eSports

The Rise of eSports

Published

9 months ago

August 31, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment, few industries have witnessed a meteoric rise quite like eSports. What once started as a niche in the gaming world has now grown into a global sensation, captivating both amateur and professional players with its competitive events, life-changing cash prizes, and viewership figures in the hundreds of millions. Domain and hosting experts Fasthosts has compiled a brief overview of the rise of eSports, and competitive gaming throughout the years, and where the future may take the industry.

The Start of Competitive Gaming

eSports, at its core, revolves around competitive video gaming, and has experienced exponential growth over the past five decades. The earliest known gaming competition stems back to 1972, when Stanford University hosted a contest featuring the science fiction rocket game ‘Spacewar’. The event – orchestrated by sports reporter Stewart Brand – showcased the potential of video games as an “exhilarating spectator sport”, setting the stage for what was to come.

The Slow but Steady Rise

For several decades, the popularity of eSports experienced a gradual rise. In the pre-internet era, arcade tournaments provided the battleground for players, with magazines and record books recognising top players’ achievements. The 1990s marked a turning point as gaming tournaments began to gain traction, offering increasingly substantial prize pools. The technological advancements in video game consoles, and internet and PC gaming paved the way for a prosperous decade for the industry. At the end of the 90s we saw the internet cafe boom where young players would meet and play together in PC cafes, which was the start of the strong youth social gaming culture you see today.

The New Millennium

It was the early 2000s that witnessed the true birth of eSports as leagues and tournaments started to take shape around iconic titles like Counter–Strike, StarCraft, and Warcraft III. In 2001, the first World Cyber Games was held in Seoul. The tournament featured several popular games and attracted over 174,000 participants from 17 countries, making for an unexpected global success. In 2005, the CPL World Tour or Cyberathlete Professional League became the first event to have a prize pool offering over $1 million, demonstrating the start of life changing prizes that go hand in hand with competitive gaming.

Streaming Platforms: The Catalyst for Growth

From 2010 onwards, the world witnessed the revolutionary impact of online streaming platforms like Twitch.tv and Youtube Gaming, leading to skyrocketing eSports viewership figures. When Twitch launched, the ‘League of Legends’ world championship viewership figures went from 1.7 million in 2011 to 8.2 million in 2012, and to 32 million in 2013.

These streaming platforms connected fans worldwide, allowing them to tune into live events from home. The large viewing figures, advertising, and sponsorship opportunities led to investors starting their own teams, and household game developers creating leagues and tournaments. It became standard for eSports events to attract millions of viewers, and the landscape of competitive gaming had been transformed.

The Summit

In 2015, eSports reached a defining moment with The International 2015: Dota 2 Championships. The prize pool offered a staggering $18 million, breaking records and solidifying eSports’ place on the global stage. This marked a monumental shift, proving that tournaments could rival traditional sports events in terms of both prize money and profitability.

The New Decade: eSports Takes Centre Stage

As the calendar turned to the 2020s, eSports entered a new era. The decade began with some of the largest tournaments in history, attracting millions of spectators and providing the largest prize pools seen to date such as The 2021 International Dota 2 Championships which took place in Bucharest Romania, offering a $40,018,400.00 prize pool – the largest prize at the time.

By 2020, it had become increasingly common to see the term “professional eSports player” conceptualising the individuals dedicating their lives to competitive gaming, undergoing strict routines and training in the unique journey of becoming the world’s next best gaming athlete.

The Future

At present, the most-viewed tournaments are impressive spectacles in their own right, with titles like ‘Free Fire World Series’, ‘League of Legends’, and ‘Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’ drawing millions of viewers. Looking to the future, in August 2023, Saudi Arabian tournament organiser Gamers8 ran their ‘The Land of Heroes’ tournament with a colossal prize of $45 million dollars, a figure that we will see constantly being pushed higher in tournaments in following years. And according to BeyonGames.biz, the eSports market is estimated to grow at 21.81% between 2022 and 2027, with the size of the market expected to increase by $3,515.1 million.

The journey of competitive gaming from its humble beginnings to its current global standing is a testament to its enduring appeal and cultural impact. With its exhilarating competition and substantial rewards, eSports has become a true force in the entertainment world. As the industry continues to innovate and evolve, one thing remains clear: this isn’t just a passing trend. It’s a phenomenon that has permanently transformed the way we engage with and celebrate competitive gaming.

Asia

OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 Grand Finals To Be Hosted In Vegas Mall Dwarka In Delhi

Published

2 days ago

May 10, 2024

Peter Tolan

omen-valorant-challengers-south-asia-2024:-split-1-–-cup-2-grand-finals-to-be-hosted-in-vegas-mall-dwarka-in-delhi

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Leading gaming and esports media company NODWIN Gaming and renowned video game publisher Riot Games has announced that the upcoming OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 LAN Finals will be hosted in Delhi. This announcement follows the successful conclusion of Cup 1 in Pune.

The decision to host the finals in Delhi is part of a strategic effort to expose a broad audience to high-stakes esports competition, capitalizing on the region’s rising enthusiasm for esports. The inaugural Cup of the OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 successfully captured significant attention, drawing an impressive crowd of over 25,000 attendees who watched the champions being crowned at the venue. The event also enjoyed robust online engagement, accumulating more than 700,000 views and more than 100,000 hours of gameplay streamed across various digital platforms. OMEN by HP served as the tournament’s title partner and Philips as the styling partner.

OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 Finals will be held on 18th and 19th May, featuring the top 4 teams, True Rippers, Revenant Esports, MLT Esports and GrayFox Esports battling it on LAN in Vegas Mall, Dwarka in Delhi. The event will be live streamed on NODWIN Gaming’s YouTube channel. Like Cup 1, the grand finals will be a LAN event aimed at providing a thrilling esports experience to the attendees.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, commented on the choice of Delhi, “The successful completion of the Split 1 is a testament to the growing popularity of esports in the region. We are excited to host Cup 2 Grand Finals in Delhi and aim to provide fans in the region a top notch esports competition where the best teams from across regions compete for the championship title. I would like to sincerely thank our partners for their continued support and for sharing our vision to elevate esports in the region.”

Sukamal Pegu, Esports Lead, India & South Asia, Riot Games, said “The OMEN VCSA is an important platform for us to identify top VALORANT Esports talent from India and showcase them. This year we have seen the competition get more intense with international athletes such as SK Rossi playing in the circuit, giving the fans non-stop entertainment and excitement. The Delhi event will be a cracker!”

Arun Rajappa, Country Manager, India & South Asia, Riot Games, said “We are absolutely elated by the support and enthusiasm that the fans, players and teams of the region have shown to VALORANT. After an exciting Cup 1, we are thrilled to bring Cup 2 to Delhi. We are committed to the growth of esports in the region by fostering the ecosystem and providing more opportunities to fans and players alike.”

This announcement coincides with the conclusion of the VCT Game Changers South Asia Split 1, also hosted by NODWIN Gaming, where MLT Esports was victorious. This tournament is part of a broader initiative to promote inclusivity and provide competitive opportunities for women and other marginalized genders within the VALORANT community.

The Delhi grand finals promise to be a highlight for the VALORANT esports community, offering another chapter of high-level competition in the region.

For further updates and information about the VALORANT Challengers South Asia, follow NODWIN Gaming on social media:YouTube/Instagram/Twitter/Facebook

The post OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024: Split 1 – Cup 2 Grand Finals To Be Hosted In Vegas Mall Dwarka In Delhi appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

Students from three British universities will fight to become champions of UE Masters

Published

3 days ago

May 9, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

students-from-three-british-universities-will-fight-to-become-champions-of-ue-masters

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The United Kingdom is one of the countries represented in the largest video game competition between universities across Europe. Students from University of Roehampton, Nottingham Trent University, and Staffordshire University will fight to qualify for the Grand Final and become champions of UNIVERSITY Esports Masters (UE Masters).

After demonstrating a high level in the previous qualifiers, the British universities will have four teams participating in the UE Masters Playoffs, which will be played on the following dates: Rocket League (May 11 and 12) and VALORANT (May 25 and 26). In addition to the players from the UK, opponents representing Croatia, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands will also take part. The matches can be followed on the competition’s official Twitch channel (twitch.tv/uemasters).

Two teams of University of Roehampton will seek victory in Rocket League Playoffs this weekend. On the other hand, students from Nottingham Trent University and Staffordshire University will try to be the winners in the VALORANT Playoffs in the coming weeks.

The 2023/24 edition of the UE Masters, which will distribute a total prize pool of 14,000 euros, has counted with the participation of university teams from 17 European countries and the support of Riot Games, one of the world’s leading video game developers (publishers).

Beyond of a video game competition

UNIVERSITY Esports Masters is a video game competition integrated within UNIVERSITY Esports, a global esports, gaming and technology project that is present in 26 countries on four continents and has the participation of more than 100,000 universities.

The main objectives of UNIVERSITY Esports Masters are to create a sense of community among players from all over Europe, to give them the opportunity to compete in high quality international tournaments and to provide avenues for young people to develop a career within the esports world, as well as to find a place to learn and enhance their skills.

The potential of esports and gaming in the UK

Gaming and video game competitions are positioned as one of the fastest growing sectors of the entertainment industry year on year globally. According to the statistics portal Statista, “the United Kingdom is experiencing a surge in Esports popularity, with a growing number of tournaments, teams, and dedicated arenas.”

The same source forecasts that the domestic esports market in the UK will reach revenues of £183.3 million in 2024, with a penetration rate of 27.9%. By 2028, it estimates revenues of £234 million and a market share of 33.1%.

The post Students from three British universities will fight to become champions of UE Masters appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Asia

BETBY Press Release for Publication

Published

3 days ago

May 9, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Betby, a premium sportsbook supplier, will be restoring its busy routine of travelling to international expos with its team of experts attending SiGMA Asia, in Manila, on June 3-5.

Considered as one of the biggest igaming gatherings in the Asian part of the world, Betby will be showcasing its premium sportsbook solution and products, including its proprietary Betby Games esports feed, and AI-based sportsbook tools under the umbrella of “AI Labs”.

Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Betby Games, will also be joining a panel of leading experts discussing in detail the growth of the eSports market. Together with his peers Nekrasov will also be discussing the inclusion of eSports in major sporting events, how it aids the diversification of revenue streams for operators and the potential implications for gambling sectors.

Betby will be showcasing its products alongside its ground-breaking solution for the Asian continent on June 3-5 welcoming all visitors at Stand B804.

The post BETBY Press Release for Publication appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.