In the last decade, esports has been getting more and more popular. Esports is just a online competition of video games. While there are many people who look at gaming negatively, it brings people together across all economic statuses in an affordable way. All you need to compete in these tournaments is your game console (such as Playstation or Xbox) and the game itself.
Esports Is More Than Just A Online Game:-
Esports is not just for gamers anymore, but also an attractive business plan. Everyday new people and gamers are seeing the opportunity in this industry to make money. With so much growth potential within esports, it can be difficult to determine which sports team or business will be the next big thing. Because of this, many companies seek to expand and invest in esports each year. In 2015, there were over 4 billion views by viewers of the major esports events throughout the year. This is a large increase from 2014, which had 272 million. It has been estimated that within the next decade, esports will have over 500 million viewers .
The most popular and earliest developed game for esports was Defense of the Ancients (DotA). The market has grown so much that it is now considered a powerhouse in the esports industry. Valve, who developed DotA 2, has hosted several International tournaments since 2011. Over time, the prize pool for the tournament has risen from $1.6 million to over $20 million dollars throughout six years (Dot Esports).
Talking About investore getting involved in Esports Scene:-
Recently, a group of investors purchased the rights to the E-Sports League (ESL) for $7 million. These investors had previously helped run an ESL division. They also manage some of the most popular games played on video game consoles, such as Halo, Gears of War, and COD. They plan on using their expertise to continue growing the ESL brand.
Esports has also become a huge draw for millennial audiences in addition to gamers. For advertisers, this is an equally valuable demographic, considering it’s difficult to reach them through traditional methods. Major brands are tapping into esports because digital platforms are more accessible to millennials than traditional forms of media, which are television or print.
This was an exciting acquisition for the ESL because they plan on using their new resources to expand operations in North America and China. This is a smart decision considering how lucrative these markets currently are. If it’s done in a correct way, this could be just what esports need to continue growing exponentially.
Making many brands get involved with esports. One common strategy is to sponsor teams or players directly. They might also opt to sponsor tournaments, which draw in viewers that watch for hours at a time. Others may look into partnering up with game developers, which allows them access to the players and content creators to create brand awareness through regular posts (Twitch).
Will Esports stay or Its just another few days Hype?
Esports is here to stay whether you are an avid gamer or not. It’s a cultural phenomenon that is bringing gamers together, giving them something to talk about, and making brands more accessible to them. This makes esports the future of sports entertainment!
Not everyone is convinced that esports are here to stay. A major critique of the industry is the fact that most people do not take it seriously as a sport. In order for competitive video games to become popular, more tournaments need to be created and promoted. Without creating official leagues with paid players, esports will have a hard time becoming appealing to everyone.
The other issue is the lack of diversity. Esports are still dominated by white men, which can make it difficult for people who identify with a particular minority to feel welcome in the industry. This makes esports seem exclusive rather than inclusive, which could become problematic if growth continues. To help solve this issue, the ESL recently announced that they would begin hosting women-only tournaments for popular games such as Street Fighter and Hearthstone.
There is no doubt that esports has a bright future ahead of them, yet there are plenty of work that has to be done before it becomes mainstream. Only time will tell if esports can become a more inclusive industry.
