Esports arena: A preview of technology’s future…let the games begin

There was a time when ‘gaming’ was seen as a fringe subculture…that time has passed. Today, there is no doubt over the artistry and skill of game designers and programmers, with contemporary offerings boasting a cinematic quality that bares more resemblance to a Hollywood blockbuster than it does a pixelated Pacman.

It’s an apt comparison…Gaming has long dwarfed the revenues generated by films, and just as the silver screen has created stars of its brightest and best, so too has the world of professional gaming. Some esports events now attract 100 million spectators, outstripping major sporting occasions like Wimbledon and the Tour de France.  The Fortnite World Cup finals has a prize pool of $30m. David Beckham has a sizeable stake in esports outfit, Guild Esports, and is talking about setting up a professional esports academy.

It’s not just the domain for esports professionals. Gaming is also an entry point for many budding tech enthusiasts who will turn their passion for video games and technology into a profession. Viewership on game streaming site Twitch reached an all-time high in November with 2.5 million concurrent watchers – more than double the 1.2 million from the same period in 2019. The global esports market is valued at around $1.1bn (£870m), according to games research company Newzoo. The research also suggested the industry will grow by 42% to $1.56bn by 2023.

The technology

It’s also interesting to consider how technology will change the face of gaming and, conversely, how gaming will change the face of technology

5G is a game-changer in cloud gaming, as the world of video games demands a very high computational effort on local devices – whether they be computers or game consoles. Cloud gaming is one of the most talked about use cases of 5G, and the future of the sport is reliant on the high levels of gaming connection quality and reliability which the technology provides. Indeed, the new generation of gaming consoles is beginning to take advantage of 5G networks, including the new Sony PS5, which includes an all-digital edition.

Virtual, augmented and mixed reality also provides a glimpse into a once dreamed about virtual world and, again, here we can expect real growth.

For these technologies to have wider industry potential, they require innovation and trial; gaming provides a low-risk format to trial new technologies with a tech-savvy user base. For example, cloud gaming is already being used to measure and compare broadband speeds and latency. And, gaming is also often the first introduction to a future career in the technology industry.

The future

It’s interesting to speculate how other companies may follow suit in what is undoubtedly an exploding market. Beyond gaming, the esports arena provides a testing ground for innovative new technologies that may one day revolutionise our way of life.

Whatever the future holds, esports is a market that is unlikely to see the words ‘game over’ for quite some time.

Reply specialises in the design and implementation of solutions based on new communication channels and digital media. The company delivers consulting, system integration and digital services to organisations across the telecom and media, industry and services, banking and insurance and public sectors.

Reply recently announced its backing of Totem eSports; a team born in 2019 that spent the year battling its way through the most competitive titles of the main ESL circuits. Thanks to the experience gained by its young talents at national and international level, next season the Reply ESports team will compete in the ESL and EVC circuits on the mobile titles including Clash Royale, Brawl Stars and on a series of other titles, ranging from sports such as FIFA to First Person Shooter (FPS) and strategic cards.