Esports is thriving in 2024, but will it be able to maintain its momentum and continue to grow in the years to come? Here’s what esports will look like in 2034.
The esports industry has grown tremendously, especially in the last five years, and projections indicate that it will continue growing. There are several reasons for this growth, with increasing gaming interest and many more people participating being the primary ones.
While predicting the exact projection of esports over the next decade is challenging, several trends are already emerging that tell us where the industry is headed and where it might be in ten years.
Technology will lead esports into the next era
Augmented and virtual reality have already significantly changed how we think about esports and how players enjoy the games in this category. Many people do not realize that, when looking at the bigger picture and the history of gaming, both technologies are still relatively young. This means they will continue to evolve and improve as time passes.
As they do, they will become integral to enjoying esports games for players and participants. The immersion they will present to both groups will be immeasurable, leading to even more people showing an interest in gaming.
Imagine playing a first-person shooter and experiencing it in a first-person perspective. Now, imagine seeing the best esports players do what they do best while immersed in their world and feeling like you are right there with them. These are just some of the things the evolution and maturation of these technologies will make possible.
New and diversified gaming genres
In the past five years, games like Call of Duty and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have dominated esports. However, things are already changing, with developers introducing even more games to the genre. In the next ten years, the esports landscape will include even more games that will become massively popular as more people play and enjoy them.
Additionally, new esports game genres could emerge. We are likely to see games that combine physical activity with virtual reality or titles that incorporate elements of augmented reality into the real world for better gameplay.
The growth of betting and sponsorships
Many esports teams already rely on sponsorships from different betting companies to find themselves and their activities. With many more people watching and betting on sports, we are likely to see an increase in the amounts these teams receive.
These changes will also open up additional revenue streams for betting companies as they explore new ways of growing their revenues and getting more people to watch. Betting companies are likely to continue investing in broadcasts that feature the teams they support and their brands prominently so they can continue growing their revenues.
Lastly, traditional sports franchises might invest in esports teams, leading to further blurring of the lines between the two worlds.
Better gaming regulation
Esports bodies have done amazing work in the past few years to ensure player safety and fairness. They have also been heavily involved in standardizing gaming practices and dealing with issues such as match-fixing and doping.
With many people raising additional concerns surrounding these issues, these bodies will likely put even more regulations in place to address them. With so much to be done, we could see the establishment or emergence of governing bodies similar to those in traditional sports to handle all issues associated with esports in the future.
Additional esports infrastructure
Many esports teams and tournaments still rely on existing infrastructure, such as gaming arenas, to host events. With esports growing at the pace it is, teams and organizers will likely establish dedicated esports arenas while improving the existing infrastructure.
They could also develop specialized esports stadiums to accommodate large-scale events as more people opt for in-person attendance. For those who cannot attend, beefing up broadcast infrastructure, establishing gaming networks, and leveraging available video-sharing and social media platforms will be the best ways of ensuring they are included.
Facilities for training and team or individual development will also become more accessible and increasingly rely on technology to ensure all players play at the highest levels.
Esports is likely to be more sophisticated, immersive, and more widely recognized than it is right now. It also promises new revenue streams for all who are involved and better experiences for those who choose to watch rather than play or join an esports team.
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