Conventional sports, which were our favorites to play or watch in stadiums, were formerly extremely popular. They still are, but… a brand-new sport has recently entered the scene. This is commonly referred to as eSports.
The term “eSports”, short for “electronic sports”, refers to a type of competition that uses video games, according to Wikipedia (we paraphrase). Esports typically take the form of organized multiplayer video games that are competitive, especially when professional players are involved, either as individuals or in organizations.
Today’s eSports excitement is really incredible. The popularity of eSports has exploded because of the increase in users of smartphones and the enduring passion for video games. To get a sense of how popular eSports are today, let us take a look at some current data.
Recent Statistics on eSports: Some Startling Figures
- By 2030, the eSports market is expected to be valued at USD $5.74 billion with a CAGR of 21.9%.
- Industry predictions state that there would be more than 657 million online gamers worldwide by 2025, up from 481 million in 2022.
- The worldwide eSports market is anticipated to generate USD $1.87 billion in sales by 2025, growing at an exponential rate.
- 532.1 million people will be eSports fans worldwide in 2023.
- Esports and video games are anticipated to grow by 6% between 2020 and 2025.
- The two biggest eSports markets today are in Asia and North America. The eSports industry in the USA generated USD $243 million in income, based on the most recent figures.
- Insider Intelligence predicts that in the USA alone, eSports viewership will increase to 34.8 million in 2026.
Let us now take a peek at the most recent eSports trends.
Recent Developments in the eSports Industry
Trends that will change the existing eSports landscape will be visible in the near future. Here are a few of these trends:
Esports Betting
Sports and betting have long been buddies. And now the bond has expanded to the eSports community. Competitive gaming is what eSports is, just like regular sports. In many ways, it is comparable to traditional athletic activities in that fans follow teams, take in games, and wager on the outcome.
And now that eSports competitions can be watched live online, the sector has grown to be worth USD $1 billion. The games are streamed live to millions of viewers’ televisions. As a result of their enormous popularity, eSports has drawn attention from the world of gambling. Simply said, gambling on the outcome of an unforeseen occurrence is what is meant by betting.
In eSports, wagers can be placed on the result of the competition. Esports typically provide a variety of betting options with operators at Bookmaker-Expert.com who recognized the opportunity to beat the competition. Let us examine each of them individually.
- Real-money, fixed-odds wagering through an Internet bookmaker: People can wager on live eSports competitions on a variety of online betting sites.
- Privately arranged social betting between individuals: This kind of betting is carried out by a group of people in a discreet setting.
- Gambling on skins and loot boxes: It is primarily done while the game is being played. People place bets on certain outcomes, including which player will use which gun skin.
CS: GO, DOTA 2, League of Legends, and FIFA are just a few examples of eSports wagers that are game-specific. One might wager on who will score the “first kill” or “most kills” in a particular match, for instance.
Other bet kinds include the following:
- who will win the game (moneyline),
- who will win the tournament (outright),
- what will be the correct score,
- odd/even wagers – in this wager, you must decide whether an odd or an even number of maps will be won, odd or even number of players killed, or odd or an even number of rounds played.
Mobile eSports
Nowadays, it is not required for anyone to own a computer or game console, but we can clearly observe that every person has a smartphone. This situation has spurred the growth of mobile eSports. Mobile gaming enables businesses that create mobile apps to reach a previously untapped consumer segment. They are now creating games that go far beyond typical, straightforward smartphone games as a result.
Although being mostly a PC-based industry, eSports has seen a big uptick recently. Today, putting stuff on a screen that is smaller is the focus. The most notable mobile eSports games nowadays are some of the most well-known titles available today.
With its unmatched user base, mobile gaming dominates the gaming sector. The technology behind smartphone games improves daily. Thanks to the creation of relatively inexpensive yet high-end specifications, mobile devices have now made the world of gaming accessible to millions of consumers worldwide.
Live Streaming
Live broadcasting eSports events are a great substitute for going to sporting events where fans may have trouble getting good seats, have to deal with a rowdy crowd, or travel far to get to stadiums. You may watch the entire match uninterrupted thanks to esports live video streaming.
Live streaming has aided in the fusion of international gaming communities. Anyone with a connection to the Internet can watch live streaming from worldwide contests.
Everyone who has an interest in eSports, from fans to curious onlookers, can watch online streaming for nothing more than their monthly bandwidth fee. It has been essential in expanding the audience for eSports beyond its primary fan base.
For access to live streaming of eSports tournaments, audiences can use a variety of sites, including Twitch, Discord, Steam TV, YouTube, and Facebook Gaming.
Live Commentary
Without live commentary, no sport can survive today. In the case of eSports, the same holds true. The gameplay can be made more interesting for the audience via live commentary. There are various uses for commentary in eSports games.
It educates and analyzes the audience, enabling them to comprehend and enjoy the game more fully. As well as insights about the game’s current state and potential outcomes, this can include details on the teams, players, strategy, and rules.
The live commentary also aims to up the drama and excitement of the game by highlighting significant moments and creating tension. Even if they are not acquainted with the discipline or the teams involved, this keeps the audience engaged and engrossed in the game.
In eSports, live commentary may also play a social function by fostering a sense of belonging and community among fans. Live commentators can act as a bridge between different types of fans, helping them to understand and respect one another’s viewpoints and enthusiasm for the game.
Blockchain in eSports
Video games with blockchain integration have altered the scene by turning gaming into a sector with many players investigating the potential. Blockchains use advanced data encryption techniques to stop hackers from altering or destroying an online transaction.
This kind of technology has the capacity to improve gaming by increasing the security of in-game transactions. Blockchains will provide gamers greater liberty by enabling them to switch from play-to-win to play-to-earn, as well as opening up safer and newer ground for creators. Blockchain is also a brand-new platform for developing and storing assets used in games.
Up till now, blockchain has expanded every platform’s potential. Esports’ use of blockchain technology has made interaction more rewarding and improved fan experiences and loyalty.
By leveraging tokenized teams and improved loyalty programs, it develops new income models. New markets for sports betting and the exchange of collectibles are developing with the aid of blockchain technology, enabling players to raise funding for their results via agreements to share revenue or loyalty awards.
API Integrations
Simple software interfaces that enable communication between two apps are known as APIs. The gaming sector has a variety of APIs available. Some of them link to gaming servers and produce data that enables the analysis of user and game statistics. Others enable consumers to pass along these rules and updates and offer significant configuration and content customization.
In the gaming sector, there are various kinds of APIs:
- Graphic APIs: These APIs are employed to connect to the graphics hardware of a computer or video game console to render 2D and 3D images on the screen. Some popular graphics APIs utilized for gaming include DirectX, Vulkan, and OpenGL.
- APIs for user input: These APIs take user input from the keyboard and mouse and translate it into actions for the game. Two well-liked input APIs are XInput for Xbox controllers and DirectInput for other types of devices.
- Networking APIs: These are APIs that allow games to communicate with players and servers online.
- APIs that are exclusive to a given gaming platform: Such platforms are PlayStation or Nintendo, and are known as platform-specific APIs. They give access to hardware and functionality that are unique to each platform.
Video games are a popular way for millions of people to unwind from the stresses of daily life. In order to stimulate a gamer’s attraction to the statistical analysis of their favorite games, gaming APIs interact with the immense databases and servers which run the games.
Similar to this, game APIs allow developers to add new features and improvements not present in current versions, enhancing the entertainment value of these games and enticing users to play more.
Popular gaming APIs include Apex Legends, Pokémon GO, RAWG Video Games Database, and Call of Duty Modern Warfare.
Real-Time Data Analytics
A mix of software creation and the game industry equals data analytics in eSports. AI-assisted analysis of data is used for unprocessed gaming streams, including both live and past statistics, to enhance the viewer experience.
Statistics and timings of a player’s response to non-visual data, such as in-game events and others, are the preferred types of real-time data analytics. To improve the viewing experience, specialized tools are created to take raw facts and transform them into a visual format that audiences can easily ingest.
Participants in eSports can learn the strategies and techniques the opposing team usually uses and how to counter them by using real-time data analytics. They can easily assess their performance, strengths, and weaknesses thanks to the information gathered through real-time data analytics, which offers them an edge over competitors. Real-time data analytics not only benefits participants but also enables sponsors to better appreciate the worth of the content that gamers produce.
To assess accurate participation and the influence of streams on viewers, Twitch, an American live video streaming service, tracks chats, visual frames, and the sound of streams. Sponsors can decide where to put their money knowing all of the details at their disposal.
Playback/Screen Recording
Screen recording is a great way to document special events and moments while playing video games with your friends. No matter the game, it is always important to seize the moment.
Even though it can seem important to capture these moments on film, having the right equipment is just as important. You should not employ software that is unfinished or even a version that is deficient in necessary capabilities.
In order to preserve their in-game experiences, many eSports competitors use screen recording software. Game screen captures can be used as tutorials, game walkthroughs, and other forms of information to assist eSports fans who were unable to attend their favorite eSports live events.
What Impact Will eSports Have in 2023 and How?
In 2023, eSports will significantly change the sports and entertainment environment because of its recent quick growth. In 2023, the appeal of eSports is expected to continue to expand as a result of an increase in participants, sponsors, and viewers.
Let us see how eSports will influence 2023.
Cooperation with Classic Sports
Traditional sports are altering as a result of eSports’ influence. Many younger people who used to be indifferent to traditional sports have become fans of esports, which has prompted traditional sports clubs to incorporate elements of eSports into their competitions.
For instance, the NBA’s All-Star Weekend now has a video game competition, while Formula One has established a virtual racing league. Esports and traditional sports are combining to create new opportunities for competitors and viewers alike.
The Repercussion on the Entertainment Industry
The impact of eSports on the entertainment industry is also altering how things are perceived. Esports competitions draw millions of viewers, who tune in to watch their favorite teams and players compete. These events are swiftly rising to prominence in popular culture.
This creates new channels for sponsors and advertisers to connect with a young, active audience. Major corporations like Intel, Coca-Cola, and Samsung support esports competitions, and eSports athletes are developing into significant influencers with sizable social media fan bases.
Infiltrating into the Mainstream
More widespread acceptance of eSports is one way the scene is changing. Until recently, eSports was believed to be a specialized hobby, with most people not associated with the gaming industry unaware of its existence.
However, eSports will have grown momentum by 2023, receiving more media coverage and recognition from traditional sports organizations. For context, renowned broadcasters like Fox Sports and ESPN are airing more esports material, and renowned sports leagues like the NBA and NFL have created their own eSports leagues.
Esports as a Potential Career
A number of universities are already providing eSports scholarships and degrees, and eSports is giving students new opportunities to pursue jobs in eSports and gaming administration.
This is creating new opportunities for children who may not have participated in conventional sports or academics, as well as a new talent pipeline for the eSports industry.
Innovation Promoted by eSports
Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and augmented and virtual reality are among the fields being advanced by eSports.
For instance, eSports tournaments leverage virtual reality as well as augmented reality to provide viewers with immersive experiences, while AI is used to enhance player performance and tactics.
This creates new opportunities for technology companies to create novel products and services while also fostering innovation across the whole technology industry.
The upcoming era of entertainment and sports is being shaped by eSports, which is no longer an isolated pastime but rather a significant cultural force.
Final Thoughts
The year 2023 will unquestionably mark the turning point in the history of eSports in every single one of its manifestations. This happens as we speak. In the gaming industry, a number of remarkable partnerships are anticipated, bringing cutting-edge features and technological advancements.
We are as excited about these events as you are, and we cannot wait to watch how they play out! The gaming industry will prosper, just like other industries in the cutthroat game market. The number of people that invest in eSports will change significantly as a result of the aforementioned esports trends.
Alongside mobile eSports, blockchain, and live streaming, there are many additional views that will present various potentials to construct hitherto unheard-of platforms and gaming experiences.
