Rise of Competitive Gaming: Deep Dive Into The Phenomenon

The world of Esports is replete with mind-blowing figures. The industry has exceeded $2.5 billion. One of the biggest games, League of Legends (LoL), has amassed 1.5 billion hours of watching on Twitch and YouTube. Another major title, Dota 2, holds the record in the prize pool, over $30 million. Team Liquid is a leading Esports team with over $40 million in cash prizes. The LoL World Championship is among the most attended events, with over 44 million spectators. Let's delve into competitive gaming and learn more about this emerging trend.

Global Esports Industry: Billion-Dollar Arena

The global Esports industry has smashed $2.5 billion, according to the Esports global market report conducted by Research and Markets. The staggering figures attract big names to invest in sponsorship, broadcasting rights, and game development involving the following brands:

• Crypto, like many other cryptocurrency platforms, has signed a 5-time contract worth $15 billion to support a UK Esports team, Fnatic.
• Microsoft is engaged in Esports in many ways. The company acquired Activision Blizzard, a game-developing company (Call of Duty and World of Warcraft). Microsoft also sponsors global game tournaments such as the LoL World Championships.
• Coca-Cola also sponsors gaming events. Last year, it was the official beverage at the Esports Awards.
• Red Bull sponsors many Esports teams and has built its team — the Red Bull League of Legends team.
• Intel is a tech giant that is best known in Esports for the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), which is a series of international tournaments across the world.

These global corporations sponsor teams and professional players and, in return, get brand visibility during live events or on social media. Likewise, most valuable companies that develop and publish games are worth billions of dollars, including the following:

• Nintendo is the most valuable video gaming company (Super Smash Bros), worth $48.81 billion.
• Electronic Arts (EA) is most known for sports games (FIFA). Also, its title, Apex Legends, is a promising next big thing in Esports gaming. EA has a market capitalization of $33.53 billion.
• Tencent is a holding corporation with a net worth of $23.34 billion. Its child company, Riots Game, is a creator of League of Legends, one of the most popular Esports games.
• Take-Two Interactive is a parent company that owns Rockstar Games (GTA franchise) and 2K (NBA 2K series). It holds a market value of $22.73 billion.
• Roblox Corporation is worth $19.64 billion. It has developed the Roblox game.

When looking at the biggest backers of competition gaming, you realize the seriousness of this booming sector that continues to grow.

Best Games in Esports: Engine of Competitive Gaming Machinery

In the heart of Esports are ever-evolving video games. With rapid technological advancements, the gameplay gets better and better. Whether you like Counter-Strike and tactical shooting or Dota 2 and strategic prowess, gaming mechanics are irresistible for playing and watching. Also, you can choose your favorite platform, whether it be a console, computer, or cell phone, name it. Especially with the emerging technologies that have brought up Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), Esports gaming will be even more engaging.

Garnering over 1.5 billion hours of viewership on Twitch and YouTube, League of Legends (LoL) is the reigning king of Esports games. It has become more than just a game — a cultural phenomenon. It is famous for its accessibility; that’s to say, you can play it for free and can start playing regardless of your skill level. It is one of the first games in Esports to introduce free-to-play options. It is exciting for newbies and veterans. Aside from this, LoL is highly competitive and fun to play and watch. So, you play in a five-player team against another 5-member team, testing your strategies and skills. LoL attracts a lot of gamers and viewers thanks to numerous game tournaments worldwide. The most known is the LoL World Championships, among the most attended events, with over 44 million spectators. This year, the prize pool is between $2.25 and $3 million, featuring 22 teams in Seoul, South Korea.

Another powerhouse in competitive gaming is Dota 2 (Defense of the Ancient). It holds a record for the cumulative prize pool value, which was $32.85 million last year, according to Statista. But the competition is fierce. The runner-up, Arena of Valor, is slightly behind. It had $32.73 million in 2022. All this contributes to colossal quantities of prizes in gaming tournaments.

Top Esports Teams: Time of Glory

Some statistics show that there are almost 40,000 professional Esports teams worldwide. One stands out from the rest by winning the most prize money — Team Liquid is the highest-ranking gaming team with $47.8 million in prizes from 2,655 tournaments. Alienware, Monster Energy, and Coinbase are some of the top-tier companies that back this team. Other notable teams are as follows:

• Evil Geniuses, Samsung sponsored, won $28.5 million in prizes from 1,000 tournaments.
• Fnatic, sponsored by Crypto, won $20 million in awards from 1,117 tournaments.
• T1, sponsored by Mercedes-Benz, won $13.7 million in premiums from 486 tournaments.

Team Liquid has forged its reputation by winning Super Smash Bros, League of Legends, and Dota 2 competitions. The team has succeeded by harnessing cutting-edge technologies, experienced coaches, facilities, and health-conscious behavior. Team Liquid is still active and has a significant impact on competitive gaming.

In Summary: Competitive Gaming, More than Pixels

Unquestionably, competition gaming is an accelerating trend worldwide. With emerging technologies, the gameplay has become even better, garnering a massive audience. It doesn’t only attract players and spectators but pulls in investors. They allocate astounding funds to the $2.5 billion worth of the Esports industry. Names such as Microsoft, Red Bull, and Coca-Cola sponsor teams and tournaments such as Team Liquid and the LoL World Championship. Also, this enables more money for captivating games and large bonuses. Game giants like Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and Tencent are worth billions and enrich this burgeoning sector even more. Overall, the entire Esports scenery is packed with sensational statistics. This positive dynamic is anticipated to increase. We can expect nothing but more thrilling gaming adventures in the future of Esports.

About the Author

Besides being an Esports blogger, Zika Rakita is a security consultant and content creator for numerous brands. Follow his work and look at his portfolio at zikarakita.com, nemesisprotection.com, and xyzintel.com. Enjoy wins, learn from losses, and happy gaming!