Energy, excitement and surprises typical of the Counter-Strike community were on full display at the MVM Dome in Budapest, Hungary, where 20,000 CS enthusiasts enjoyed a thrilling playoff final between Vitality and FaZe Clan for a total prize pool of $1.25 million at the StarLadder CS2 Major.
The lighting designer behind this display of action and suspense was Oleksandr Manzenko, who used nearly 190 Robe moving lights in the design: 17 iBOLT, 116 MegaPointe, 48 Spikie and a 6-way RoboSpot system using BMFL WashBeam fixtures.
Approximately 1,000 lighting fixtures used in the project were supplied by Alight Production Group, based in Warsaw, Poland, headed by Volodymyr Andrusyshyn.
Oleksandr had previously worked on lighting the first StarLadder tournaments and other major CS and Dota 2 events. When he joined the Budapest Major team, the initial stage and production lighting setup had already been developed by Kyrylo Lobasiev and Evgen Tsibinogin of Alight Production Group, together with the industrial cube structure above the stage, created by the StarLadder creative team.
This was a large rectangular scenic element suspended from the ceiling, built from trussing and also facilitating technical positions. It was flown above a central stage and, although the MVM Dome is a fantastic venue with ample working height, once this scenic structure was installed the gaming space also became more intimate.
The Alight team knew from the start that highly versatile and adaptable fixtures would be required, which is why these Robe products were used. Most of the lights were positioned around all four sides of the set, which was draped and featured four large video screens, one on each side, allowing the 360° audience to follow the gameplay action closely. Lighting esports requires a distinctive and multi-layered approach, unique to this type of event.
There are big show moments, such as the teams’ entrances or the trophy presentation. As the games are played, wins, eliminations, explosions and other effects sometimes need to be visually emphasised, but one of the most important tasks of lighting is maintaining a good atmosphere in the arena. When this is done well, audience reactions amplify the spectacle, while the entire space must constantly look dynamic, contemporary and engaging.
Lighting the players and the stage is an art in itself. They must be properly lit for the cameras, as they appear on screen constantly, so the right angles must be maximised without becoming intrusive.
With low-hanging scenery common in esports production designs, the performance space often presents challenges when placing lighting fixtures in the right positions. The idea of having intense beams of light running along the lines of the scenic steel beams during build-ups and major lighting crescendos came from Kyrylo and Evgen. The client provided a full briefing outlining their lighting vision, to which the Alight team added their own expertise, combining multidisciplinary techniques to create a sleek and contemporary presentation.
Kyrylo and Evgen added the iBOLT to accentuate the structural lines, as it is a powerful and impactful fixture that enhanced the edges of the cube with this effect, emphasising its striking appearance. The Alight team had heard a lot about the iBOLT and agreed that it would be ideal for highlighting the I-shaped trusses of the set. As an additional safety precaution, audience areas where the iBOLT beams passed were intentionally left empty so that no one would be in the beam path.
The BMFL WashBeam fixtures operating with the RoboSpot system were rigged on the truss in optimal positions to illuminate the players as they entered and exited the stage. The BaseStations were positioned on the upper tier of the arena, from where the action was controlled.
The MegaPointe fixtures were distributed across the rig structure on the various trusses above the stage and were widely used to project beams and effects into the audience throughout the event, as well as to light the set. They were chosen for their “great versatility and scope” as a general-purpose multi-function luminaire. MegaPointe is another favourite moving light of the Alight team!
Some of the Spikie fixtures were placed around the main video screens to create additional visual depth, while others were positioned at the ends of the stage to increase the sense of volume in the space. In these positions they also worked well to fill back-of-camera shots during performances by a percussionist and dancers featured in the show intros. A single Spikie, installed at one of the long side entrances, was positioned to illuminate the coveted trophy as it rested on stage. It was probably the most important light in the entire arena.
Robe products are a frequent choice for Alight, selected for their reliability, consistency, outstanding colours and the wide range of creative options they offer.
For lighting designer Oleksandr, who is based in Kyiv, Ukraine, one of the biggest challenges of the show was that he could not be physically present to realise his design. Instead, he collaborated with freelance programmer and operator Stanislav Rusakov, who acted as the lighting director on site, in addition to working with Kyrylo and Evgen. Previsualisation was carried out in Kyiv and, once the Alight team arrived on site, communication continued via phone and video calls to ensure everything was perfect. Having flexible equipment was key, as several requirements changed between the previsualisation stage and the final realisation at the venue.
One of the major differences between a traditional event and an esports event is the speed of the production pace. Formats and stage configurations change frequently, making it necessary to work with modular, well-structured showfiles that can adapt quickly, while maintaining close coordination with the video, content and game logic teams.
Kyrylo also served as the lighting crew chief on site, working with a team of 12 people and three trucks of lighting equipment. The project was overseen for Alight Production Group by Volodymyr, who commented:
The MVM Dome is a fantastic venue to work in: excellent production facilities, a pleasant and warm environment, and the venue’s technical crew are highly skilled and very professional. It was a great honour and experience for us to be part of the large team delivering production for this high-profile event.
The exciting Budapest Major final showcased huge CS talent from both teams, with Vitality defeating FaZe Clan 3–1 to become champions and secure the title for the third time.
