approach and a redesign for the modern gamer. MMO games have changed significantly in the last 10-15 years, but RTS games have stagnated. They relied heavily on retail and online sales, leaving little room to introduce meaningful post-purchase monetization options.

Q: What do you think of the rise of Battle Royale as the emerging market for esports?

A: Battle Royale is exciting for eSports! It’s a brand new, unexplored market and the sky is the limit, for now. Current games are a little rough, but I’m confident they’ll evolve and be refined over time.

When MOBA’s were new to the eSports scene, they were a mess! But with time, experience, and improvements they’ve evolved to the level they are today. With the amount of money and attention being dedicated to these games, I’d be willing to bet these enhancements happen rather quickly.