—TechRound does not recommend or endorse any betting, gambling, financial or investment advice, practices or providers. All articles are purely informational—
Gaming technology has improved significantly since the early 2000s, particularly regarding the online multiplayer world. Players a decade and a half ago could only play rudimentary games together online, with famous examples being online chess and early first-person shooters like Quake.
Although these games were limited in what they could offer, they at least helped set the stage and build a blueprint for the modern eSports phenomenon.
Fast-forward fifteen or so years, and the gaming world has never had it better. Pivotal titles like Call of Duty Modern Warfare have helped to firmly establish seamless online multiplayer gaming in a way that has never been seen before.
Together with the increasing accessibility of high-speed broadband connections in the 2010s, the online gaming revolution was suddenly in full swing.
Aside from individual online gaming entertainment with friends, gamers have also benefited from the ability to watch others compete. And so eSports was born, a kind of competitive gaming that has been pushing new frontiers for over a decade now. eSports are increasingly influencing game developers to try bigger and bolder ideas, with constant feedback from leading figures helping to enhance the gaming industry like never before.
What Are eSports?
First things first, what are eSports? In essence, eSports treats video games play as a sport in itself. Teams and players now find fame worldwide at prestigious tournaments like The International. This competitive gaming option pits the very best gamers against each other playing titles like DOTA 2, Counter-Strike, Fortnite, FIFA, and more.
eSports are big business nowadays, with the competitive structure echoing professional sports leagues and tournaments. The prize money can be astonishing, with prize pools regularly exceeding $20 million and beyond. Famous eSports players are increasingly getting huge sponsorship deals, and social media attention. This makes eSports a lucrative profession. Couple this with streaming on Twitch, and other platforms, and eSports is becoming a seriously eye-catching career path.
How Do People Enjoy eSports?
Not everybody has the technique and desire to become an established eSports player, especially considering the jaw-dropping skills exhibited:
Watching Streams
Watching eSports is incredibly easy nowadays, with streaming available on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and traditional TV networks. Being a spectator is an extremely exciting way to get in on the action, especially at high-stakes tournaments. Doing so can also help you learn new gaming strategies for when you pick up the controller yourself.
Betting on eSports
Betting platforms now integrate Twitch streaming and offer various betting markets on popular options. Fans now have a myriad of options to enjoy wagering on eSports. This is a great way to complement watching, adding an extra layer of engagement. Nowadays, eSports betting platforms offer numerous ways to follow and bet on outcomes, from simply predicting the winner, to choosing which player will be the first to successfully take a base.
Participating Directly
If you think you can hack it, participating directly in eSports can be the most exciting option. Just remember, you’ll need to be an accomplished gamer. eSports professionals are known to practice for over ten hours a day, so it’s no laughing matter.
eSports Growth Over The Past Decade
The eSports market has grown considerably over the past decade, going from a promising emerging industry to one of the most profitable and world-conquering entertainment options available. To put things into perspective, just consider this – eSports market revenue is projected to hit $5.9 billion in 2029.
That’s up from just $1.2 billion in 2017, illustrating the incredibly fertile growth over the last decade. Go back much further and you’d struggle to find any market revenue at all, as eSports only started becoming profitable in the early 2010s.
Most Popular eSports Tournaments
Here are some of the most popular eSports tournaments fans are enjoying:
- The International
- League of Legends World Championship
- Fortnite World Cup
- Call of Duty League Championship
How eSports Channels Are Influencing Game Developers
Game developers are increasingly becoming more and more influenced by eSports. This is expected to be one of the emerging trends for 2025 digital platforms, as game developers pull out all the stops to make their titles as well-suited for competitive gaming as possible.
—TechRound does not recommend or endorse any betting, gambling, financial or investment advice, practices or providers. All articles are purely informational—
