Highlighting the current moment that eSports are experiencing, and content related to video games, Hugo Tristao, eSports market lead at Newzoo, the Brazil-based consulting firm dedicated to the segment, starred in the last panel of LA Virtual Screenings, where he offered key data of trends and about a business that does not stop growing.
In summary, the executive said: ‘eSports are competitive gaming at a professional level and in an organized format (a tournament or league) with a specific goal and clear distinction between players ans teams that are competing against each other’.
eSport audience to cross the half a billion mark in 2022, highlighting the APAC eSport region audience, as one of the largest, with nearly 43% of the global esports audience. «The figures for the segment have been very interesting, because since 2020, the share of occasional viewers and eSports enthusiasts is almost in equal parts.»
The revenues of the eSport industry attest to the growth of the business, Tristao assures: ‘From 2021 to 2022, the segment generated 1.38 Billion, and we estimate that by 2025, this figure will rise to 1.8 billion’. Likewise, the executive specified that the sponsorships remain as the top eSports revenue stream in 2022, followed by media rights, publisher fees, and merchandising.
Among the most recent advances in the segment, the executive mentioned co-streaming and mobile esports as new strategies to attract new audiences. «Engagement is one of the main motivations that eSports use to grow their user base.»
As for esports audience overview, the consultant showed in its latest report that globally, male gender has a 66% over female, which has a 34% of share. Within these, people between 21 and 35 are the ones who are most enthusiastic about esports. «This shows us once again that video games are not exclusive content for children or men,» said Tristao.
Finally, the executive highlighted that the segment opened the door for brands to seek new ways to reach their customers; He mentioned the case of luxury clothing brands, which are teaming up with some leagues of players so that they can be their brand ambassadors in the world of gaming. Also technology brands, such as microphones, headphones or keyboards have been making valuable alliances to expand their products.
