Competitive gaming is exploding right now. What started as a hobby for some has turned into a high-stakes competition, with events filling stadiums worldwide. While esports isn’t new, it’s quickly becoming more popular than traditional sports. Major brands are just starting to see the value of marketing in this arena. It’s paving its way into the sports betting industry. This means you’ll soon see popular Counter-Strike players’ odds alongside Buffalo Bills odds.
Esports Boom
The first thing that needs to be addressed is that esports has been around for quite some time. Professional gaming has been around since the 1980s, when people would gather to play games like Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering at local arcades. Over time, these gatherings became more organized and competitive, culminating in various professional leagues. Since then, there have been several iterations of professional esports leagues, and it keeps growing.
What has made esports so successful is its ability to reach a wide audience by being accessible through online streaming services: The best part is you don’t need a computer or console to play video games anymore. Your smartphone will suffice.
Leading Esports Games
Esports is a global phenomenon that has exploded in recent years, with players from all over the world competing against each other in various competitive games. With the rise of esports, the need for a way to organize tournaments, leagues, and events has become increasingly important.
The competitive gaming industry has grown rapidly since its inception and continues to expand today. In recent years, many new technological developments have helped to speed up the process of organizing competitive video game tournaments. One such development is live streaming video games on Twitch or YouTube gaming platforms. Another is the use of virtual reality (VR) headsets, used by professional gamers during professional matches or exhibitions.
These developments have enabled organizers of esports competitions to reach out to larger audiences who may not otherwise be interested in watching their events unfold. They help tournament organizers broadcast their events live through social media channels such as Facebook Live while allowing fans access to watch matches at any time using mobile apps and web browsers.
Esports is a rapidly growing industry, and it’s expected to grow even more in the coming years. However, what are the top games that are driving this growth?
1. League of Legends (LoL)
2. DOTA 2
3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)
4. Heroes of the Storm (HotS)
5. Hearthstone
6. Smite
7. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
8. Heroes of Newerth (HoN)
9. Call of Duty Black Ops 3 (COD BO3)
10. Overwatch
Esports and the Olympics
The popularity of esports is such that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is working to include esports in the Olympic Games soon. While the process is still underway, the IOC has already announced that esports will be eligible for medals at future Olympic Games. The organization is also considering adding esports to its list of events eligible for inclusion in the games.
Conclusion
The influence of esports is growing daily, and it’s only a matter of time before it replaces regular sports. The future looks bright for esports. We can’t wait to see what will happen!