Esports, or electronic sports for short, is an industry that has been booming in popularity over the past few years. The scene receives immense support, with a large following of players, viewers, and large-scale tournaments. If you’re just learning about the esports industry, this article will tell you everything you need to know in 2023.
The Esports Audience Continues To Grow
When people say that the number of esports enthusiasts has been growing, they’re not saying it as a joke. In 2023, the global esports audience will be around 640 million people! In 2020, esports had an audience of 450 million people, so we’ve already seen an increase of 190 million in only three years!
One of the main reasons for this impeccable increase is the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the pandemic was unfortunate for the entire world, the esports scene greatly benefitted as people were forced to stay indoors and started playing video games more often.
As a result, esports has also become a mainstream source of entertainment, as esports fans can watch content creators, streamers, and professional tournaments daily. International celebrities such as Will Smith, Drake, and Shaquille O’Neal have also invested hefty sums of money in the esports industry, realizing its immense potential.
The Esports Betting Industry Is Rapidly Developing
With esports’ growth so prominent, the betting industry is also quickly improving. Esports betting has become a popular way for fans to engage with their favorite games and tournaments, making betting a crucial part of the esports industry.
The professional esports scene is a significant entertainment source, as millions of fans follow the teams and watch their matches. Esports fans can talk about esports betting predictions on upcoming matchups, which can serve as discussion materials for fans to interact with each other. Placing a wager on a match can also make esports predictions and matches much more entertaining, as fans can get a thrill from watching the games. Numerous websites offer esports betting tips so fans can decide on certain matchups. The discussions and thrill from esports matches can help the esports community be more involved, as fans are engaged in esports tournaments.
The Most Popular Esports Games In 2023
Though there are dozens of esports titles in 2023, some particular ones stand out above the rest. The most popular esports genres include Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBA), First-Person Shooters (FPS), and Battle Royale games.
Regarding MOBA games, two titles are clearly on top of the rest: League of Legends and Dota 2. League of Legends is undoubtedly the most popular esports game, boasting 13 to 14 million daily average players. Dota 2 is known to be the esport that pays out the most money, as Dota 2 tournaments can have tens of millions of dollars in prize pools, with Dota 2’s The International 10 having a prize pool of over $40,000,000.
For FPS games, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Valorant stand on top. CSGO has been around for over a decade and remains one of the most popular FPS games. Valorant was recently released in 2020, but their pool of agents has made them heavily popular.
The Battle Royale genre received popularity in 2017, with PUBG and Fortnite leading the charge. Many gamers enjoy playing Battle Royale games, which are often action-packed and require quick adaptation and decisions.
Advancements In Technology And Games Push Esports Forward
Improvements in technology have also helped the esports scene continue its growth, as new video game engines and hardware upgrades have allowed video games to thrive.
Companies such as Intel, NVIDIA, and AMD have all begun releasing new pieces of hardware that can take the player experience to another level. It is now relatively easy for gamers to find high-quality hardware at reasonable prices to run games with high graphics. The accessibility of high-end hardware has allowed the esports industry to release games with unique and realistic graphics.
Valve Corporation, one of the most notorious game developers in esports, has recently announced the release of their Source 2 engine, which will be running a sequel of their Counter-Strike franchise, Counter-Strike 2. The Source 2 engine will not only improve in-game graphics but will allow players to run the game more smoother as well.
Massive Esports Tournaments Will Be Held In 2023
Esports tournaments are an integral part of the scene, which is why tournaments have improved throughout the past years regarding viewership and prize pool. Esports tournaments can garner millions of viewers, so large companies are sponsoring these events and increasing their scale.
The 2023 League of Legends World Championship will be held in the latter part of 2023 and is one of the most exciting tournaments for esports fans. The 2022 iteration of the tournament managed to break viewership records, with 5.1 million concurrent viewers! The esports tournament also featured an incredibly tight Grand Final; fans expect the same in this year’s tournament.
Dota 2’s The International 12 will also be held in 2023. The International is known to have mind-blowing prize pools, with the last year’s iteration having just under $19 million.
CSGO will also have their final Major before the release of Counter-Strike 2, which will be held in Paris, a perfect location as there are many passionate fans from France.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the esports industry is still facing rapid growth in popularity and innovation. Games are quickly improving their graphics to enhance the viewer experience, and esports has become a mainstream source of entertainment. The esports betting industry is also closely following the growth of esports, as it makes watching tournaments much more enticing.
