Esports fans will have another event to look forward to this fall.
The popular DreamHack esports group announced a tournament today for Bucharest that will take place from September 16 through September 18. It is a new stop in the DreamHack ZOWIE Open 2016, which covers eight locations and will give out over $900,000 in prize money. The Bucharest event will focus on the competitive shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and will award $100,000 in prize money.
Esports attracts an audience of over 15 million fans, according to video game industry research firm EEDAR. Watching gamers compete in titles like Counter-Strike: GO, League of Legends, and Hearthstone is becoming a favorite pastime around the world thanks to events like DreamHack. Esports are becoming more mainstream as more companies get involved, including ESPN, which launched its own division to cover pro gaming last month.
The DreamHack Bucharest event will also include activities for fans like a cosplay contest and an expo hall filled with booths from game-focused companies. The DreamHack events originally started as giant LAN parties, allowing gamers to bring their computers, hook them up to a network, and play local multiplayer titles together, but the event has branched out to include the blossoming esports scene.