What is the Future of Esports?

Esports is a form of competition using video games. The most common genres are first-person shooters, multiplayer online battle arena, real-time strategy, and battle royale games.

Introduction

The world of live competitive gaming, or “esports,” has seen a massive surge in popularity in recent years. From multi-million dollar prize pools to sold-out stadiums and arena tours, esports has arrived as a legitimate force in the world of professional sports. But what does the future hold for this relatively new industry?

There are a number of factors that will play into the continued growth and evolution of esports. The first is the ever-increasing amount of money being poured into the scene by major corporations. According to Newzoo, a leading provider of market intelligence for the global games industry, global esports revenues are expected to reach $696 million in 2017, with that number growing to $1.5 billion by 2020. This influx of cash is not only providing prize pools for tournaments and events, but is also fueling team salaries, infrastructure investments, and league operations.

Another key factor driving the growth of esports is the ever-expanding reach of live streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming. These platforms give audiences around the world easy access to high-quality broadcasts of esports events and competitions. In addition, many gaming companies are now investing in their own dedicated esports broadcasting channels. For example, Blizzard Entertainment operates MLG.tv, a Twitch channel devoted to streaming Overwatch competitions.

Finally, the continued expansion of mobile gaming is helping to bring esports to new audiences and markets. Mobile games like Clash Royale and Vainglory are easy to pick up and play even for those who are not traditionally “gamers” – making them perfect entry points into the world of competitive gaming. And with 5G technology on the horizon, mobile gaming is only going to get more popular – which means more opportunities for mobile esportsto grow and thrive.

So what does all this mean for the future of esports? It’s safe to say that we can expect even more growth in popularity and prize money as major corporations continue to invest in the scene. We’ll also see more dedicated esports broadcast channels popping up as companies look to capitalize on live streaming’s massive audience potential. And finally, mobile gaming will continue to help drive mainstream adoption of esports by making it more accessible than ever before.

The Current State of Esports

It would be hard to overstate the current popularity of esports. In the last few years, the competitive gaming scene has exploded in popularity. There are now more people watching esports than traditional sports, and the industry is only getting bigger. But what does the future hold for esports? In this article, we’ll take a look at the current state of esports and try to predict where it’s going.

Popularity

The global esports market is expected to grow from $696 million in 2017 to $1.5 billion by 2020, according to a report from gaming research firm Newzoo. And it’s easy to see why.

Historically, esports has been dominated by a few huge games, most notably League of Legends, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. But in recent years, the industry has seen the rise of new genres and games, including battle royale games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Fortnite, and first-person shooters like Overwatch and Rainbow Six Siege.

This proliferation of games has helped fuel the growth of esports. In 2017, there were 1,090 tournaments with prize pools totaling more than $112 million, up from 812 tournaments and $61 million in 2016, according to EsportsEarnings.com. And that number is only going to grow in the years to come.

With more games comes more competition, and that’s good news for fans of esports. The increased competition has led to larger prize pools and higher production values for tournaments. It has also attracted mainstream brands looking to cash in on the growing popularity of esports.

Tournaments and Events

The current state of esports is defined by two things: tournaments and events. Tournaments are organized, central events that anyone can compete in if they meet the requirements. They have a specific start and end date, and there is a strict schedule of matches that will be played. The winner of the tournament is the team or player that comes out on top after all the matches have been played.

Events, on the other hand, are typically organized by a single company or organization. They don’t have nearly as many participants as tournaments, and they don’t follow a set schedule. Events are meant to be more flexible, allowing for different types of content to be showcased. It’s not uncommon for an event to feature multiple tournaments, casual games, exhibitions, and more.

The Money in Esports

With the global esports economy expected to reach $696 million in 2017, it’s no surprise that brands are clamoring to get in on the action. In fact, nearly 60 percent of all sponsorships in esports are coming from non-endemic brands, and that number is only going to grow. So what’s driving this investment?

For starters, the esports audience is highly sought-after by marketers. Gen Z and millennial males make up the vast majority of viewers, and they are notoriously difficult to reach through traditional channels. But with esports, brands have a direct line to this key demographic.

What’s more, the esports audience is extremely engaged. Nearly three-quarters of fans say they are more likely to remember a brand that sponsors an esports event or team, and four-in-ten say they would purchase goods or services from a company because it supports esports.

Finally, brands see sponsoring an esports team or event as a way to tap into the booming Chinese market. China is already the largest market for esports, with revenues expected to reach $1.5 billion by 2020. And with Chinese companies investing heavily in western teams and events, the opportunities for brands to get involved are only going to increase in the years ahead.

The Future of Esports

Many people are wondering what the future of esports holds. With the recent increase in popularity, there is no doubt that esports are here to stay. But what does the future hold for esports? In this article, we will take a look at the future of esports and what the next few years might have in store for the industry.

Growth

The future of Esports is looking very bright. The growth of Esports in the last decade has been nothing short of extraordinary, and it shows no signs of slowing down. According to a report by Newzoo, the global Esports economy is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2019, up from $696 million in 2017. This rapid growth is being driven by increased interest from both casual and hardcore gamers, as well as mainstream businesses and investors.

With more people watching and playing Esports than ever before, it’s only natural that the industry would start to attract more investment. In fact, investment in Esports has been growing at an incredible rate in recent years. According to Deloitte, venture capital investment in Esports companies reached $1.5 billion in 2018, up from just $493 million in 2017. This trend is likely to continue in the years to come as businesses look to cash in on the growing popularity of Esports.

As the industry continues to grow and attract more investment, we can expect to see even more developments in the world of Esports. We’ll see new leagues and tournaments spring up, as well as more immersive ways to watch and play games. The future of Esports is looking very exciting indeed!

Technology

The technology of esports is constantly changing and evolving. As new technologies emerge, they have the potential to change the landscape of esports. Currently, the most popular genres of esports are first-person shooters (FPS), multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA), and real-time strategy (RTS). These genres require different skillsets, and as such, each has a different technological requirements.

FPS games are typically played on personal computers (PCs), with the most popular games being Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and Overwatch. To be competitive in FPS games, players need to have a fast internet connection, a good computer with a high-end graphics card, and a lot of practice.

MOBA games are typically played on PCs as well, with the two most popular games being League of Legends (LoL) and Dota 2. Like FPS games, MOBAs require a fast internet connection and a good PC. In addition, players need to be able to think strategically and make quick decisions.

RTS games are usually played on PCs as well, with the most popular game being StarCraft II. RTS games require players to have quick reflexes, good strategic planning skills, and again, a fast internet connection.

As you can see, each genre of esports has different technological requirements. This is one reason why esports has been slow to take off on console platforms like Xbox and PlayStation; the technology required to play competitively is simply not as widely available on consoles as it is on PCs. However, this may change in the future as console manufacturers catch up to the technology required for competitive gaming.

Mainstream Acceptance

The future of esports looks bright, with the industry set to continue growing in popularity and mainstream acceptance. While there are still some barriers to entry, such as the high level of skill required to compete at the top level, the esports industry is becoming more accessible and welcoming to new players and fans. This is evident in the increasing number of dedicated esports venues popping up around the world, as well as the growing prize pools for competitive tournaments. With more people than ever before tuning in to watch professional gamers compete, it’s clear that esports is here to stay.