Are Traditional Sports Threatened by the Esports Industry?

The esports industry is rising at such an astounding rate that it’s time to consider its implications for the future of sport. Projections suggest that the sector could be worth almost $7 billion by 2030. The fledgling industry already has major tournaments that pay out millions in prizes, and a vast number of people watch them.

Most well-established traditional sports like football and soccer aren’t under threat from esports yet, but interest in competitive gaming could conceivably surpass some sports in the next few decades. Esports have various aspects in their favor, such as the ability to reach viewers over a range of platforms.

Esports Industry Can Take Advantage of Franchising Model

The esports industry has managed to enjoy exponential growth over the last ten years, and this is thanks to its ability to attract players from a diverse range of places. Twitch, for instance, was one of the early ways to spread the concept of spectating video games while others played them. The idea caught on quickly, and Amazon bought the platform for almost $1 billion in 2014 – three years after its inception.

Games in the esports sector often appeal to broad demographics because they have related games on other platforms. A prime example of this is Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, an esports fantasy card game based on World of Warcraft. The title allures viewers from the MMORPG, as well as people who discovered the card game first.

The esports industry is becoming intertwined with the booming casino sector as well, which will help it reach another set of fans. Many casinos in Las Vegas and Macao now have esports stadiums attached to them. The next step for competitive games is to make use of other online options and offer official games that are related to them. There are already some sport-themed games on UK online casino site lists, such as the hybrid offering, Slingoooal. The title combines aspects of slots, bingo, and a soccer theme to appeal to different players. This unique blend may attract people who love digital and traditional sports alike. Esports may take inspiration from this and branch into online casino games to enhance their reach.

Traditional Sports May Need to Evolve As Well

Esports are evolving at lightning speed and bringing in more viewers every year by leveraging other areas of the gaming industry. With the industry growing, traditional sports need to evolve as well. This has already been seen in several ways, such as the introduction of new technology in sports to assist with on-field decisions and the viewer experience at home.

Many of the biggest sports in the world have accompanying games already, which help bring viewers to real-world events. But what happens when these games become flourishing esports themselves? They could end up negating the need for people to watch the sports they are based on. This could mean that classic sports need to integrate more computerized elements to keep the next generations of viewers engaged. Virtual reality could play a crucial role in this, and it may improve the live viewing experience tenfold.

Traditional sports should be able to hold off esports for another few decades at least. However, with the exponential rise of the competitive gaming scene, there’s a strong chance that these offerings could usurp many classic real-world sports in the future.