The first few months of each year are generally reserved for deliberations and forecasts about the trends that are likely to shape each industry during the coming four quarters. Staying ahead of the curve can make the difference between failure and success.
Of course, this year is different from any other. We’re emerging from an unprecedented crisis fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic that thwarted plans within many industries. As such, making predictions about what the future holds isn’t easy, but there appears to be plenty of light at the end of the tunnel for professional gaming.
Even though global lockdowns put a stop to many events, the esports industry is booming. Mandatory isolation and plenty of leisure time resulted in a substantial rise in esports viewers, and this is expected to continue during 2021.
Apart from the transition to a digital platform, there are plenty of other new trends to watch out for this year in the esports industry, such as the rise of esports betting. We’re going to dive into some of the most noteworthy trends below.
More Professional Athletes and Celebrities Get Involved
As the esports industry continues to evolve into a more mainstream form of entertainment, individual competitors and teams are getting noticed by celebrities and professional athletes from around the world who are increasingly interested in long-term partnerships.
But what exactly does this collaboration mean for both parties? Well, we often see big names making special appearances at esports events or investing in competitive teams. One of the most common ways in which celebrities are integrating into a specific esports community is by becoming sponsors or ambassadors for certain events. Celebrities are also featured in esports commercials.
This partnership is incredibly beneficial for both parties since the gaming community secures recognition and more participants through celebrity endorsements. In contrast, celebrities/athletes connect with a preferred segment of the gamer community. A great example of this was the 2018 collaboration between Ninja, who was Fortnite’s biggest streamer and content creator at the time, and Drake, Travis Scott, and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Mobile Esports Will Rise
Another benefit of today’s technological advances is the ability to play and compete using cell phones. Mobile esports attracted the attention of many people worldwide, not only spectators but also those who wish to enter this competitive world.
It’s safe to say that mobile esports will eventually acquire or even exceed the level of participation currently enjoyed by regular esports since a cell phone is much more affordable than the next-generation console or a pricy gamer PC.
Mobile esports are already making their way into the big leagues with games like PUBG Mobile and Garena Free Fire, which together amass more than 12 million followers on Twitch, a number similar to that of widely competitive and well-known games such as Dota 2 and World of Warcraft.
Mobile esports may have a long way to go, but 2021 looks like a promising year.