eSports
20 years of HyperX: How Has the Gaming Industry Changed?
Paul Leaman, Vice President EMEA, HyperX provides some insight into just how much the gaming industry has changed in the last 20 years.
Over the last 20 years the gaming industry has changed and grown exponentially. By 2026 it is expected to be worth $321 billion. Besides this financial growth, we’ve seen huge strides in the visual aspect: video games from 8-bit graphics to almost lifelike characters and the introduction of VR. But it isn’t just the look and feel of games that has changed over the last 20 years. The technology we use to game, how we consume our games and who games, have all evolved in ways that few could have predicted in 2002. Here’s a look at some of the most fascinating developments in the gaming industry and what has led us to where we are today.
Evolving tech – the rise of wireless
Rewind 20 years and the PS2 and Xbox were still relatively new consoles to the market, having both launched within two years prior. For those who are not familiar with them, what they will probably find most surprising by today’s standards is that they came with wired controllers. Fast-forward a mere six years and we truly saw the beginning of a new wave of gaming technology – the rise of wireless. Xbox, PS3 and Nintendo Wii, all came with wireless controllers as standard and it would be the start of the modernisation of how people gamed. Wireless became the norm rather than the exception for controllers, headsets, mice, keyboards and chargers. As the technology continues to expand, more users are upgrading to wireless gaming hardware. The wireless gaming headset market alone, is expected to grow by 996.69 million USD during 2020-2024.
For a long time, wired connections led the way for enthusiast gamers. Having a more reliable, stable, physical connection would give you the least amount of lag or delay. However, significant research and development in the modern space has meant this is no longer the case. The ability to deliver to near-zero latency connectivity in wireless hardware has paved the way for its rise. Another important determining factor for gamers switching to wireless is due to aesthetics. Gamers can now create clean and tidy gaming set-ups that seamlessly fit into the design of their room.
Wireless headsets are becoming one of the most popular wireless gaming technologies. They offer freedom to gamers, with no cables to get tangled up in and the ability to move and talk freely. In today’s market most wireless gaming headsets have been designed so gamers spend less time charging and more time gaming in complete comfort with ergonomic designs. The biggest question mark has always been battery life and battery life degradation. However, this year we saw the first headset with up to 300 hours battery life and now gamers even have the option of in-ear buds, perfect for gaming on the move. Which begs the question, what will be possible next?
Gaming as a force for good
As the passion for gaming continues to grow around the world, it is no longer just seen as a hobby, but a thriving industry that is showing no signs of slowing down. Over 439 million people around the world tuned into esports events in 2020. This is a huge development from 2002 when competitive gaming was still very much in its infancy. While there is still a long way to go for gaming to be more inclusive, there have been huge strides taken in the last 20 years.
There is a long way to go to make gaming more inclusive for women and as it should be. However, over the last 20 years the industry has massively changed. There are now dedicated communities for women gamers, such as Sugar Gamers, r/GirlGamers and Women in Games International. These offer female gamers a greater voice and a safer space to make friends, share their experiences and learn more about the industry. We also have more female gaming ambassadors, that are improving women’s representation in games and communities specifically for female gamers. These play their part in facilitating a healthier environment and help pave the way to a brighter future for gaming.
Gaming is a great force for connecting different people, regardless of race, sexuality and gender. Gamers and the gaming industry is misunderstood by many, with typical stereotypes wildly outdated. In reality, the gaming community is over two billion globally and is very diverse and inclusive. For example, in the US alone, 65% of women between the ages of 10 and 65 play mobile games and research shows that 86% of UK parents game. If we think about COVID-19 and the global shutdown that ensued, gaming provided people with a way to stay connected virtually, even when they were physically isolated. Our research also showed that 50% of parents in the UK felt gaming improved their child’s mental health during lockdown and 52% felt their child coped better in lockdown because of gaming. And while we all need to stay on top of our screen time, gaming has a lot of benefits and can teach people values and skills. Multiplayer games foster teamwork and communication, gaming communities nurture belonging, and games can provide people a useful escape in troubling times. It is different for each person but ultimately, gaming has the power to be a force for good.
Online gaming
In the last 20 years, the world of online gaming has burst onto the scene and grown at a mindboggling rate. Since 2007, the online gaming market has continued to grow at a significant rate, with an annual growth rate of over 20% over the last five years. In the last 20 years, esports has gone from a vibrant niche to a central form of entertainment across the globe. Over 439 million people around the world tuned into esports events in 2020 and research from Nielsen found that 82% of global consumers played video games or watched video game content during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This meteoric rise has led to the opening of arenas such as the HyperX Esports Arena in Las Vegas. A multilevel arena designed to host every form of competitive gaming, the size and standard of the arena is one which historically was associated with traditional professional sports teams. Gaming is no longer just something people do in their spare time at home, it has place in a 30,000 square foot arena. We’re also seeing this level of growth as for many young gamers their idols and the “celebrities” they follow are no longer always in the traditional media. They’re streamers and content creators, such as Tim The Tatman or Valkyrae.
What to expect next
The transformation of the gaming industry over the last 20 years is nothing short of remarkable. The developments of huge online communities, the rise of gamers from all over the globe, from all different backgrounds, the constantly evolving technologies, and the growth of esports and online communities. Like any budding industry, it won’t stop here and it is going to be a fascinating journey. With the rise of new technologies, developing VR even further, completely immersive gaming; the possibilities are endless. And no doubt the next 20 years will be even more exciting.
eSports
Everything you need to know ahead of ESL Pro League Season 19
The ESL Pro League (EPL) returns to St. Julian’s, Malta, for Season 19 on April 23 – May 12, 2024. The world’s biggest Counter-Strike league will see teams from around the world arrive on-site for three weeks of non-stop action, and only one team will emerge victorious as Champions.
Here is all you need to know about ESL Pro League Season 19
The 19th Season of the ESL Pro League will see the 32 best Counter-Strike teams compete for a total prize pool of $750,000, a win in the race to secure Intel® Grand Slam V, and a spot at IEM Cologne 2024. Commencing on April 23, contenders from around the globe will face off in Malta for a spot in the Playoffs. There, the six best teams will compete live in front of an intimate live audience at the InterContinental Malta on May 10 – 12, 2024.
Starting with the upcoming season, EPL will see some improvements to its schedule. While the number of teams and the tournament structure remain the same compared to recent seasons, the duration of the tournament has been adjusted to three weeks instead of five. To accommodate this change, two groups will be played simultaneously during the Group Stage, resulting in a more intense story for fans to follow.
Schedule and Format
Group Stage (April 23 – May 5):
- Four groups of eight teams will compete in separate triple-elimination brackets
- All matches are best-of-three
- The top four teams from each group will advance to the Playoffs
- Group Stage winners advance to the Quarterfinals
- The Group Stage runner-ups advance to the Round of 12
- The Group Stage third and fourth-place teams advance to the Round of 16
Playoffs (May 7 – 12):
- The top sixteen teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket
- All matches will be best-of-three, excluding the Grand Final which will be best-of-five
- The third and fourth Quarterfinals, as well as both Semifinals and the Grand Final will be played out live on stage in front of an audience
Teams Attending
- Astralis (Partner Team)
- BIG (Partner Team)
- Complexity (Partner Team)
- ENCE (Partner Team)
- FaZe Clan (Partner Team)
- Fnatic (Partner Team)
- FURIA (Partner Team)
- G2 Esports (Partner Team)
- HEROIC (Partner Team)
- MOUZ (Partner Team)
- Natus Vincere (Partner Team)
- Ninjas in Pyjamas (Partner Team)
- Team Liquid (Partner Team)
- Team Vitality (Partner Team)
- Monte (ESL Challenger Jönköping winner)
- Virtus.pro (ESL Challenger Atlanta winner)
- SAW (ESL World Ranking)
- Team Falcons (ESL World Ranking)
- GamerLegion (ESL World Ranking)
- BetBoom Team (ESL World Ranking)
- Eternal Fire (ESL World Ranking)
- 3DMAX (ECL S46 Europe winner)
- FORZE (ECL S46 Europe runner-up)
- M80 (ECL S46 North America winner)
- BOSS (ECL S46 North America runner-up)
- The MongolZ (ECL S46 Asia-Pacific winner)
- TYLOO (ECL S46 Asia-Pacific runner-up)
- Imperial Esports (South American Qualifier winners)
- Sharks Esports (South American Qualifier winners)
- Pera Esports (European Conference winner)
- Bad News Kangaroos (Oceanic Qualifier winner)
- FlyQuest (ANZ Champs winner)
Prize Money (USD)
TOTAL | $750,000 |
1st | $170,000 |
2nd | $80,000 |
3rd-4th | $45,000 |
5th-8th | $32,000 |
9th-12th | $23,500 |
13th-16th | $17,500 |
17th-20th | $12,000 |
21st-28th | $7,000 |
29th-32nd | $3,500 |
Broadcast Talent
- Hosts
- “Tres “stunna” Saranthus
- Freya “Freya” Spiers
- A Stream
- Jason “moses” O’Toole
- Janko “YNk” Paunović
- Mathieu “Maniac” Quiquerez
- Harry “Harry” Russell
- Hugo “Hugo” Byron
- Henry “Henry” Greer
- Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill
- Alex “Machine” Richardson
- B Stream
- Neo “Ne0kai” Caine
- Harvey “Skriv” Rodgers
- Lucy “LucyLuce” Eastwood
- Brandon “BDog” Rawlings
- Travis “Trav” Landaw Mott
Where to Watch
The live broadcast will be available on FACEIT Watch, ESL FACEIT Group’s premier esports viewing platform created by esports fans for esports fans and open for all.
Featuring a unique multi-perspective view selector where users can watch their favorite player’s perspective directly next to the main event stream, a live chat, a kill cam, live-generated replays of key moments, a sound mixer, a rewards program, and more, FACEIT Watch revolutionises esports streaming by putting fans in control of their viewing experience.
Fans can also watch the action on the ESL Counter-Strike Twitch and YouTube channels. For those unable to tune in live, all matches will also be available to watch on-demand for free via YouTube.
For more information about ESL Pro League Season 19, and the latest updates on the event, please visit the official website, and follow ESL Counter-Strike on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
The post Everything you need to know ahead of ESL Pro League Season 19 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
HAWKS TALON GC SET FOR THE STEAL ON APRIL 19TH FOR CHANCE TO ENTER NBA 2K LEAGUE 3V3 PLAYOFF
Hawks Talon GC, the official NBA 2K League affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, will begin play in the STEAL on Friday night against No. 14 Blazer5 Gaming at 7:30 p.m.
Talon collected 90 points over the SLAM and SWITCH, earning 60 points in the SLAM and 30 points in the SWITCH to earn the No. 3 seed heading into the STEAL.
Should Talon advance, they would play the winner of No. 6 Cavs Legion GC and No. 11 Hornets Venom GT on Saturday at 3:45 p.m., followed by the semifinals at 5:15 p.m., and the finals at 5:45 p.m. All games can be followed on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
“The STEAL is probably the toughest tournament in the 2K League, but the guys are locked in and ready to fight for their season,” said Hawks Talon head coach Ismael ‘MAELO’ Diaz Tolentino. “We are looking forward to going out there and proving that we belong amongst the best teams in the league. We were only a game away from clinching a playoff berth and we honestly think we are one of the teams to beat in this tournament.”
Talon owns a 4-4 record in bracket play thus far during the 2024 season over the SLAM and SWITCH opens, going 3-2 over the SLAM and 1-2 over the SWITCH.
The single elimination 3v3 tournament includes all 15 NBA 2K League teams that have not clinched a spot in the 3v3 playoffs, plus one community team from an open qualifier. The final two teams in the STEAL will earn a spot in the 3v3 playoffs beginning next week, with the winner receiving a winner-take-all cash prize.
Asia
Team ATK Oshun excels at 2024 Online Championships held on 13 April 2024
Mind Sports South Africa’s (MSSA) 2024 Online Championships held on 13 April 2024 showed sterling results.
The championship was yet another chance for many esports athletes to qualify for MSSA’s National Team Trials to be held on 25 May 2024 at which the team will be selected to officially represent South Africa at the African Qualifiers which lead up to IESF’s 16th World Esports Championships to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in October and November 2024..
All Registered Players who have finished in the top three places, or the top 20% – whichever is greater, are entitled to enter trials.
However, it must be remembered that all players must have a valid passport to participate in the National Team Trials.
It was indeed exciting to watch just how much all the female teams have improved.
Team ATK Oshun (ATK Club Sport) being a female team astounded all with their skill and sportsmanship. The team demolished all ATK Club Sport opposition to ultimately won the premier event overall and qualify for the National Team trials to be held on 25 May 2025.
IESF’s 15th World Championships will be played to the following titles:
- Counter-Strike 2
- Counter-Strike 2 – Female division
- DotA 2
- eFootball
- Mobile Legends, Bang Bang
- Mobile Legends, Bang Bang – Female division
- PUBGM
The high standard of play saw 37 Registered Players from six provinces being awarded Provincial Colours. Only Limpopo, Free State, and Northern Cape did not have Registered Players who did not earn provincial colours.
Title | Name of player/team | Club | Provincial Colours awarded |
Clash Royale – Premier | Johan Coetzee | Middies | Mpumalanga |
Clash Royale – High School | Aryan Maharaj | PR0NHS | |
Counter Strike: 2 | ATK Oshun | ||
Kaylee Ludick | ATK Club Sport | Gauteng | |
Jessica Eleez Greeff | ATK Club Sport | Gauteng | |
Christin Brazier | ATK Club Sport | Gauteng | |
Megan van der Westhuizen | ATK Club Sport | Gauteng | |
Kayhla Rose Calder | ATK Club Sport | Gauteng | |
DotA – Premier | ZAG DOTA 1 | ||
Suhail Khan | ZAG Academy | Gauteng | |
Travis John Waters | ZAG Academy | Western Cape | |
Mark Kilian Lehle | ZAG Academy | Gauteng | |
Mohammad Dhooma | ZAG Academy | Eastern Cape | |
Nicholas Dammert | ZAG Academy | Gauteng | |
eFootball – Premier | Aslam Parker | PES Society | Gauteng |
FIFA 24 – High School | Daiyaan Hendricks | PES Society | Western Cape |
Mobile Legends – Premier
|
Mavericks | ||
Matthew Tatalias | Mavericks | Gauteng | |
Damian Bransby | Mavericks | Western Cape | |
Preshan Pillay | Mavericks | Gauteng | |
Mohammad Azhar Ansari | Mavericks | KwaZulu Natal | |
Taygan Gabriel | Mavericks | KwaZulu Natal | |
Luke Green | Mavericks | Western Cape | |
Mobile Legends – Premier – Female
|
AHG | ||
Je’nielle Cavanagh | PES Society | Western Cape | |
Inez Pringle | PES Society | Western Cape | |
Salma Parker | PES Society | Western Cape | |
Ra’isha Prout | PES Society | Western Cape | |
Fatimah Prout | PES Society | Western Cape | |
Mia Anthony | PES Society | Western Cape | |
PUBGM
|
Team uEnvy | ||
Richard Henry | ZAG Academy | Eastern Cape | |
La-eeq Arendse | ZAG Academy | Western Cape | |
Kyle Dudley | ZAG Academy | Western Cape | |
Clayton Leak | ZAG Academy | Western Cape | |
Rocket League – Premier – 1 v 1 – Premier | Nathan Strange | Hoërskool Klerksdorp | |
Rocket League – Premier – 1 v 1 – High School | Luther Peens | Hoërskool Klerksdorp | |
Street Fightter V – Premier | Marnus van der Merwe | Hoërskool Klerksdorp | North West |
Tekken 8 | Stasch Cloeta | Team PlayBell | Western Cape |
Valorant – Premier
|
TuksValorant | ||
Tapiwanashe Keith Matema | TuksEsports | Gauteng | |
Kyle Halvorsen | TuksEsports | Gauteng | |
Jaden Connor Swarts | TuksEsports | Gauteng | |
Ronald James Tyler Wheeldon | TuksEsports | Gauteng | |
Alejandro Luca Sartini-Kruger | TuksEsports | Gauteng | |
Armand Pierre van der Colf | TuksEsports | Gauteng | |
Sportsmanship Award | Je’nielle Cavanagh | PES Society |
The post Team ATK Oshun excels at 2024 Online Championships held on 13 April 2024 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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