Teresa Hoy 
Forget Princess Peach’s pink dress or Mario’s overalls. The real power-ups in today’s gaming world are found not on screen, but ON the eSports athletes themselves along with their legions of fans shouting their support for their teams online and offline.
Who knew this was a big deal?
Well, the global esports market size was USD $1.7 Billion in 2023.
It’s projected to exceed USD 2 Billion this year. In 8 years, the market size will cross USD 9 Billion.
But that’s not all. Esports tournaments are blowing up like crazy with technology coming into the mix. Virtual reality products are transporting gamers to digital dimensions that would make the Matrix look like a retro arcade. Consumer spending on video content as well as esports merchandise is soaring higher than my kill-death ratio in Apex Legends.
If you want to capitalize on the trend, it’s time to level up your merch operation and tap into this goldmine. We’re about to look at the 6 essential eSports merch trends in 2024 that will grant your business one big buff.
The Jersey Fan Gear Takeover
Remember the days of baggy t-shirts with the logos of the local esports club? Now it’s more jerseys. The eSports jersey has undergone a metamorphosis into a performance-driven garment. Fabrics with moisture-wicking technology and ergonomic designs that ensure comfort during intense gameplay sessions are now the norm. These jerseys, customized with sponsor logos and team slogans, have become a coveted piece of fan apparel. Take a cue from established teams like Cloud9 or Team Liquid – their jerseys are now a part of their identity as their winning plays.
Pro Tip for Retailers: Make sure to get more than one jersey style – classic cut, raglan sleeves, and women’s fits work. The Alternative AA6041 long sleeve jersey and the Sport-Tek ST307 are popular picks. Get your game on by partnering with local eSports teams or offer esports apparel decoration services to take things one step further.
The OG eSports Apparel
Still in trend. Always on trend. Good ol’ fashioned tees are gamers’ trusty companions. Tees are relevant in the esports arena offering a casual, relaxed alternative to the performance-focused jerseys for players. T-shirts are undisputedly the most popular esports merch now among fans and esports content creators. You might’ve already spotted esports tees with witty game references, inside jokes and team logos on them.
Remember the iconic “GG EZ” (Good Game, Easy Win) tees that flooded the market after a particularly dominant performance by a pro player? That’s the kind of viral potential a well-designed eSports tee holds.
Pro Tip for Retailers: Partner with streamers to create exclusive t-shirt designs but make sure to take the season and fabric weights into account. Bella+Canvas tees own the game here pretty much, especially the BC3001 short sleeve.
The Uniter Of Fandoms
HOODIES!!!
Esports pros spend countless hours honing their crazy skills. What do you think they wear the most during those marathon training sessions on their high-end gaming rigs? These gaming PCs or consoles along with the entire streaming setup are meant to be run in cool environments. And hoodies keep the players warm and comfortable during their long gaming sessions.
But hoodies are not just about practicality – team-branded hoodies are yet another badge of honor for dedicated fans. Customized esports hoodies are among the most preferable type of giveaways that teams can leverage to maintain the loyalty of their fanbase.
Pro Tip for Retailers: Lightweight full-zip hoodies like District’s DT1100 are the norm. Think about how to make them more functional – audio port access, bigger hood space for headphones etc.
The Which-Side-Are-You-On Gear
What is the cherry on top of any eSports outfit? Headwear! Nothing is ever subtle when it comes to gaming. Hats and beanies are a fantastic way for fans to not-so-subtly flaunt their team affiliation. Logo-embroidered snapbacks and team-themed beanies sell.
Pro Tip for Retailers: Figure out how you can include custom headwear like trucker hats into combo packages; a hat, a tee & a personalized mug combo for example.
Custom Accessories
Not everyone wants to rock a full-blown jersey. Some fans prefer subtlety.
Wristbands = Subtlety
These silicone or fabric bands come in a variety of colors and can have team logos or player names printed, embossed or debossed on them. They’re yet another cool giveaway item, especially at tournament venues.
Pro Tip for Retailers: Wait till a local esports tournament is announced to showcase your custom eSports wristbands.
The XP Replenish
What is the one thing that keeps gamers active and focused? No wait. There are a lot of things that can keep gamers active. And the most important of them all?
Hydration.
Customized water bottles is what I’m getting at. The gaming community can go crazy if a replica of the bottle their favorite streamer uses during live streams is on sale. That’s like a “Tier 1 Collectible” in gamer slang.
Pro Tip for Retailers: Work on getting a license from the team or its sponsors to sell stuff like these.
So there you have it. You’ve just got some “cheat codes” to dominate this niche market. Ok, maybe not cheat codes per se. These trends are still something to look into considering the growing esports market size. And if your locale has esports clubs or is a venue for esports tournaments, you got yourself an opportunity you mustn’t pass as a retailer.
For the fans or the teams, just make ‘em out of high quality blank apparel, because gamers won’t settle for less when it comes to quality.
Now go ahead and start your ‘campaign’.
