Arten “Ballatw” Esa can tell you about the old days of esports, before Twitch and stadiums full of screaming fans. In the last 15 years, the esports industry has exploded and Esa has adapted. A lifelong gamer, Esa cut his teeth on free PC games until he entered high school and, shortly after, the extremely competitive online CAL League for CounterStrike. Inspired to be the best, Esa would pore over footage of other players, studying their strategies and building the analytic skills that serve him to this day. Also foundational to Esa’s success in casting and analysis today is his deep appreciation for the work that goes into playing professionally.

As a caster for Fortnite, Esa guides the audience’s understanding of and appreciation for players, their skills, and their stories. In turn, Esa has become a fan-favorite for his informative, upbeat delivery and commitment to the community around the game. As an endemic to the Fortnite scene, Esa naturally has a finger on the pulse of the scene, and can speak authentically to its myriad fans.

Esa’s favorite event was his first in front of a live audience, the ESL Katowice Royal in the 11,500-seat Spodek arena. Esa regularly produces analytical content between commentating events, and hopes to serve both English- and French-language esports fans.