It’s fair to say the esports industry is in a pretty strong position right now. Current projections estimate that the esports industry will be worth around $1.87 billion in 2025, driven by increasing viewer numbers, huge international markets, and an increasing number of games available for pros and amateurs alike to enjoy. If you’re an esports fan, then you’ve got plenty to look forward to in 2023.
With that being said, there are certain trends we think you should be looking out for, perhaps more than others. Some esports pros think the industry may struggle this year as various economic hardships land, while others believe it’ll go from strength to strength. As ever, nobody is “right” or “wrong”, and we’ve got our own takes on what’s going to happen, too! Here are some esports trends to watch out for in 2023.
Betting is a huge deal in the gaming industry right now. Whether it’s casinos or sports betting, a huge part of the industry’s revenue comes from gambling websites and related endeavours, so expect the esports industry to follow suit. More and more sites will offer the chance to bet on big esports moments and events, so if you’re looking for a chance to get ahead of the pack and get some practice in before things really take off, make sure to click here to do just that.
As Team Liquid marketing SVP Josie Brown told Esports Insider, teams will continue to build brands for themselves outside of the games with which we might traditionally associate them. Brown points to Team Liquid, which she believes is “so much more than one or two teams in a circuit or league”, but you can expect to see other major teams try to break out of the game associations we’ve built for them, expanding themselves into other games and perhaps even other media.
It’s possible that you might see esports teams and brands begin to scale back their operations somewhat as the cost of living crisis and other economic hardships hit them. Don’t be surprised if you see esports events scaling down and becoming smaller, more intimate affairs, or perhaps even being cancelled outright. We certainly hope it’s not going to be the case, but esports teams are facing the same kinds of economic challenges as everyone else, and amidst global economic worries, esports might not be a priority for a lot of businesses and consumers.
On the other hand, esports is growing, and its global audience is becoming bigger and bigger. Now could be the perfect time for the industry to capitalise on that growth and look for bigger and better event and branding opportunities. Esports may not quite be part of the Olympics just yet, but the IOC is certainly taking it more seriously than ever before, and a rise in the number of esports games available to consumers and pros should also make sure that the industry doesn’t need to worry just yet.
The esports market is one that every ambitious developer, whether it be an indie studio or a massive AAA behemoth, wants to conquer. As such, expect to see more and more esports gaming options appearing over the coming months. Royalty like Valorant, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive could be challenged by smaller, scrappier competitors who seem hungrier for the crown and more willing to listen to their communities, so don’t be surprised if you see a game nobody’s heard of before taking the esports world by storm soon.
Again, speaking to Esports Insider, Team Vitality CEO Nicolas Maurer points out that esports teams still haven’t yet “found the proper path to profitability”. As such, Maurer predicts that 2023 will be the “age of maturity” for esports organisations. Maurer doesn’t specify exactly what this might entail, but it’s easy to guess; teams could chase bigger branding opportunities through merchandise, partnerships, and other methods, meaning that you might well see your favourite esports athletes appearing in more and more commercial initiatives over 2023.
It’s not just commercial initiatives you might see from your favourite teams and personalities, either. Some of YouTube’s biggest gaming influencers were once esports players themselves or still are, and even those who don’t have quite so big a following can still command a loyal fanbase that provides adequate revenue to work as a YouTuber. As such, you can expect to see more esports teams and players branch out into content creation away from their usual work playing in tournaments. After all, it’s all part of finding creative new revenue streams, right?
It’s not really a secret that women in esports are criminally underrepresented and underpaid. 2023 isn’t likely to be the year that this all dramatically changes for the better, unfortunately, but it could well be the year that more organisations sit up and take notice; after all, women represent an untapped demographic when it comes to esports, and even if companies and teams aren’t motivated by social change, they could well be motivated by potential profit that they’re not currently looking into.
These are just some of the esports trends we’re predicting for 2023. Of course, the industry is pretty unpredictable at the best of times, and we could well be off-base about any of these. In any case, 2023 is going to be a very exciting year for esports!
This is a paid guest post.
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
