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Although the earliest esport competitions can be traced back to the 1970s (though they didn’t look like what they are today), they are yet to reach their full potential. It wasn’t long ago that esports tournament organisers started moving video game competitions from small gaming cafes to stadiums full of spectators. Even gambling platforms have started tapping into this industry. For instance, gamblers can access esports odds at Lottoland and predict match outcomes any time.
Given how the esports market has exponentially grown in the past decade, gaming enthusiasts are already looking forward to seeing what the industry has in store for them. This write-up gives you an anticipation of what could happen in the esports and video gaming industries from 2023.
1. The Future of Esports in the Metaverse
Metaverse is a network of virtual reality worlds that combine various social aspects, such as online gaming, social media, augmented reality and cryptocurrencies. It helps users to interact with digital objects and other users through their respective avatars.
Although this technology is already in place, there are possibilities it will improve and grow in the coming years. This is especially after gaming developers witnessed the success of Fortnite music concerts, a series of in-game music concerts featuring major artists across the globe.
In the future, esports tournaments could shift from physical venues to virtual spaces. Therefore, instead of spectators watching esports tournaments from screens, they might be able to follow these events in a virtual reality world and feel as if they are right inside the tournament.
2. Growth of Women-Centric Games
Gaming is not a men’s only sport. According to Forbes, 40% of gamers across the US in 2020 were women. The number is still on the rise, with women in Asian countries embracing video gaming.
Besides, Berlin International Gaming (BIG) recently announced its women’s League of Legends (LoL) team called BIG Chroma. This project focuses on scouting female and non-binary talent in League of Legends as well as naturing them to become professional athletes. This trend can be attributed to social connections and the need for competition.
Obviously, gaming developers are seeing these trends, and some believe they will produce more women-centric games in the future. Some of the games with women lead characters include Child of Light, Tomb Raider and Horizon.
3. Esports Will Continue Thriving as a Business
Due to technological advancements, the esports space has become an industry that some say has the potential to match the likes of the NBA and NFL. According to a Statista 2019 report, esports viewers on Twitch are estimated to surpass 2.3 million in 2023. An increase in esports viewership will help this industry generate more revenue.
This way, esports teams can secure endorsements from various companies. Moreover, people interested in making esports a business can take advantage of opportunities such as sales, data analytics, marketing, event coordinations, etc.
4. A Surge in the Creation of Indie Games
Indie games (also known as independent games) refer to video games created by individuals or small developers without technical or financial help from major game publishers.
A rise in the creation of indie games is expected in the future since platforms like Roblox allow individuals to program games and play games created by other users. Initially, Roblox was created for a younger audience, but it is becoming widespread among adults. The best part is that this platform allows developers to get quick feedback to improve their games. Besides, Roblox is easy to use and has metaverse capabilities.
Here are some of the most innovative games to expect in 2023:
- Valheim: The game is developed by Fishlabs, Gate Studio, and Piktiv, and it is expected to fully launch in the first quarter of 2023.
- Kerbal Space Program 2: This space flight simulator will launch in February 2023.
- Planet of Lana: Wishfully, a Swedish indie game studio, is set to release this game in 2023 spring.
- Pixelshire: This indie adventure game was developed by Kappa Bits and is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2023.
- Manor Lords: This Slavic Magic creation is set to launch any time from 2023.
Final Word
According to a Statista report, the esports global revenue might reach $1.87 billion by 2025. Besides, technological advancements will unlock more possibilities which will contribute to the growth of the esports market. This shows that this future of the esports industry is promising; hence gamers and developers should expect more innovations in the coming years.
