How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Hacks

Spoilers ahead if you have yet to see the results of Dreamhack Winter/ESEA S17 LAN Finals.

It’s been a crazy month for the members of Team Fnatic.

First came rampant hacking accusations, following the announcement that several professional players had received bans from the anti-cheat systems used by Valve and ESEA. The community began combing over demos and VODs from past matches in the search for the next likely “banhammer” candidates. Several members of Fnatic quickly fell under suspicion, alongside other professionals throughout the scene. There was a palpable cloud of tension surrounding Dreamhack Winter, with viewers voicing their opinions on Twitter and Twitch streams after every play they deemed to be suspect. Finger pointing and cries for justice ruled the day, instead of the usual enthusiasm for favorite teams and beloved players. An eruption of Vesuvian proportions simmered beneath the surface, waiting for an opportunity to burst forth.

That opportunity arrived in the form of the Quarterfinal match between Fnatic and LDLC, and the infamous boost which carried Fnatic to victory.

After the public backlash following the match, Fnatic made the decision to forfeit and drop out of the tournament, rather than carry on due to the hostility surrounding the disputed boost. They found themselves on the ropes before the ESEA Season 17 LAN Finals last weekend, with some members of the team expressing that they “would rather quit than […] keep playing in this situation“.

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“Everything the light touches is our kingdom.”

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Don’t call it a comeback.

Despite the pressure, Fnatic showed up to the ESEA LAN with their A-game in their carry-on. They played some of the best Counter-Strike this year, with Fnatic dominating Virtus Pro in the finals 4-0 to secure first place. Hacking accusations notwithstanding, Fnatic decisively defended their title as one of the best CS:GO teams in the world.

This piece doesn’t aim to dispute the results. Rather, let’s dig deeper into the controversy, and why it represents healthy growing pains for e-sports as a whole.

Are e-sports a valid enterprise? It’s a legitimate question, frequently bandied about online and offline among e-sports fans. It’s the reason we often remain quiet when confronted with discussions on favorite sports or teams. It’s the voices of thousands, all shouting together: “Stop gaming and find another hobby worth pursuing!”

It’s certainly an argument that’s been heard by many, who were struggling to turn their wild-eyed dreams of becoming the best in the world at their chosen pastime into a reality. I wonder what these people would have to say about it.  Household names today, because at some critical turning point during their foolish young lives, they determined to take their passion further than their peers.

They all have something else in common—being players of physical sports which have an extensive history and a robust culture to support them. There is a precedent for traditional sports, as people worldwide have grown up watching sports with their parents, or attending games at local stadiums. The eager chaos surrounding game time can seem like a magic spell, as crowds of people cheer and fill the arena with unbridled excitement.

And so we e-sports fans crane our necks to catch a glimpse of the peak from the base of the mountain, atop which sports titans battle for prestige and jubilant victory. That peak is getting easier to see though, with every major gaming tournament across the board. Now that prize pools are growing steadily, and spectators for gaming championships are selling out stadiums, it’s evident that people are beginning to sit up and take notice.

Unfortunately, as any sport grows, it will attract the attention of unsavory competitors and others willing to work the scene toward their own ends. Traditional sports are no exception.

The recent hacking scandals which shook the e-sports community are certainly despicable, but they should not have been unexpected. With so much on the line, any competitive edge might seem favorable, regardless of the potential consequences. The fans’ response across all forms of social media is just one such consequence, which also illustrates a fundamental insecurity about our fledgeling culture—though that fear may prove to be misplaced. The e-sports scene is growing by leaps and bounds, and obstacles like this will be a natural result; I’m certain that this is not the last we’ll hear about professionals cheating or hacking their way to victory, but it shouldn’t temper our fervor for whichever game we follow. Mindlessly spouting accusations against this player or that team will only hurt our community overall, as new talent or bigger sponsors may be driven away by reckless words. The truth will come out, but in the meantime, there has to be belief—faith in good sportsmanship, and that most players are involved for the right reasons.

Just like a “real” sport.

Come back next Monday for another editorial on e-sports!
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Until next time, keep fragging!