Standoff 2 was released in 2017. It featured action-packed tactical shootouts and 5v5 team deathmatches. The players knew from the start that it was so much more than just a mobile shooter. The game had all the potential of an eSports discipline. 

But at that time Axlebolt wasn’t paying much attention to the eSports component of the game. So, it was Standoff 2 fans themselves who organized the first unofficial tournaments.  

If we had to choose one word to describe these competitions, we’d go for “chaotic”. There were no universal regulations, and every tournament organizer came up with their own rules. As for the prizes, the participants could only win some in-game currency. For the most part, the players competed for fun (and fame, of course).

Even spectating the matches was a real challenge because there was no spectator mode in the game back then. These were 4v4 matches, and the caster had to join one of the teams, die at the beginning of the round, switch between the player cameras, and do their best to provide live commentary.

So, these initial eSports tournaments were more like casual Standoff 2 matches where you would hop on Discord with your friend, team up in the game, and try to coordinate your actions. More and more people started playing Standoff 2 competitively. Players from the CIS region, Europe, Turkey, and even Brazil took part in tournaments and had a lot of fun in the game.

Standoff 2 was growing. New updates kept coming, the old mechanics were improved and the new ones appeared. In 2018, the smoke and flash grenades were added into the game, introducing a new gameplay element that was different from shooting. These game-changing throwables gave players the tools to come up with new tactics, think strategically, and work as a team. At that point, Standoff 2 was literally one step away from becoming a full-fledged eSports discipline.

A more structured competition in Standoff 2 saw light in 2019. It was a time of change. The highly-anticipated spectator mode was added into the game. So, the fifth player no longer needed to sacrifice their character to spectate the match. The casters couldn’t be more happy, and the tournaments became even more entertaining and felt more professional. 

The players used to compete for a few thousand Gold at best. But everything changed when real money was at stake. The prize pool was modest at the beginning, but even $300 was a big step forward. This is where the players knew that their passion for Standoff 2 could bring them not only joy, but also profit. The tournaments were no longer the same, and the teams began to approach the competitions more seriously.   

By 2020, the eSports stage of Standoff 2 had noticeably matured. The prize pool was increased up to $2,000, and the teams started to run the first boot camps. These were all about meetups in real life where Standoff 2 enthusiasts could practice their skills together and discuss tactics in person instead of doing it in Discord chats. The players started giving more importance to the tournaments, and they saw a lot of eSports potential in the game. 

And that’s when Axlebolt started paying more attention to eSports. They supported the tournaments run by third parties. The studio rewarded contenders with prizes in the form of in-game currency, helped to organize the tournaments, and built rapport with the community. At that time, the team behind Standoff 2 didn’t take full control of the eSports component of the game yet, but they were already making a major contribution to this sphere. Thanks to that the game was evolving, and the mature approach, discipline, and professionalism when developing the game was just as important as quick reactions and accurate shooting when playing the game.  

A major breakthrough was achieved in 2020. Standoff 2 was already a confident player on the eSports stage, and the game was ready for something bigger.

In 2021, Axlebolt made an official announcement: “Standoff 2 joins the eSports stage, and we’re going to support this form of competition.” It was the moment of truth.

A dedicated eSports manager joined the studio, and since then this person has been working closely with players as well as tournament organizers. Axlebolt became actively involved in eSports. They helped organize the tournaments, managed the prize pools, and marketed the game as a full-fledged eSports discipline.

The first big event was a LAN tournament that was made possible with Axlebolt’s support. The players dreamed of this kind of tourney for many years. Even though there was no live audience, the participants experienced a whole new level of competition that brought them unforgettable emotions and a chance to share them with like-minded people. Well, isn’t that cool? It’s one thing to play online with random players, but another to actually meet your teammates and face your opponents in person.

The Standoff 2 Winter Cup tournament was a huge leap forward for the studio. This time, Huawei sponsored the organizers of the tourney, providing equipment worth $100,000. Axlebolt, in turn, set a prize pool of $19,000 and provided media support. They used their YouTube channel dedicated to eSports as a streaming platform, took care of the marketing, and sent a lot of gifts to the game accounts of both the viewers and participants of the tournament. It was a strong collaboration with Huawei that made it possible to compete not only to win some in-game currency, but also a fair amount of money and expensive gadgets. And that motivated the teams to practice their skills even more often and grow as pro players! 

At that point, Standoff 2 became so much more than just a competitive mobile shooter. The game embraced eSports on a professional level, and its influence was growing with every new tournament.

This is where Axlebolt takes full control of Standoff 2 as an eSports discipline, bringing order to chaos thanks to their well-structured tournament system. The minor tourneys were some sort of a springboard for young teams who wanted to compete in the main events of the season – the major tourneys that boasted decent prize pools. From now on, the tournaments were held on a regular basis, and the players were busy with planning their careers in eSports, practicing their skills in the game, and moving to a new level of play. 

The players from Brazil started showing more and more interest in the competition. In fact, Standoff 2 used to be a game that was mostly popular in the CIS region, but later the game got a warm reception in South America, too. Soon official tournaments were held in Brazil as well. Strong local teams emerged very quickly and then joined the tourneys held in the CIS. It was clear that Standoff 2 was no longer limited to a particular region. The game became a global eSports discipline.

The prize pools were growing, amounting to $200,000 a year. Now the players could seriously consider turning their passion of playing Standoff 2 into a full-time career. For many, it was their dream job. Famous organizations like Forze, Virtus.Pro, and Amkal joined the eSports stage of the game. And it wasn’t long before the first stars appeared, including GentlemaN and his team, Saints.

So, this is how Standoff 2 went from a mobile shooter to a global and ambitious eSports discipline that evolves and offers tens of thousands players around the world many opportunities to grow by playing the game.

In 2024, Standoff 2 flourished as a mobile eSports discipline. Now the tourneys are held yearly, and their number has increased from 6 to 16 – and that’s just the main series! And during the finals streamed live on a world-class level, the teams battle in the arena while the crowd in the fan zones is cheering for them.

The prize pools were bumped up to $650,000 a year. The players who began their eSports journey with chaotic online tournaments now sign contracts, come up with long-term plans revolving around Standoff 2, and seriously consider making the game their life's work.

Another indicator of success is the support of major international brands. In 2024, tournament organizers managed to attract partners such as Huawei, Infinix, AppGallery, and Google. Standoff 2 became recognizable enough to attract well-known sponsors.

In fact, any Standoff 2 player can actually get into big eSports. The competition in the mobile segment is not yet as high as in CS:GO or Dota 2. Everyone can gather a team of friends and compete in open qualifiers.

Fortune favors the bold! Who knows, maybe your name will go down in eSports history of Standoff 2?