A decade ago, you’d think when someone said “playing games”, they would be referring to casual ones like Mario Party or Pokemon. Though that thought process isn’t entirely wrong, the gaming industry has been shaped differently throughout the past ten years. Now, most of the gaming industry has been taken more seriously since the introduction of esports.
Esports are multiplayer video games played competitively by professional gamers, and their matches are broadcast to spectators who enjoy watching the best players compete. At this point, esports practically defines the gaming industry. In this article, we’ll go over how esports began and how it helped shape the gaming industry.
Introduction to Esports Evolution
In the past, people would associate gamers with people who were solitary basement dwellers who wasted their time playing games pointlessly. People thought gaming was merely entertainment and nothing good could come from playing too many games. Parents would always scold their kids for spending hours in front of their devices and say stuff like, “Playing games won’t pay for your next meal”.
However, the rise of esports and competitive gaming changed everything. Esports have changed the perception of games being useless and propelled the gaming industry to a legitimate industry that people can make a living off.
A few factors helped the esports scene evolve the gaming industry, which will be discussed throughout this article.
Professionalization of Esports
In the world of competitive gaming, which is “esports”, the gaming scene has shifted from casual gaming to highly professionalized gaming. The idea of professional gaming has played a pivotal role in forming the gaming industry.
Just like watching professional Basketball matches, video gamers want to see the best players in their chosen game compete against each other. The idea of having professional players going against each other was something many people would watch.
As a result, professional esports teams were built to sign the best players into teams. These rosters were provided top-notch training facilities, with coaches and psychologists hired to enhance the players’ performance. Additionally, players under established organizations receive high-paying salaries, making esports a serious career path for the ones who make it.
Structured leagues and esports tournaments were built around these teams and players, creating a platform for them to showcase their skills in front of millions of people. These esports events feature hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in prize pools, and the scale of these tournaments keeps growing.
If you’re not good enough to become a professional, which 99.99% of the community isn’t, then the esports scene offers more career paths. From social media management to graphics design to content creation, you name it! The esports and gaming industry is worth around 350 billion US dollars, so there’s always a way you can be involved.
Esports Betting as a Game Changer
Another factor in the turning point in the esports industry is the addition of esports betting. People love betting on traditional sports, as they can place wagers while watching their favorite teams compete. Esports has already reached this point, and betting on esports works the same way as traditional sports.
Many esports betting sites have opened in the past decade, which has attracted a massive influx of bettors and investment in the esports ecosystem. In case you’re curious about checking these websites out, you can find the list of the best esports betting sites on Tips.gg. Everyone who has tried betting on esports will tell you that it makes the viewing experience much more entertaining.
Most importantly, esports betting has solidified the gaming industry as totally legitimate. These betting platforms and the associated economic ecosystem have added a layer of financial and commercial legitimacy to esports. With wagers and money on the line, esports matches and tournaments give off a sense of seriousness.
The most prominent esports betting websites sponsor professional teams. These bookmakers fund player salaries and needs in exchange for their website to be pasted on player jerseys, the same way you’d see them on sports jerseys.
Global Spectatorship and Mainstream Media
All of these factors lead to the end product: the viewers. Spectators are what keep esports alive and kicking. The esports scene’s reach has expanded exponentially with the growth of global spectatorship and advancements in mainstream media, mainly online streaming platforms.
Online streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick have been a vital part of the growth of the esports scene. Professional matches and esports tournaments are live-streamed on streaming platforms, turning them into virtual stadiums with millions of concurrent viewers in attendance.
In 2023, esports is being covered by mainstream media, as many professional esports players have become celebrities, usually in their home country. For example, every young adult in Korea, gamer or not, has heard of the greatest League of Legends player of all time, Faker.
The beautiful thing about all this is that the esports scene fosters a sense of inclusive communities for fans worldwide. Fans with the same favorite team or player can bond and have a common interest to discuss.
Not only can audiences watch esports events live, but most offline tournaments are held in stadiums with capacities of thousands. Most esports events sell out their tickets in minutes, just like a Taylor Swift concert. Once you enter a packed arena of passionate esports fans, you will quickly realize that esports means business and is completely legit.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the evolution of esports has been crucial to developing the gaming industry. Now, you can’t think of gaming as a pointless hobby to kill time, as the industry offers profound career paths. The professionalization of esports, the introduction of esports betting, and online streaming platforms have worked together to change the old perception of the gaming industry. The esports industry has not peaked yet and continues to develop rapidly.
