At the end of 2020, Microsoft acquired the esports platform and online tournament organization Smash.gg. Nearly two years later, Sony did the same and acquired the Repeat.gg platform to make esports accessible to as many people as possible.
Platforms why?
When it comes to the sale of the online tournament platform Smash.gg, it’s hard to imagine that two years after the deal, Microsoft did little to optimize this purchase. The “new opportunities” of the then press release did not give anything concrete yet. Can PlayStation make a difference?
With its surprise acquisition of the Repeat.gg platform, Sony seems to be moving its pawns and also filling a niche that consoles have long given way to PCs. While PC players have long been accustomed to this competitive practice, it has yet to be built on consoles. By acquiring Repeat.gg, Sony hopes to make a difference and make esports more open:
At PlayStation, our vision for esports has always been to break down barriers, allowing players to compete at all levels. Together with the talented team at Repeat.gg, we’re excited to open up new ways for gamers to participate in competitive gaming and expand our esports offerings. This is just the beginning of our journey and we look forward to sharing more news with our community in the future.
The good news for platform users is that redemption does not mean exclusion of players. Repeat.gg will remain fully available to PC players and will gradually open up to other home consoles such as Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S. The two competitors are opening up opportunities in an area they have somewhat neglected in favor of studio integration, but there is no doubt that this investment will not go untapped. Also, remember that Microsoft registered a new name a few months ago. So Sony’s move could shake things up soon.