The power of community support is invaluable and it’s something you can only really feel around other people.
As Fnatic ONIC cheered as they raised their M6 trophy, I along with a cramped room’s worth of people at a M6 watch party cheered with them. It was a special moment, seeing a team that’s struggled for so many seasons finally achieve their dreams. Moments like this are best shared with other people, which is very important to the wider world of esports.
As a decades-long esports fan, my focus for the majority has been on the international stage. The Philippines didn’t really have a presence in the esports scene early on and even when we started making waves it was mostly for our rather notorious in-game behavior. This has made me used to watching videos, replays, and livestreams of tournaments. Essentially just another fan watching on my own, contributing to the viewership number displayed on the screen.
Esports, like any competitive endeavor, is very community driven. It wasn’t until I started going to these bigger local esports events that I got to see that first hand. Events in the past like Rampage and REV Major gave fans a place to not just be faceless viewers but to actually be part of a community.
On my end, I didn’t really ‘get it’ yet even though I would regularly attend these events. I simply saw them as a way to support the local esports scene and watch some tournaments live. A consequence, I guess, for all those years just watching tournaments in my room.
All In This Together
Fast forward to December 15, 2024, and I’m getting animated along with other fans on Fnatic ONIC’s victory. The M6 watch party wasn’t the first time I was like this. That started a year ago, back when AP.Bren became the first ever two-time M-series world champions right here in the Philippines.
It was hard not to be swept up in that moment. The storylines coming together, the two best regions clashing for a chance to make history, and of course being the host country, all those combined to make that grand finals absolutely electrifying. Maybe it’s also because I’ve gotten to know all these players and speak to them; see them as not just as professionals but as people striving to be the best. Regardless, that moment was memorable because I was right there, sharing it with the community.
Fnatic ONIC’s triumph was just as impactful but unfortunately, I and many others don’t have the luxury of traveling. We can only watch online from afar like before but that doesn’t mean we have to do it alone. That’s what the M6 watch party offered. A simple way for fans to come together, show their support, and share in the moment.
Being an esports fan doesn’t have to be a lonely experience. It just takes a bit of effort but you’ll find that there’s communities of passionate fans who are just as invested in this scene as you are.
Banner photo by Ramon Domingo.