Hybrid as the New Normal
When work became possible from virtually anywhere in the world, the very concept of the “office” was called into question. Many companies are reducing the number of spaces they rent or abandoning them altogether. However, that doesn’t mean the office will disappear completely – rather, its role and format are evolving. I believe businesses are now looking for a balance between the efficiency of remote work and the need for in-person interaction. As a result, we’re not seeing the disappearance of offices, but their transformation to fit new usage scenarios.
Most companies aren’t rushing into radical decisions – instead, they’re choosing a hybrid approach. In this format, employees spend part of the week working from home and the rest in the office. This setup allows businesses to adapt to reality: preserving the flexibility of remote work without losing the value of in-person interaction. It’s especially important for teams that rely on synchronous communication – such as product, development, or marketing teams. For example, Microsoft and Google have both committed to hybrid schedules and redesigned their offices around “flexible spaces,” replacing assigned desks with more coworking areas, meeting zones, and team session rooms.
At the same time, the office itself is becoming more of a support platform than a day-to-day workspace. Visits are often planned around specific purposes: strategy meetings, presentations, or feedback sessions. Spaces are designed to be neutral and comfortable for collaboration – with movable furniture, good acoustics, and fast Wi-Fi. It all resembles the infrastructure used in digital interaction across esports: viewers join cs2 live streams from anywhere, while teams and streamers coordinate without being in the same physical space. This format helps reduce rental costs while maintaining effective teamwork. In the long run, it gives employees more control over their own work rhythm.
Interestingly, we can see a similar shift happening in esports. In broadcasts of games like Valorant or CS2, the focus isn’t just on the match itself – it’s also on the reactions of streamers, audiences, and teams. More often, we see informal setups: players working from gaming houses, training remotely, and fans tuning in from laptops, smartphones, or even tablets – at home, in cafés, or on the move. This creates the feeling of a flexible yet connected system, where participation is possible from anywhere, and the digital environment becomes the true place of presence. That same logic is what underpins the hybrid office model.
The Office as a Collaboration Hub
In the new format, the office is no longer a place for daily routine but a hub for collaboration, learning, and team bonding. This is especially important for junior staff and interns who benefit from seeing how things work from the inside and connecting with colleagues face-to-face. It’s easier to ask questions and understand workflows in person than over a video call.
The office now functions more as a flexible space that adjusts to specific needs – retrospectives, content creation, or joint planning sessions. Instead of fixed desks, companies create zones for teamwork and interaction, making each visit intentional.
Spotify, Atlassian, and others have embraced this shift, turning offices into collaborative centers. They prioritize spaces that support teamwork over traditional setups. I think this helps maintain company culture and strengthens team spirit, even when most work happens remotely.
The Role of Technology in Rethinking the Workplace
This transformation of the office environment would be impossible without technological support. Cloud services, video conferencing, collaboration platforms, and task management systems have become the foundation of remote and hybrid work. But in practice, it’s not just about having access to these tools – it’s about integrating them thoughtfully into daily workflows. Technology alone doesn’t produce results – it all depends on how teams use it. In game studios, production companies, and esports organizations, tools like Discord, Miro, Notion, and Zoom have already become essential parts of work communication. People plan, collaborate, and even hold full strategic sessions online – physical location is gradually becoming irrelevant.
These changes are especially visible in the esports industry, where many workflows have long gone remote. For example, in League of Legends, teams run bootcamps, compete in tournaments, and then return to practice from different countries. And they do all this while maintaining a unified game system, strategic analysis, and coordinated teamplay. It shows that when processes are well-organized, physical distance doesn’t harm efficiency. On the contrary – teams gain flexibility without sacrificing quality.
But there’s another side: to make this work, teams need high discipline, a structured environment, and clear role distribution. Without that, technology gets lost in a flood of notifications and task overload. That’s why sustainable hybrid models require more than just adopting new tools – they demand a deep adaptation of the entire corporate culture around them.
New Functions and Challenges
The office of the future is increasingly seen not as a mandatory place of presence, but as a hub for connection, knowledge exchange, and strengthening company culture. It becomes a space people visit for communication, collaborative events, strategy sessions, or team meetings. It’s no longer just a set of desks and chairs – it’s part of the overall experience of engaging with the company. That’s why it’s important not just to have a physical space, but to understand clearly how to use it effectively so it doesn’t sit idle.
Many companies are experimenting with new approaches: some implement booking systems and track attendance, while others let employees define their own purpose for coming into the office. For example, visiting to run an offline workshop, deliver a client presentation, or create video content. This helps avoid the feeling of “showing up just to be seen” and makes office visits intentional rather than forced. To me, this shift is about awareness, not control.
We see a similar transition in the gaming industry. Events are now often delivered in two full formats: high-production studio broadcasts and physical arena shows. They operate in parallel, giving audiences more choice and deeper engagement. The key is having a clear understanding of what you’re doing and why. Without that, any space – whether it’s an office or an esports stage – risks becoming just an expensive but empty backdrop.
Conclusion
I believe offices won’t disappear, but their use will change. Their role will shift from routine to collaboration, from control to trust. In a remote-first reality, walls matter less than how and why we come together. In this sense, the office is no longer about square meters – it’s about how the space is used.
