The PS5 is a truly wonderful console, and one of the areas in which it excels is esports gaming. Thanks to the incredible DualSense controller, games give more feedback than they do on other platforms, so it’s easier to know when you’re under attack. In addition, the spatial audio features of the PS5 make even the most tinny TV speaker more responsive and satisfying, so you’ll know where footsteps or gunfire are coming from. With that said, there are plenty of esports games on other platforms we want to see on PS5. Here are 10 esports titles we wish were on Sony’s newest console.
1. League of Legends
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first, shall we? League of Legends is still one of the biggest and most lucrative esports games in the world, despite being 13 years old this year. It boasts a diverse roster of champions, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, as well as endless permutations of strategic twitch-reflex gameplay. Whether it’s the base League of Legends game or the mobile version Wild Rift, we’d love to see League on PS5 sometime.
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
We still can’t believe CSGO isn’t on PS5 (or any other consoles, for that matter). It doesn’t seem like it would be particularly difficult to port this excellent first-person shooter to the PlayStation 5; the console certainly has what it takes to handle the game from a technical standpoint. It’s also sad that gamers are missing out on the CSGO betting opportunities afforded to PC players, as this can be a hugely lucrative opportunity. Bring CSGO to PS5, please, Valve! We’re begging you!
3. Honor of Kings
Whether it’s called Honor of Kings or Arena of Valor, one thing’s for certain: Tencent’s mobile game is the most successful of its genre, being the first mobile title to cross $10 billion in revenue. A game like that is tailor-made for the PS5, and we know that it can work on consoles because it already has a Switch port. Given how successful the MOBA market truly is, we’re genuinely surprised that we haven’t seen Honor of Kings appear on more consoles in the West.
4. Valorant
Riot Games’ first foray into first-person shooters is Counter-Strike with a more cartoony and stylised aesthetic. If it were to come to PS5, we can see gamers clicking with it instantly; there might even be a betting scene springing up around it where PS5 players can bet on games, just like they do when they’re checking out the latest CSGO odds. The comparison is apt, too; Valorant plays just like CSGO, complete with bomb defusal and buying gear between rounds.
5. Dota 2
Valve has already proven itself to be a master in the world of game design, and nowhere is that more apparent than in Dota 2. This is a much more careful and considered MOBA than League of Legends; it’s slower-paced and more tactical, with the option to kill your own minions in order to deny your opponent gold being just one of many quirks that sets Dota 2 apart from its more immediate cousin. Its beautiful graphics, large hero roster, and great gameplay make it ideal for PS5.
6. StarCraft II
We’re moving slightly into the realms of wish fulfilment here, but we really would like to see StarCraft II appearing on PS5. Though it’s a real-time strategy game, titles like Halo Wars have proven that this genre can work on console if you’re willing to do just a little work, and StarCraft II is one of the original esports games, so it would be great to see what Blizzard could do with it on console. Just imagine the haptic feedback during a frenzied firefight between Terrans and Zerg!
7. Hearthstone
Speaking of Blizzard and esports…Hearthstone, just like other card games, is available on PC and mobile, but there’s no indication that it’s coming to consoles anytime soon. Frankly, we really can’t figure out why. Sure, it might feel like the game requires a touch interface to work, but we’re confident that Blizzard’s technical wizards would be able to create something special for a potential PS5 version. This addictive card battler really needs to make its way to Sony’s console.
8. Assetto Corsa
Recently, it was announced that a major racing esports organiser would change its flagship game from the PS5’s Gran Turismo 7 to Assetto Corsa. Frankly, that’s a big loss in our minds, because Gran Turismo 7 is a beautiful game, but we can also understand it; Assetto Corsa is, unfortunately, a technically superior racer. That’s why we want to see a native version of the game brought to PS5. You can, of course, play the PS4 version on your console, but a 4K 60fps version with ray tracing would be delightful.
9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
This will, simply put, never happen. Nintendo is extremely protective of its IP, so Super Smash Bros. Ultimate making its way to the PS5 is pretty much impossible. Still, this is our list, and we want to dream for a while. Smash Bros’ unique mixture of platforming and fighting has earned it a place in most gamers’ hearts, and while there have certainly been pretenders, none of them has been good enough to knock Nintendo’s brawler off its throne.
10. Clash Royale
Supercell is one of the most underrated companies in the world when it comes to esports gaming. Many don’t think of Supercell as a company that creates games for esports, but nothing could be further from the truth. Clash Royale is a hugely successful and popular esports title, and although it’s pretty much exclusive to mobile, we can only imagine what a graphical and gameplay makeover in the form of a PS5 version would add to the game.
