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The gaming industry has rapidly expanded in the online sphere in the past decade and nowhere is this more evident that in the boom of eSports, which has become a global phenomenon.
The top three eSport markets are Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe. But as Insider Intelligence notes, revenue stream comes from around the world. eSports has completely matured from its roots in arcade gaming to become a complex digital ecosystem of $1.8 billion by 2022.
What’s new in the eSports industry these days? Continue reading to find out.
Need for tighter security
An industry report by Verimatrix recognized that 81% of eSports stakeholders are concerned about cheating, hacking and piracy. However, 50% of stakeholders remain unaware of anti-piracy technology. All the more reason why security measures be imposed on a community-wide scale. After all, these are risks that inevitably come up with an increase in revenue, audience, and investors.
These threats usually come in the form of DDoS attacks, cheating software, ransomware and hacking to steal private information. Using proper IT-security practices such as two-factor authentication should be a standard. Otherwise, some countries like the United States are implementing unique ways to combat hackers in eSports.
One example is the U.S. Cyber Games, where teams of different countries compete against each other in games that develop their cybersecurity skills. Here, missions usually require players to decrypt an encrypted file, analyze secret network traffic, or defend a network.
More ways to enjoy
By 2022, it’s likely that we’ll see a boom in different eSports experiences — particularly with the growing rise in fan tokens.
Fan tokens are an online currency, created on a blockchain, that allows access to a variety of fan-related membership perks. Under Covid-19, teams stay connected to fans despite the geographical limitations. For example, The Guardian reported that fans at soccer games are now rewarded depending on the result of the matches. Top teams like Barcelona have created their own token to give their fans more ways to engage.
More sports and eSports teams continue to recognize the need to strengthen fan engagement. Two-time Dota 2 World Champions, OG, became the first eSports club in the world to launch a fan token on Socios in 2020. Several other organizations have followed suit, including the French eSports giants Team Vitality and the European Rocket League team host, Endpoint CeX.
At this rate, fan tokens are increasingly becoming a norm in the eSports industry. This, alongside the fact that the crypto market is steadily assimilating in modern-day culture, means more regulators are adjusting to accommodate fan tokens in order to meet consumer demand.
Growing push for marketing
As eSports continues to grow in popularity, competition in teams gets tighter. This results in an increasing need for proper marketing. In fact, our previous article on Growing Brands discusses how Facebook is one of the best platforms for reaching eSports audiences.
As different eSports teams strive to build their brand, there will definitely be a growth in Facebook ads and other paid advertisements that utilize tracking mechanisms like “cookies” or “pixels.” In this digital age, after all, there is almost no other way to build an audience.
If you want to learn more about eSports, from the latest news to reviews or insightful guides, make sure to check our other posts on YellowZebra Sports. We aim to celebrate the thriving culture around eSports and gaming, and all of the growth and developments that we’re bound to see in the next decades.