Welcome, <br>It’s no secret that we’re living in a golden age of esports.<br> Anna Kosolapova — stock.adobe.com <br> <em> Opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of Rolling Stone editors or publishers. </em> <br>It’s no secret that we’re living in a golden age of esports. Like pro wrestling in the 1980s, rap music in the 1990s and online gaming in the 2000s, esports have finally gone from an underground movement to mainstream pop culture adoption over the past decade.<br>However, where the esports renaissance will go in the future is still uncertain, and many investors are hesitant to make a play in the nascent industry.<br>As the founder and CEO of Team 33, a professional esports team, I have a good sense of where the esports world is headed. I’ve paid close attention to the industry’s growth since its inception, and am actively helping shape its future. Below, I’ve shared my best predictions as to where esports will go in the years ahead based on recent industry developments.<br> <div class="c-related-links-wrapper"> <div class="c-related variant-original"> <h4 class="c-related__heading t-bold t-bold--upper"> Related Stories </h4><!-- .c-trending__heading --> <div class="c-related__links"> <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-kim-mase-jadakiss-dj-cassidy-pegasus-world-cup-1292590/" class="c-related__link" data-index="1" target="_blank" data-label="related-article" rel="noopener"> <div class="arrow-right"></div> <h5 class="c-related__caption t-bold"> Watch: Lil' Kim, Mase and Jadakiss Hit the Stage for DJ Cassidy 'Pass the Mic Live' Event </h5> </a> <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/hargus-pig-robbins-keyboard-nashville-dead-obit-1292623/" class="c-related__link" data-index="2" target="_blank" data-label="related-article" rel="noopener"> <div class="arrow-right"></div> <h5 class="c-related__caption t-bold"> Hargus 'Pig' Robbins, Legendary Keyboardist Who Played on Albums by Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Dead at 84 </h5> </a> </div> </div><!-- .c-related --> <div class="c-related variant-evergreen-link hide"> <h4 class="c-related__heading t-bold t-bold--upper"> Related Stories </h4><!-- .c-trending__heading --> <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/50-greatest-movie-superheroes-696382/" class="c-related__link" data-index="1" target="_blank" data-label="related-evergreen" rel="noopener"> <div class="c-related__img"> <div class="c-crop c-crop--size-related"> <img width="1401" height="788" src="https://www.rollingstone.com/wp-content/plugins/lazy-load-0.7/images/1x1.trans.gif" data-src="https://axxess.ar/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RS_Lead_BestSuperheros.jpg?resize=1800,1200&w=1800" class="c-crop__img wp-post-image" alt loading="lazy" data-lazy-src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw=="><noscript><img width="1401" height="788" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://axxess.ar/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/RS_Lead_BestSuperheros.jpg?resize=1800,1200&w=1800" class="c-crop__img wp-post-image" alt="" loading="lazy" /></noscript> </div> </div> <h5 class="c-related__caption t-bold"> 50 Greatest Movie Superheroes </h5> </a> <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/feature/bob-dylan-classics-overlooked-235287/" class="c-related__link" data-index="2" target="_blank" data-label="related-evergreen" rel="noopener"> <h5 class="c-related__caption t-bold"> 20 Overlooked Bob Dylan Classics </h5> </a> </div><!-- .c-related --> </div><!-- .c-related-links-wrapper --> <br>Last year, Newzoo’s <a href="https://newzoo.com/insights/trend-reports/newzoo-global-esports-market-report-2020-light-version/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Global Esports Market Report</a> — one of the industry’s most trusted sources for market forecasting and analysis — found that global esports revenues hit $950 million in 2019. For 2020, it predicted revenues to hit $1.1 billion, the first time the industry has ever crossed the ten-figure threshold.<br> <div class="admz" id="adm-inline-article-ad-1"> <div class="adma boomerang" data-device="Desktop" data-width="301"> <div style="min-width:50px;min-height:75px;" class="pmc-adm-boomerang-pub-div ad-text" data-priority="10" > <div id="gpt-dsk-tab-article-inbody1-uid0" class="adw-301 adh-250" data-is-adhesion-ad=""> <script type="application/javascript">
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</script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <br>In 2022, it’s likely that the global esports market will generate somewhere in the ballpark of nearly $2 billion in revenue. This is a figure <a href="https://www.insiderintelligence.com/insights/esports-ecosystem-market-report/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">reported</a> by <em>Insider Intelligence</em> supported by recent market research.<br>The lion’s share of esports revenues is generated by media deals, sponsorships and broadcasting rights. Several unexpected deals took place in recent months that have accelerated previous growth expectations. For example, we saw the following <a href="https://esportsinsider.com/2021/09/key-esports-sponsorships-and-partnerships-august-2021/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">new sponsors</a> move into the space in August 2021 alone:<br>• Amazon (European Masters)<br>• NASCAR (Allied Esports)<br>• Discord (Tribe Gaming)<br>• TUMI (Evil Geniuses)<br>• Doritos (Bacon Time)<br>• Mastercard (<em>League of Legends</em> European Championship)<br>These global brands have poured new funding and interest into the industry at the highest level, and will likely help catalyze growth by securing larger venues and media distribution deals.<br>Mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones represent the future of esports. While console gaming is still largely a niche market, the vast majority of consumers use a mobile device running Android or iOS every day. If we want to lower barriers to entry in esports and make the industry more accessible to all, we should understand that mobile gaming is the way of the future.<br>Mobile gaming is more popular than console and PC gaming combined, <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210625005180/en/Global-Mobile-Gaming-Market-Report-202-Worth-98-Billion-in-2020-the-Mobile-Gaming-Market-is-Forecast-to-Grow-to-272-Billion-by-2030---ResearchAndMarkets.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">representing 57 percent of the $173 billion</a> global gaming market. There are two key takeaways from this data.<br>First, mobile-oriented esports companies and developers have a longer growth runway than those appealing exclusively to hardcore gamers (e.g., PC and console gamers). Second, the esports industry as a whole represents <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/covid-19-taking-gaming-and-esports-next-level/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow"><em>less than 1 percent</em></a> of the entire gaming market. Therefore, esports has a lot of potential market share it can gain in the years ahead.<br><a href="https://council.rollingstone.com/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=rollingstone.com&utm_campaign=in-article-link&utm_content=yellow-callout-box" >The Rolling Stone Culture Council</a> is an invitation-only community for Influencers, Innovators and Creatives. <a style="text-decoration: underline" href="https://council.rollingstone.com/qualify?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=rollingstone.com&utm_campaign=in-article-link&utm_content=yellow-callout-box" ><em><strong>Do I qualify?</strong></em></a><br>The Asia-Pacific (APAC) market is the largest in the esports industry, accounting for 57 percent of global esports viewership in 2019, according to that <em>Insider Intelligence</em> article, and is home to an astounding <a href="https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-apac/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/level-up-a-guide-to-succeed-in-asias-gaming-market/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">1.5 billion gamers</a>. By contrast, the European market is far less saturated and is home to many gamers who have yet to tap into esports. In total, Europe represents only about $138 million of global esports revenues.<br> <div class="admz" id="adm-inline-article-ad-2"> <div class="adma boomerang" data-device="Desktop" data-width="301"> <div style="min-width:50px;min-height:75px;" class="pmc-adm-boomerang-pub-div ad-text" data-priority="10" > <div id="gpt-dsk-tab-article-inbody2-uid1" class="adw-301 adh-250" data-is-adhesion-ad=""> <script type="application/javascript">
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</script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <br>Alongside Latin America, I believe that companies targeting the European esports market could have the potential for sustainable long-term growth given the current state of development in the industry within these regions.<br>Although controversial, one of the recent potential revenue streams in esports is betting. Given the generally young demographic base of esports, there is, understandably, resistance to the idea of embracing institutionalized betting within the ecosystem.<br>However, betting and gambling already exist in esports and traditional sports (which young people are equally exposed to) on the grey market and at institutional levels, respectively. Future partnerships between esports companies and betting firms could allow the industry to control and regulate esports betting responsibly, curb the grey market and bring in significant new revenues for the industry.<br>We’re living in disruptive times where brand new industries are rapidly rising to international prominence. Esports is among them. Whereas the NFL’s Super Bowl was once seen as the pinnacle of sports broadcasting with untouchable viewership numbers, the 2019 <em>League of Legends</em> World Championship garnered just as many views (<a href="https://www.roundhillinvestments.com/research/esports/esports-viewership-vs-sports" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">over 100 million viewers</a> compared to the Super Bowl’s 100.7 million viewers in 2019).<br>As a nascent multi-billion dollar market, investors would be wise to take esports seriously and consider getting in on the action while the industry is still in the early stages of its growth.<br> Want more Rolling Stone? <a href="https://pages.email.rollingstone.com/newsletters/" class="c-post-actions__link">Sign up for our newsletter.</a> <br>Newsletter Signup<br>Have a Tip?<br> Welcome, <br>Follow Us<br>Alerts & Newsletters<br> Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2022 Rolling Stone, LLC. All Rights Reserved. <br><br><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/see-esports-headed-2022-1274259/">source</a>
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