Inside the Peculiar World of Farming Simulator eSports

Farming Simulator has a professional eSports scene with a prize pool of Є200,000! This seemed very strange to Chris and so earlier this year, he decided to find a team and follow them across Europe as they competed for a place in the World Championship.
Support us on Patreon: / peoplemakegames
Created by Chris Bratt:
/ chrisbratt
Quintin Smith:
/ quinns108
Anni Sayers:
/ anni_sayers

[@elrodess]

Thanks again for coming to France, you're one of my best students Chris 😁

[@PeopleMakeGames]

Thank god we landed that first bale, Joseph. The documentary needed it. I needed it.

[@elrodess]

​@@PeopleMakeGames People Has to try the firstbale, its really hard to have it on your first try ! When are you building your own team ? :p

[@declanclaus6681]

The whole team getting hype and laughing was the best part of the video! What a friendly community it seems.

[@flipina]

You have wonderful energy! And good job, Chris!

[@DelectableBanana]

Jo le goat 🐐

[@titatitutu]

Thanks for following us to explore the league! I hope you had as great a time as we did! The world championships will take place on July 5 and 6, just saying!

[@scaper8]

Sounds like a great opportunity to do some (near) real-time coverage, eh PMG?

[@ProffyChaos]

You are my team now. Next time boys you will do it.

[@foxglove_dreams]

Good luck in the championship!

[@ClaraJacintho]

Allez les bleus!

[@xlittlep]

We gotta get some chants going for our boys in France! I'll start: "Allez! Holland!" "Allez! Holland!" "Allez! Holland!"

[@elusiveserenity]

PMG please never stop embedding yourself in the most obscure microcosms, it's incredibly unique

[@aceman0000099]

This microcosm definitely needs more diversity, where are the women's leagues

[@mouse2542]

@@aceman0000099 i don't think it's gender restricted.

[@Firebringer121]

the "this keyboard is weird" "AH! It is French!" moment lol

[@billy6044]

They should detect if someone is using French keyboard and automatically change it to correct keyboard

[@billy6044]

Imagine having to press shift to type a number are they CRAZY

[@LutraLovegood]

@@billy6044 There's the numpad for that.

[@KerbalRocketry]

can confirm "Ménage à trois" is when there's two combine harvesters and one lorry, be sure to use that term as often as possible :p

[@Nate-bd8fg]

Pretty sure there's websites that specifically show you that kind of stuff

[@straphyr]

​@@Nate-bd8fg you mean onlyfarmers?

[@MP-oj9tk]

@@straphyr Farmer's Only* ;P

[@Oscar97o]

@@Nate-bd8fg Just for the record, "ménage à trois" means what could be called a "throuple". It isn't exactly related to sex.

[@jonathany1240]

​@@Oscar97o I was taught it colloquially translates to english as a "three-way", or 3 in a bed/room.

[@dmacarthur5356]

A Brit hanging out with a French e-sports Farming Simulator team in Germany who are sponsored by a US founded company that's now based in Italy. Fascinating stuff.

[@heyitsFluxxy]

the world is healing

[@wackabug]

I honestly laughed my ass off when he said they have a pick and ban phase for tractors. I didn't expect that there would actually be a tractor metagame.

[@profl0g1c38]

theres always a metagmae

[@tomasgoes]

Nobody was ready for the tractor pick metagame lel

[@leonardodelpuertoburk2439]

Imagine getting banned for not picking the meta tractor.

[@pokefrosch617]

I am SHOCKED... Farming Simulator has its own dedicated print magazine!?

[@skylark.kraken]

It's advertised in-game in the world on signs

[@Nyaonics]

my reaction 1:1

[@filleis6374]

Its crazy how Farming Simulator has a successful E-sports League and Overwatch doesnt.

[@zerorig]

It makes sense though. The farming companies get involved and being a simulator they have the real machines in the game.

[@Hackcam]

The decline of the Overwatch League was a product of the massive over investment by mainstream firms and the sudden decline of all that investment. The OWCS is free of all that and still doing pretty good numbers.

[@TehPwnographer]

“It’s crazy the mom-and-pop shop in my town is still open and they closed the Wal-Mart”

[@harmoen]

​@@TehPwnographer that would be crazy yeah

[@mgmabone8143]

Man, as someone who has tried to enjoy OWL from the start, that's rough.

[@Rietto]

I was skeptical until I saw that one guy yeet the hay bales into the barn by slamming the brakes on the tractor; then I got invested, lol.

[@Owesomasaurus]

Its like drift racing. Farmers live their lives a quarter mile at a time.

[@FSLesports]

Thanks for the look into our League! Glad that you had a good time following us :)

[@bernard832]

I love how you went to the New Holland exhibitors to talk about their team and they just look confused.

[@D3nn1s]

Tbf if yoi walked up to redbulls sports team and asked them about their latest drink they probably wouldnt know what youre talking about either :P

[@roaddawg3217]

Well in any case (lol) New Holland makes better equipment! Their tractors are nice! But Case is the King!

[@rus.t]

In a perfect world, an Airbud-style movie would be created for Farming simulator eSports

[@mirkwoodlodge]

There's no rule that says dogs can't play Farming Simulator

[@CC-qx7hk]

Tfw I was just thinking this but as a 80s underdog story. Could be in a similar vein as Dodgeball.

[@NuclearPenguin4]

Super efficient, obtuse German guys get beaten by nice but kinda weird French underdogs and all.

[@inthefade]

Why not an actual Airbud sequel? Someone start a Kickstarter! Stat!

[@DUHRIZEO]

Airbud: Growing Home

[@BanditLeader]

"What do you do for a living?" "I competively harvest virtual wheat and yeet it"

[@decimusanothos5178]

Virtual Yheat

[@harveycreekin]

Virtual Yheeties The breakfast cereal of the eSports professional!

[@FatouTheo]

You are the goat you think you are on the first bale, an incredible experience, thanks you for everything !

[@Tango8787]

Great job in your first tourney dude! I would have flipped the tractor due to nerves or some shit lol.

[@JackFoz454]

It was awesome to watch you and the team compete. I can't believe how emotionally-invested I was (and honestly still am) in Farming Simulator!

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

quelle début! 🌾🌾🌾

[@NotParticularlyWitty]

"It's like your my son, I've never been so proud." *Somewhere in Brighton, a baby stirs uncomfortably*

[@BodywiseMustard]

you're *

[@daninjamonkey1]

your reaction to that first bail is the most British thing ever

[@decimusanothos5178]

If I've learned one thing from my time on this planet, its that anything can be a compelling sport if the rules are simple and believable, there's a prize, and you're allowed to cheer. I'm not surprised this is a thing, but I'm glad to know it is :)

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Dude you are so correct --- that's how I watched 90% of the Olympics. As a Canadian I was suddenly very invested in hammer throw for the first time in my life lol. Expose me to competitive farming e-sports & I'd show up the next time with a giant foam finger & my face painted in team colours.

[@moondog548]

Oh god... that cheer on the first bale.... I FELT THAT! :D

[@anathardayaldar]

Like soccer but for farming.

[@rocketfallen]

Lmao I FELT that self-consciousness after that cheer for New Holland's first bale, Chris

[@AluinKali]

Small but in my opinion important correction: German farmers are not protesting higher taxes. Taxes are not being raised. What they are protesting is a cut to diesel subsidies. This is part of a bigger initiative of the government to cut subsidies that incentivise the emission of CO2. While this is a cut to the bottom line of farmers I think it’s an important distinction between higher taxation and the cut of subsidies.

[@kood995]

Okay, yeah, that's a huge difference. A bit disappointing they didn't fact check thoroughly enough.

[@ytterbius2900]

Not defending sloppiness, but PMG is not a general news source. Thanks for the correction, though. I massively respect all who are in the fight against misinformation

[@bartolomeothesatyr]

@PeopleMakeGames This comment needs to be pinned.

[@paulsonnentag3414]

PMG didn’t make a mistake here. They wanted to raise the taxes on fuel for tractors. Whether you are thinking of this as increasing taxes or cutting subsidies is a matter of perspective.

[@magnumxlpi]

Tractors connected to an outlet incoming. Stock up on extension cords

[@YippingFox]

Frankly it kinda saddens me the pr staff at the New Holland booth wasn't at least informed on the existance of the E-sports team at the same convention...

[@Duiker36]

Eh, I'm not surprised. Chris's little adventure of *stumbling* across them (he didn't even go looking) kinda illustrates how unlikely the two worlds are to actually cross paths. The sales reps had enough responsibilities as is, I'm sure; you don't want to obligate them into anything.

[@titatitutu]

To give some context, New Holland is quite a big company, and we're only talking with peoples from the Global Team (and a few from the german team) And at this event it was the English team, and they don't communicate with each others or just a bit. And since it took place in a agricultural expo, they had a lot to do already :D

[@1000MilesAway]

I'm not surprised, as the same situation can apply to other big companies that dipped their toe into esports for marketing. But I'm happy of how interested they seemed to be to find out and hear about it, and then later be supportive for the video

[@EinDose]

As someone who knows about all kinds of speedrunning communities, I could've reasonably expected that Farming Simulator would have a competitive scene. Cooking Mama has leaderboards, why wouldn't Farming Simulator? But OH MY GOD, this goes so far further than I expected.

[@GardinerAlan]

I really wanna see competitive PowerWash Sim now - gonna have to investigate, need those dopamine dings

[@GoofRebelMusic]

I wasnt surpriswd until they said winner got something like 200k euros.

[@red_storm]

13:05 I somehow can't get over the size of the beers these guys are having at a farming expo.

[@arcan762]

Well, you can't expect them to operate multi-tonne pieces of machinery sober, can you?

[@bartolomeothesatyr]

It's beer. A pint is the proper serving size.

[@GardinerAlan]

@@bartolomeothesatyr Think those were superpints i.e. 1.5 or 2 pints. You can usually find them at lower league rugby matches and farmers markets.

[@bartolomeothesatyr]

@@GardinerAlan Man, I wish you could get liters of beer in to-go cups at American farmers' markets. Alas, we're still saddled with the cultural legacy of Puritan zealots.

[@ForboJack]

Welcome to Europe.

[@grahamwalker2168]

Chris: "Annie, is it ok if I go to France" Annie: "Errr... why?" Chris: "I need to learn about farming simulator 23" Classic

[@PeopleMakeGames]

Honestly, you're not far off...

[@rocketfallen]

I love communities that rise up around games and sports that are patently on its face absurd, and take their absurdity as seriously as it deserves. What a great feature, PMG!

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Juggalos beyond Juggalos. Agreed, love the niche-niches.

[@JonTripp115]

❌"Farming Simulator" ✅"Wheat Yeet"

[@roaddawg3217]

Ok😂😂😂 you win the Internet for a least a week!

[@NezuChan]

My grandfather used to sell New Holland tractors for a living. He only recently retired. Kind of cool to see the brand still.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

He should coach for the team!

[@TimEd.o7o7]

Good on Farming Simulator for managing to keep their E-sport scene alive and competitive to this day.

[@strawberrired]

Thank god you remembered to bring your Farming Simulator magazine!

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

All the team signatures better'd be in that issue.

[@TheJugHeadHat]

New Holland being the red team really confused me. Think this is the first time my tractor knowledge combined with my gaming knowledge.

[@hkapeman]

Ha! I was the same!

[@GardinerAlan]

They were in their away kit

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

"combined" I see what you did there.🙌

[@IFCGaming]

Everything about this mini-documentary was great. I bet Farming Simulator has the friendliest esport community in the world.

[@picahudsoniaunflocked5426]

Half of them are literally commenting on this page with "thanks for coming to see us!" so I have a feeling you're completely correct lol.

[@FissionCube]

i love how this is like. weird for everyone. you have the angle of gamers who know what esports usually is like being like. farming sim???? and then the farmers seeing a video game tournament at the farming convention and being like. esports?????? and then the farming sim esports guys being like. youre actually interested in farming sim esports??????

[@lilkorio]

As someone who was basically next to the farming sim league booth on Sunday in cologne/köln, it was fun watching it, i didn't know what was going on either at the time :p

[@WrathOfTheHydra]

I feel like the cheer at 16:32 is perfectly emblematic of farming e-sports in general. Everyone else has no clue farming e-sporters exist yet the people in that little pocket community are stoked for it. Yet another fantastic video on a topic I knew nothing about! :)

[@MattMurphyMusicTeacher]

The shot with the energy drink, gaming headphones, and a croissant. The imagery couldn’t be more on point 😂

[@Pingviinimursu]

There's just no way title like this should make me click on a 30 MINUTE VIDEO, yet seeing it was PMG instantly convinced me I'd find it interesting, whether I like it or not. And boy was I invested 😂

[@TempRawr]

Seeing the intersection of gaming esports and just a dang actually farm convention. Glorious. Glad all the people you interview were so jovial.

[@MrCai01]

After your excel sport video, nothing surprises me anymore

[@80yearsold23]

I’ve dipped my toes into farming sim, but I had no idea it had such a huge competitive community. Honestly I was sold on this the moment you said it. Awesome.

[@Destide]

These kinds of games are a running joke until you actually spin them up and you realise you were just being an elitist. I'm sorry Eurotruck 2 I misjudged you!

[@PhotonBeast]

Indeed! It's starts off with "Ha, we'll get it 'cause it's on sale for cheap." and then it turns in to "Hm... I need to fiddle with my controls a bit." to "I wonder if I can reverse the load into the delivery point without having to switch out of cockpit view." to eventually having opinions on different trucks and routes even though you've never even touched an 18 wheeler and liekly never will and dream about getting a wheel/throttle/pedal setup to play.

[@Thetarget1]

@@PhotonBeast I bought a used wheel and pedals, and it just makes it a whole other game. I really recommend it. It is also awesome for other racing games, as well as farming sim.

[@PhotonBeast]

@@Thetarget1 Nice! I've dreamt of a setup like that for a while; just never had the spare resources and the like to really dedicate to it.

[@GoofRebelMusic]

The one i tried was lawn mowing simulator. I did have a bit of fun for a couple hours but skimming wavey shapped flower beds while also rotating the camera is pretty effin hard.

[@fishnutter5219]

@@Thetarget1 I'll just get an Xbox controller so I can corner smoother... Hmm, a wheel would better for this, might as well. The pedals have a clutch, it'd be a shame not to get the gear stick for it. And that shifter upgrade looks pretty handy. Hmm, some of these flight sim controls would work really well for dashboard switches... Oooh, that farming simulator side controller has lots of buttons that'll be really handy too! I should probably get a good desk and chair setup to mount all this stuff to properly. And triple screens for a good wide angle view. Hmm, maybe VR would be better instead. And then since everything else is here I might as well get a HOTAS for flight simulators as well. I don't regret any of my purchases, but the only person who doesn't think I've gone off the deep end with all this stuff is my dad, he's just jealous. :P

[@LBPreviews]

That facepalm after 16:35 is comedy gold

[@warlockd]

I think its popular mainly because its so watchable and "anyone" can do it. You watch something like on league and its difficult to get someone who doesn't play to understand but when you watch big machines throw bales of hay in a barn it just clicks. Also, after playing it a bit, its really just a chill game.

[@ocfos88]

Now this'll certainly harvest some views.

[@orlandonerz2999]

I saw what you did there

[@scaper8]

It looks like it will definitely grain the sport some popularity.

[@SushiElemental]

I'm just glad they didn't bail out releasing the video. Gotta farm those clicks somehow!

[@GardinerAlan]

The replies to this comment will sort the wheat from the chaff.

[@ScribbleTAS]

1:12 "Let's see if he can throw it in... Is it going to work? And...?" - throws the haybales in - "BAM" - "Wonderful!" - "Unbelievable, 100 points with only one throw, that is just insane"

[@jordantm16]

15mins into this video and I've gone from laughing incredulously to laughing with joy at just how wonderfully enthusiastic everyone in this video is. Thank you 😂

[@Orixil]

I guess I'm going to have to check out som farming simulator eSport now. The farming part aside, in terms of sheer gameplay it actually looks pretty solid. Definitely easier to grasp than many other eSport games.

[@theldraspneumonoultramicro405]

i find it rather cool that Giants managed to make Farm Sim into a sucessfull E-sport.

[@seem_okay_studio]

Seeing people like things just makes me so happy.

[@ai_is_a_great_place]

Through you, those 3 lads made me want to try out the game now!

[@bucketmcpretty9786]

Great video! I play Farming Simulator every day and I've watched a bit of FSL but never really understood it. Now it makes sense!! :)

[@Podsedneck]

Weird that I see this the morning Farming Simulator 22 is free on the Epic Games Store. I'm not that guy - I'd be an affront to the farming vocation but it's interesting.

[@Res-5000]

Such an amazingly fun little documentary - this is without a doubt one of the most underrated channels i watch on KZbin!

[@MovieKiller333]

You got me looking up the 2006 FA cup final after this lmao. Liverpool 3 - 3 West Ham Gerrard highlights was unreal :O

[@DonYagamoth]

I've randomly watched a Farming Simulator competition when I was at a games convention in Switzerland, where I did some Speedruns. There were almost no people watching - butit was really intriguing because I had no clue how one would even compete in a Farming Game on an E-Sport level. I still didn't understand anything after watching like 2 matches, but I was just grinning and happy, that this kind of corner of E-Sports exists, because the players seemed to enjoy it ^^

[@piensastream]

Your journalistic approach is incredible! I very much enjoy the mix of personal perspective, niche fascinating topics and informative explanations. Keep doing this great job!

[@speedy1gram]

I knew Farming Sim esports existed, but I didn't know the inner workings of it and this video feels made to order for me. Thank you People Make Games crew for being amazing! p.s. the moment chris got the bale in during the training session made me smile, thank you for making me smile

[@PolluxaC]

This is such a great video. I never really cared much about the FS franchise and I for sure didn't know that there was an actual e-sport league for it. But you got me emotionally invested in New Holland. I hope they'll make it big soon!

[@Dewm_]

30:00 This little moment here, is easily the most human things I've seen captured in a youtube video. It's interesting how strong emotions could connect you so well to someone.

[@darkrai3110]

This has been such a lovely and mesmerizing video to watch, thank you for making this!

[@AynenMakino]

I hope you find loads more gaming communities out there that I'd otherwise never get to hear from. Great job! 🙏

[@rachel705]

“Interested people are interesting.” These guys are great, I love how people can turn just about anything into a game of logic and strategy.

[@peregrinecovington4138]

I like how you became the most excited person in the venue, even more than the players 😂

[@idontneedaname318]

Im so glad i follow this channel bc Knowing there is a farming sim esports league fills my hwart wit joy

[@nickmudd]

Man I know when you're like on a pro team in anything you feel bad when you lose but just think of the experience you are having overall! Traveling, friends, hanging out, and some good wins along the way.

[@00dDodo]

As a farmer, I find it utterly fascinating that some people do this for fun. I absolutely loathe straw baling straw

[@Rashagar]

16:37 I'll be honest I would have had to straight up leave from embarrassment. Really good job handling it better than I ever could haha!

[@draculactica]

every successive detail about the farm simulator community was more and more delightful. by the time a farm simulator magazine got pulled out, i was fully locked in.

[@DanielJamesEgan]

It amazes me that people understand someone playing COD or something and going to tournaments but change the pixels around so the guys are cows and the chopper is a tractor and it’s unimaginable.

[@autumnson]

You know bro is french when he's casually dropping the JuL sign

[@MaikOlszewski]

Very well made and nicely put together video, thanks for showing me this eSport!

[@BlackBirdMax]

I had no idea i wanted this video until you made it. 1st, great video, 2nd what a great little esport! Thanks!

[@kerralexander]

Now I've got a favourite farming simulator league team and brand of agriculture machinery... Thanks PMG! You did it again 😂

[@jedispartan90]

Great video! Didn't think I'd get invested in Farming Simulator eSports. Also, massive win Chris on reading Children of Time!

[@dr.cornwater2886]

As soon as you explained the rules, I was sold. What a refreshing and fun esport! If I see a stream, I'll make sure to check it out. New Holland will be the boys I rep for sure ♥️

[@Raddlesnakes000]

such a nice touch to have a turf floor for the spectators at the farming simulator competition

[@miraadi97]

13:35 they even covered real farmers and small talk including protests.

[@monsoonsheep]

You love to see it. I'd no idea there eSports in this. And the NH lads seem like cool guys!

[@Raykrueger]

Driving Farming Simulator with a keyboard is crazy hard. I've been a PC gamer for 25 years. Farming Simulator is the only time I hook a controller up to my PC heh

[@JesusGreenBL]

I went in to this thinking that even as a fan of simulators I didn't see any way farming sim could be interesting as an e-sport. 15 minutes later though and I'm hooked.

[@KeikoMushi]

A few years back, I happened across the bale esport by chance on the Giants Twitch channel. It was oddly compelling. I play a bunch of different genres, which includes games like Farming Simulator franchise, but these game modes give a nice twist and get players to micromanage everything to reach their objective and this efficiency is the main objective of esports, on top of timing and other factors.

[@spicystrugglesoup]

Don't know anything about E-Sports. Don't know anything about Farming Simulator. Thoroughly enjoyed diving into a rabbit hole of unnecessary but delightful facts. I just love how PMG tells stories. It gets me invested in anything.

[@OptionalZero]

You got me excited about these guys winning! And I don't even play farming sims or watch esports.

[@93MatiasS]

You all put so much love into these vids. I want you to know we can feel it through the screen.

[@schuylerdade]

15 minutes in and I care about Theo's first bale more than I've ever cared about my own gaming achievements.

[@Raggart]

I have always dismissed farmer simulator games because it's not my cup of tea, and I was floored to discover there was a competitive scene for it. Kudos for the video! You made me a fan of the team you picked!

[@Psientologist]

Another excellent video from PMG, loved the Duck driving the tractor so thank you Anni for that. Definitely agree this has a Quinns feel to the unusual(?), let's just say non-typical, nature of the content but I get it and I am quite up for tuning into the world championships off of this.

[@ezraclark7904]

I'm so glad every time I see what my patron dollars pay for

[@SM-cs2my]

01:03 for the subtitles- he said "such a Gänsehaut moment," a goosebumps moment!

[@Sleeper____1472]

The most amazing part of it I find is the fact they have actual big name sponsors.

[@Middyman43]

As someone who grew up around farming and now works one. I love watching this from time to time.

[@larryfoulke1596]

I can't believe Farming Simulator is more eSports ready than War Thunder

[@GlennDavidson]

So happy to see this mash-up of 2 very different parts of my childhood 😅 Though FWIW, I still don't think Farming Simulator communicates just how dangerous/exciting 30mph can be when sitting 3 metres high in a 3-tonne tractor while pulling a 20-tonne trailer, and feeling the whole thing amplify every bump in the road 😅 I know one person who rolled by cornering too hard on a small B-road while hauling a tanker, and carelessness when driving across steep hill fields even at relatively low speeds can go wrong very quickly.

[@heyitsFluxxy]

Ramping up the conveyer belt is WILD lmao

[@fallada6233]

Maybe this is the "Drive to survive" moment for farming simulator - i am definitely intrigued :D

[@Lentil_Illness]

Sick, thanks for the new hobby. Looking forward to finding my favorite team.

[@RBTVN]

Absolutely class content as always. A cut above.

[@magikarpg]

this was so fun, I love niche little communities

[@aghostofthepast]

This is the greatest gaming thing I've ever seen.

[@PaulTobia]

Annie continuing to kill it on the animations!