Mirathor Quellith 
Who could have predicted how big Esports have become in recent years? Not so long ago, Esports would have been but a spec in a much larger market; fast forward to today, with grand prizes going into the millions and events selling out arenas. Esports are more talked about than ever.
In this article, we’ll take a more in-depth look at how esports is changing the sports and betting industries, paying close attention to its growth, its impact on gaming, and the potential financial upsides for those looking to get more involved.
The Growth of Esports
The idea of esports can be traced back several decades, going all the way back to arcade competitions among friends, which quickly evolved to more organized tournaments that attracted hundreds and eventually thousands of attendees. Once online gaming became more common, this growth increased in terms of both interest and participation.
The International, a tournament belonging to the Dota 2 gaming community, has set the industry standard when it comes to what prizes the most skilled players can expect to win, with the largest currently being $40m. However, other major tournaments with big prizes include League of Legends Worlds, CS: GO Majors, and Fortnite Championships.
Esports and the Traditional Gaming Industry
Many people see the esports and wider gaming community as being at odds with one another, with some arguing that the increasingly competitive nature of professional players is hurting the overall experience, while others argue that this has lifted the skill level for the majority of players.
Game Developers Designing for Esports
A key argument that many make is to ask a simple question: ‘Is gaming regressing?’ With more developers now designing games specifically for esports, those who belong to the more traditional branch of the gaming community believe this is at the expense of the overall quality, especially when it comes to single-player or story-mode campaigns, which have become increasingly absent in recent years, while multiplayer has thrived.
Esports’ Influence on Gaming Trends
Despite esports’ faults, which many admit exist, the rise of battle royale-style games, as well as MOBA games, has increased participation as a whole and has shown that more players than ever are involved in this style of gaming, even if it upsets those who prefer to play at a more casual pace.
Sponsorships and Revenue Growth
As a fast-evolving industry, it’s fair to say that the finances involved are huge.
Trying to understand how the money within esports works can leave some with more questions than answers, but it’s really not all that complicated.
Major Brands Investing in Esports
Many major brands have taken notice and are now investing in esports, as well as many more pivoting their business models in order to capitalize on this increased interest. Red Bull, Intel, and Nike aren’t brands that we’d typically associate with professional gaming, but with an extremely appealing growth trajectory, they simply can’t risk missing out.
The Business of Esports Teams
One of the main mysteries for those looking into the industry is how these professional esports teams work, but a handy way to think of them is to compare them to racing or cycling teams – they pay their players’ salaries, provide the players with everything they need for success, are funded by their sponsors, and then take their share of the winnings.
How Esports Monetization Compare to Traditional =Sports
Unlike many traditional sports teams, which compete at physical stadiums and rely heavily on matchday revenue, this isn’t quite as true for esports teams. These new-age teams depend on private sponsorships, advertising revenue, and merchandise sold to their fans, as well as streaming deals licensed to the likes of Twitch and YouTube.
The Future of Esports
As Esports continues to grow and attract more players and viewers than ever, what can we expect to see in the future for this industry?
Esports in the Olympics?
There are ongoing discussions about whether esports should be included in the Olympics, with the debate being fairly divisive.
While it’s fair to say that it’s not athletics-related, the same could also be argued for the likes of golf, shooting, and show jumping, each of which are currently listed as Olympic sports.
The Potential iImpact of VR and AI on Competitive Gaming
The next step into the world of more mainstream and interactive esports could be found in the adoption of VR technology, providing more flexible experiences for those playing or watching. What’s more, we could also see AI become more common, especially when it comes to analyzing player performances and optimizing experiences to boost viewer engagement and create a more well-rounded final product.
Conclusion
The esports industry has witnessed a period of exponential growth in recent years, which has had a profound impact on the likes of betting, gaming, and sports in general in ways that look unlikely to go undone. It has forced sponsors and sports teams to change how they think about esports as a whole, encouraging them to increase engagement now that the level of interest from the wider gaming community is evident.
