Underlying markets are often one of the most accurate ways of measuring the broader health of an industry. While popular industries might have one figurehead or standout company leading the way, the bulk of interest and investment comes from the combined worth of companies looking to catch the market leader. Professional video gaming, aside from providing a very persistent headache to many modern parents, is no different – and it has several subdivisions within it, all of which have expedited the continued interest in the wider industry.
Although professional video gaming emerged from the marvel of the internet and the astonishing advances that game design companies discovered in the 2000s, now that it is established as its own multi-billion dollar entity in the broader gaming landscape, underlying markets are leading a revolution of technological change in eSports and keeping the titans of the industry on their toes.
Betting Markets
The gambling industry has found a totally new level of potential ever since the internet simultaneously transformed it into a global marketplace. While it’s been helped along by a convenient surge in both the speed and cheapness of internet connectivity over the last twenty years, eSports markets have moved in correlation with the potential of the iGaming world through a similar timeline.
The popularity of betting markets depends on the popularity of the game. This is standard practice in any gambling industry. So, the top markets, such as Counter-Strike 2, correlate with the top eSports betting markets, too. CS2 betting odds cover a vast range of outcomes, from outright bets on winners of tournaments to individual games and winning margins.
It’s not just CS2 betting odds that are driving activity in the market, though; you only need to flick through the top professional video gaming markets and see how popular their underlying gambling markets are to get a good idea of how much this subsidiary market is growing and helping to advertise eSports to a broader audience.
These markets have proven so popular that dozens of providers are battling to become the number one. Implementing new payment methods like cryptocurrency and blockchain is causing traditional providers and gambling platforms to reshape their approach, which is trickling into other areas of gaming, including blockchain gaming and in-play purchases involving crypto and NFT proof of ownership.
Social Media
Major social media sites have been a consistent presence and a crucial factor in the growth of eSports. Many of the top games have leveraged the immense popularity of video gaming bloggers and social media influencers, such as those with substantial numbers of followers and communities on Twitch, to successfully promote both their games and eSports competitions.
It’s not just streaming sites that have contributed to and continue to change the direction of the eSports world, though. X, formerly known as Twitter, is a hotbed of video gaming engagement because of its mechanics and design. On the site, you can access specific video gaming news and trending topics and search for hashtags related to certain games.
Reels and short clips have become a huge part of video gaming marketing. As this demand has shifted over the last few years, eSports companies have resorted to these platforms in addition to the tried and tested marketing strategies that have worked for them in the past, such as Twitch, which was a big part of the incredible success of Valorant, when it launched back in March 2020.
As the market moves into 2025, these markets continue to reshape eSports marketing strategies, and social media, as it is with most industries, will play a pivotal role in shaping the industry’s future.
Adapting To New Technology
Sports betting markets have adapted to the rise of eSports, and social media platforms are cheaper ways to reach a broader range of customers. However, technological innovations such as AI (Artificial Intelligence) – and VR (Virtual Reality) are beginning to reshape how companies approach eSports.
AI is being used to collect data more quickly and efficiently, and VR is being used to explore new gaming environments. The rise in wealth that Jensen Huang and Mark Zuckerburg have experienced throughout 2024 perfectly sums up the strength of AI and VR markets. Although these two notable figures sit at the top of their respective industries, the trillions of dollars of fresh investment driven into both sectors is the more critical measuring tool that eSports have been adapting to.
While VR gaming might not have the same widespread popularity as console gaming, as the price of headsets goes down and the number of headsets on the market increases, this could be one potential subdivision within gaming that could fuel the next generation of growth within the industry.
Conclusion
Professional video gaming fuses a blend of reactive and proactive change. As it is now such a viable arm of the gaming world, companies within it have the scope and resources to identify and invest in new changes that could reshape the industry.
While social media and betting markets might act as pillars that help to underpin the strength of the current market, looking to the future will keep companies viable. All of the underlying markets we’ve discussed today will undoubtedly continue reshaping eSports over the next decade.
