In the world of online gaming, eSports has been the fastest-growing industry in the last decade. It has amassed an almost cult-like following, with thousands of players taking to the field to compete for large sums of money. The eSports industry is now worth almost $1 billion, and it isn’t slowing down anytime soon. In recent years, eSports has risen from a niche interest to a mainstream phenomenon. This is largely due to the increase in popularity of video games and the growing demand for high-quality content from gamers across the globe.
In this article we will be taking a look at how gamers have evolved from dark horse contenders into gaming unicorns over time, as well as some predictions on what’s next for them!
The Early Years of Gaming
In this Pro gamers age, there was a small but enthusiastic community of players who spent hours perfecting their craft. They were known as the dark horses and were often mocked for their enthusiasm. They would spend weeks trying to overcome impossible obstacles in games like Halo and Gears of War.
These players weren’t just good at playing video games, they were also very good at building them. There were several individuals who would go on to become successful game developers, including Gabe Newell and Cliff Bleszinski. These individuals created some of the most iconic games in history including Half-Life 2 and Gears of War 3. It is because of these individuals that gaming has seen such massive growth over the years. In fact, the market for video games is now worth over $20 billion dollars and has grown by more than 400% since 1990 alone!
According to a recent report by Statista, there are now more than 2 billion gamers worldwide which makes up about 25% of all internet users today! And this number is only expected to grow even further as more people get into gaming every day thanks to new technologies like VR headsets. They make it easier than ever before for anyone with an interest in this hobby to enjoy themselves without having to spend much!
The Rise of E-Sports
E-sports have become increasingly popular over the last decade. It has led to the legitimization of competitive gaming. E-sports tournaments have prize pools worth millions of dollars and attract millions of viewers from around the world.
Most E-sports teams are sponsored by some of the biggest brands in the world, such as Nike and Red Bull. Professional gamers are considered celebrities in their own right and can earn millions per year through sponsorship deals as well as their share of prize money from tournaments they win. Not only that but there’s even a professional e-sports league players can consider.
What Is Accelerating This Evolution?
One of the biggest factors is the increasing number of people playing games. According to Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, more than half (58%) of all U.S. adults play video games regularly or occasionally. This includes 37% who play daily and 11% who play weekly or several times per month-up from just 16% back in 2000.
What’s more, a recent survey by Nielsen Games found that Americans spend an average of six hours per week playing video games. This translates into about 22 days out of every year spent playing video games! Even more surprising was their finding that people ages 18-34 spend almost twice as much time on.
