PART TWO
In part one of the Open Esports Initiative (OEI) whitepaper, we examined the systemic challenges esports faces. In part two, we will outline potential solutions to these challenges. Our approach balances creator rights with openness and interoperability, exploring development tools, player retention systems and accessible tournament infrastructure. We will also discuss community-driven governance models and a unified technical platform for seamless ecosystem integration. Through these solutions, the OEI aims to democratise the esports landscape, fostering greater participation, innovation and a sustainable, vibrant and viable ecosystem.
PRINCIPLES AND DEFINITION
The OEI is founded on the core principle of fostering collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth within the esports community. Its licensing framework and platform are designed to balance the rights and control of the creators with the need for an open, interoperable, and vibrant ecosystem. The aim is to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas, allowing concepts to be shared, built upon and become commercially viable. OEI seeks to lower barriers for creators, making games, assets, tools and licenses more interchangeable and compatible across different projects. Central to the OEI philosophy is the idea that fundamental elements enabling competitive play should function akin to a public good, accessible and usable by all without restriction, much like the basic rules of traditional sports. While acknowledging the significant creative investment in complex games, OEI encourages maximum openness for foundational components developed in and outside its ecosystem, striving for a more accessible and democratic esports landscape. The initiative is committed to a practical and enforceable framework that respects creator autonomy while stimulating creativity and technical compatibility through openness and reuse.
GAME DEVELOPMENT
The aim of our approach is to make it easier and cheaper for anyone to create high-quality competitive games. Rather than build a new game engine from scratch—a venture that has historically caused many projects to fail—we intend to work with well-established engines and user-generated content communities. We will then set up a dedicated space within these communities, focusing on developing competitive games and offering a pool of knowledge, training and community support. One way we plan to speed up development is by providing ready-made templates for the most popular competitive genres, including shooters, MOBAs, racing games, and fighting titles. These templates will come with core game mechanics, networking, and other essential features such as a map editor, allowing creators to concentrate on customising balance, adding unique mechanics and refining their art style. We will also maintain a library of assets (ranging from character models and animations to audio clips) tailored for competitive environments, as well as structured learning materials such as video tutorials, workshops and written guides. Although these templates are comprehensive, they are also flexible. Developers remain free to adapt or swap out game features, ensuring the final product feels genuinely distinct. We know what game formats work as esports. By lowering the barrier to creating a solid competitive core in these genres, we open the door for smaller teams—or even solo developers—to create polished competitive games. This in turn encourages a diverse range of ideas, as creativity is no longer held back by enormous budgets or existing publisher deals.
RETENTION LAYER
Simply providing the framework for building compelling competitive games is not enough; we must also ensure players have good reasons to keep returning and engaging. We will offer a marketplace where creators can sell and exchange items like cosmetic enhancements or upgraded equipment on a free and open market. This functionality will include APIs that can be integrated with third-party stores, enabling cross-platform ecosystem alignment across multiple storefronts. A well-structured matchmaking system will group players of similar skill levels and provide ways to rise up through ranked ladders, giving players a natural “path to pro.” To keep users engaged, we will encourage the inclusion of achievements and reward structures, such as earning in-game items or badges for reaching certain milestones. Developers can gain deeper insights into their community through analytics that highlight who is playing, for how long, and at which points they might be dropping out. Using this knowledge, they can adjust game design to keep a higher percentage of users active, helping the title build a stable player base. On-top of this the platform will include built-in systems for developers who wish to introduce in-game purchases, subscriptions, or brand integrations. These systems will come with clear, community-friendly revenue-sharing rules, so developers can see a fair return for their efforts. The OEI, set to be financed through a percentage not exceeding 10% of transactions, has gained the support of distinguished economists specialising in market design. This backing has been secured with the intention of creating an open, vibrant, and equitable economic model. A team building and global ranking and leaderboard system will help track player and team performance. This will serve as the stepping stone for players on their path to pro, by drawing attention to stand-out competitors and bringing communities together.Retention features like these are crucial for any competitive title aiming for long-term success. Without them, even the most balanced and enjoyable core loop runs the risk of players losing interest. By weaving rewards and smooth matchmaking into the core experience, we support a lively community that can sustain a strong player pool over time.
ESPORTS LAYER
While the first two sections focus on developing and retaining a player base, the Esports Layer is designed to turn a good competitive game into a fully fledged sport. We will include a tournament management system that allows anyone—from a local community figure to a seasoned organiser—to set up, run and stream tournaments without having to acquire separate licensing or complex and costly tool development. This system will include a lobby system, tournament format builder, a schedule planner, and tools for handling team registrations, check-ins, tournament progression and administration. We will also provide an observer or spectator mode within the game, offering clear camera controls, real-time game statistics through API, and other features that make professional broadcasts compelling to watch. Streamers, casters, and even modders will have access to detailed game data, such as positional heat maps and economic breakdowns, to produce well-informed commentary and entertaining viewer experiences. Advertising slots can be embedded to help creators and tournament organisers generate revenue through sponsorship deals or partner promotions. The OEI will not force onto creators and organisers any advertising policy, instead they are free to maximise upside whilst building their ecosystem in the way they see fit. By making these features available from the start, we encourage well-organised, polished events and broadcasts that can put new competitive titles on par with established esports.
FUNDING AND MARKETING
A vital part of this ecosystem is helping emerging creators secure the resources they need. We plan to introduce a community-driven crowdfunding feature within the platform, letting developers showcase their ideas and attract backing from players who believe in their vision. Supporters can offer small or large contributions, receiving everything from exclusive items and early access to a possible ownership share in the game. Discovery tools and recommendation systems will connect players with new games or tournaments based on their interests. This ensures that smaller indie ideas gain visibility, without forcing creators and tournament organisers to spend enormous sums on marketing campaigns. There will also be an events calendar covering major updates, game launches, and competitions, making it simple for fans to stay informed and encouraging them to try new games. Finally, we plan to involve the community in the ongoing development of the platform itself. A transparent voting or proposal system will let people discuss changes and introduce new features. Regular updates will be shared through forums and channels like Discord, keeping everyone aligned with the platform’s progress. By reducing dependence on big publishers and brand sponsorships, the platform promotes a broader range of competitive titles and builds a sense of shared ownership, which strengthens community loyalty and engagement.
PLATFORM
A cornerstone of our initiative is the unified OEI Platform that ties together all aspects of the ecosystem. This platform serves as both the technological backbone and community hub that enables seamless integration across all components. All users across all games and projects will operate under a single, unified ID system. This universal identity enables consistent participation in voting, crowdfunding, trading, and competition tracking regardless of which game or tool a user is engaging with. To maximise accessibility, we support comprehensive third-party login options including gaming platforms (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Epic Games Store), social media accounts, and universal login providers like Apple, Google and Microsoft. The OEI will maintain a comprehensive storefront showcasing all community-developed games, assets, and tools. This marketplace will be accessible both via web interface and through a dedicated platform launcher, creating multiple discovery pathways for creators' work. Our recommendation algorithm will be fully transparent, with its code publicly available for review. All rules and requirements for featured placement will be clearly documented and subject to modification through community voting processes. We recognise the importance of flexibility in distribution. Any game, tool, or asset within the OEI ecosystem may be hosted on third-party platforms (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store, etc.) if creators wish, provided the technology of those platforms allows it. A revenue-sharing mechanism will ensure that transactions from these external platforms contribute appropriately to the OEI ecosystem, maintaining the sustainability of the initiative while giving creators maximum distribution options. A key technical feature of the OEI platform is the interchangeability and compatibility of all games, assets, and tools across different projects. Any element should be compatible with another, subject only to the licensing permissions set by creators. The default licensing setting will be permissive, allowing for commercial usage, to encourage innovation and cross-pollination of ideas. Once again, the platform will host robust community voting tools to decide on general direction and future development priorities. The integrated crowdfunding mechanism will allow tournaments, games and tools to seek direct community financial support, creating a virtuous cycle where the most valued initiatives receive the resources needed to flourish.
LICENSING FRAMEWORK
OEI's licensing framework is designed for practicality and enforceability, considering diverse creator needs. Instead of a single default, it offers a structured choice between two primary recommended licensing tracks: A Permissive Track (e.g., MIT for code, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 - CC BY 4.0 - for assets): For maximum adoption, integration and broad reach. A Protective/ShareAlike Track (e.g., Apache License 2.0 for code, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 - CC BY-SA 4.0 - for assets): Ensures derivative works remain open or under similar terms is preferred. Creators are guided through this selection, respecting their intent while using well-understood licenses. To mitigate complexity, OEI officially supports a limited, curated list of vetted licenses (including the above, plus CC0 and CC BY-NC 4.0). Creators retain ultimate control and can use alternative licenses or create their own, understanding the requirement to align through vetting against the open and collaborative nature of the OEI. The Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal dedication is offered as a specific option for creators explicitly wishing to waive all rights, placing their work into the public domain for maximum unrestricted reuse. There is no mandate to use CC0; it is presented as a deliberate choice, particularly encouraged for foundational elements like standardised data formats, generic utility scripts, or basic icon sets, aligning with the "public good" philosophy for core infrastructure. When OEI-developed content is distributed on third-party platforms, the underlying license (MIT, CC BY, CC0, etc.) remains attached, though the platform may add its own EULA. The main point here is that any licence, which applies on the OEI platform, should also carry over onto the 3rd party platform. The 3PP EULA should allow for unrestricted collaboration and creativity. Governance of the licensing framework involves a dedicated OEI Licensing Working Group (LWG), comprising legal experts, developers, the OEI board members and community representatives. This group maintains the curated license list and guidelines, making decisions based on expert analysis and ecosystem health, with transparent justification. While the wider community has channels for input and proposals, final decisions on specific license adoption rest with the LWG to ensure legal soundness and stability.
CONCLUSION
The Open Esports Initiative presents a comprehensive framework addressing the systemic challenges within esports. Founded on core principles of collaboration, innovation and sustainable growth, the OEI seeks to democratise the ecosystem by balancing creator autonomy with the need for an open, interoperable environment. The initiative proposes ready-made templates and assets for competitive game development, alongside robust player retention systems featuring matchmaking, progression ladders and analytics. A dedicated esports layer provides tournament management tools and spectator capabilities, making professional-quality events accessible to organisers of all scales. Community-driven mechanisms for funding and governance strengthen the ecosystem, whilst a unified platform infrastructure with a single ID system and interoperable marketplace fosters seamless integration across components. The licensing framework offers practical choices between permissive and protective tracks, respecting creator control while encouraging open innovation.
In essence, there are two components to the OEI, a platform to fund, develop and market competitive games, and a licence framework to maximise their potential. This model, sustainably financed through a fee structure not exceeding 10% of transactions, creates an accessible alternative to the publisher-dominated landscape, allowing smaller teams and individual creators to participate in a more democratic esports future.
