So, we are going to become experts in the field of eSports, but first let’s consider what it is. This is not only a new sport popular among the “new generation”, but also a large profitable media market. The Guardian claims that this market is about $ 1.7 billion. Experts also note that this market is growing by 22-30% per year. Today, eSports as popular as casino slots. It is no secret that the virtual casino, for example such as Stake7 Casino has become very popular in a short period of time. Each game portal gives a lot of opportunities to every user who wants to relax and have fun. This type of entertainment is one of the leaders today. Cybersport appeared later, but became popular as a virtual casino.
Like other sports, cyber sport is a big and profitable media market. According to “Statista”, 370+ million viewers will watch these all such events in 2019. Most online users think that only cyber athletes earn a lot in this sport, but this isn’t so. There are many posts not for players: online managers, journalists, analysts, event organizers and commentators. So, eSports includes thousands of vacancies.
The Twitch streaming platform plays a big role in popularizing e-sports in different countries. Thanks to this platform, gamers were able to broadcast gameplay and receive money from fans and sponsors. In 2018, Twitch became one of the key buyers of e-sports content.
Sponsoring eSports
Advertising and marketing in the industry have great promise. Experts say that cybersport sponsoring is a great opportunity to find an approach to the target audience (18-35 years old). Speaking about the sponsorship of esports project, we need to note that eSports is a great area for advertising various products and services. Therefore, companies that are focused on the global market invest this global project. However, the organizers of such competitions claim that large and even small companies are excellent sponsors. Banks prefer to work with an audience of gamers, too. Such institutions issue special cards with cashback for the purchase of games and other applications. Despite this, eSports wouldn’t exist and function only for sponsors’ money. So, we moved to the next section.
Governmental support
Cybersport in the modern world is quite popular, but not in all regions. This is due to the different levels of development of economic and technical factors. A computer sport was born in America, since the first such tournament was held in the late 90s. But despite this, experts say that Korea is a leader in this area, since players are very popular and have many fans in this country. In addition, eSports is popular in China, Ukraine, USA, Korea and Sweden.
Global market leaders support e-sports: new arenas, scholarships for cyber-athletes in universities and colleges. There are 64 institutions in the USA. These are important strategic steps aimed at the development of the industry and long-term investments that will restart the economy. In general, eSports has a flexible business model and a wider selection of modern facilities for holding tournaments and organizing high-quality broadcasts. So, eSports can positively influence a country’s economic development.
Does eSports have a future?
Some leading experts in the field of eSports claim that the income of this sport will grow by 37% next year. It is also associated with the advent of mobile eSports, which may become more popular than eSports on PC. Analysts write that the popularity of mobile games is growing due to the number of smartphones sold, increasing their functionality / quality and growing mobile games market (including mobile gaming machines). It is no secret that mobile gadgets are more convenient to use, since you can enjoy the gameplay anywhere, can’t you? Moreover, even an ordinary smartphone can perform many useful functions. These devices are also used by all developers, as it is a very promising niche. ESports will transfer to the mobile world in the next 2-4 years. Experts are confident that this event will cause a furor and change the whole eSports.
Verdict
Despite the official recognition of eSports, this area is surrounded by negative reviews and rumors. Some well-known athletes (football and basketball players) don’t want to recognize computer videogames as a sport.
But eSports is a promising profession, since players receive a salary (up to $ 4000), which is discussed with the manager of each team. In addition, players receive money for tournaments and bonuses from sponsors. As a result, we get a high-quality and viable product with a growing audience, which is still unable to fully compete with the most popular sports. But if you are fond of computer games, then try your luck in eSports and show your talent!
