Esports Popularity: It’s a Game Changer

While the debate continues as to why attendance and viewership for National Football League and Major League Baseball have been dropping the past few years, one thing for sure is that the popularity of eSports is exploding.

In its 2018 Global eSports Market Report, industry research group Newzoo reports that:

  • In the coming year, the global eSports economy will grow to $905.6 million, up 38% YoY.
  • The global eSports audience will reach 380 million this year, made up of 165 million eSports enthusiasts and 215 million occasional viewers.

The Rise of eSports

According to the global public relations website, the Holmes Report, the eSports industry is growing exponentially, with media rights, advertising, merchandise sales, sponsorship opportunities, and revenue streams all increasing by double digits each year—and they see no end in sight.

In a series of articles posted on its website, Foley.com, a global law firm that focuses on trending markets across numerous industries, cited the ongoing development of high school and college eSports programs and leagues as a sign of eSports entering the mainstream in a big way. In addition, a number of stadiums, arenas, and other buildings—from Hong Kong to Arlington, Texas—are being built to support and facilitate eSports programs and events. (Case in point: Blizzard Entertainment opened a dedicated eSports stadium in Burbank CA. It’s called Blizzard Arena and is located at the former studio of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.)

 

Consumer awareness of eSports is expected to continue to grow rapidly. A 2016 Nielsen study revealed that nearly 1 out of every 6 Americans over the age of 13 are active eSports fans, while Newzoo estimates that 1.3 billion people worldwide are at least aware of eSports. For comparison’s sake, consider how that latter figure rivals World Cup viewership (1 billion viewers) and dwarfs Super Bowl viewership (160 million).

More and more celebrities, professional athletes, sports team owners, and business leaders are expected to enter the eSports space as sponsors and investors. For example, in July 2017, New England Patriot’s owner Robert Kraft, chairman, and CEO of the Kraft Group, commenting on his recent investment of a reported $20 million in an eSports league run by Blizzard (of Starcraft, Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch fame), said: “We really believe this (eSports) is the future” because of the way, “millennials consume sports on their mobile devices.”

Viewing opportunities for worldwide audiences to watch eSports on television or stream it online continue to grow. Just recently, ESPN+, the Disney-owned sports programmer’s subscription service, announced that it is carrying Riot Games’ League of Legends live esports tournaments and events, which will continue to be distributed on Amazon-owned Twitch and other platforms. According to Riot Games, the 2017 League of Legends World Championship held in China drew a record peak of 80 million unique viewers for a single match, and a combined 1.2 billion hours of content watched during the event.

eSports is a Game Changer

Mobile Edge recognizes that the growth of esports is a game changer—not only for the athletes who participate, but for fans, schools, franchises, the entertainment industry, and investors big and small. We pride ourselves on continuously innovating new designs and new products that offer cutting edge mobility solutions for a wide range of gaming and esports needs.

CORE Gaming Products

Named the 2017 VIP Award Winner in TWICE Magazine’s PC Accessories category, the CORE Gaming Backpack is functional, stylish, innovative, and popular with gamers, techies, travelers, students, road warriors, and busy professionals.

The full-featured CORE Gaming Backpack offers the ultimate in transport, protection, storage, and easy access to gaming gear, accessories, and other cool tech.

  • Sized to hold all popular models of gaming laptops (up to 17″ – 18″)
  • Three large storage sections pre-wired for a power bank or external battery
  • Four side accessory pockets for cables, phones, or oversized water bottles or snacks
  • Built-in external USB charge port
  • Checkpoint-friendly design to speed through TSA checkpoints
  • Constructed of durable ballistic nylon with tailored contrast stitching
  • Lifetime warranty

Gamers and their followers may be particularly interested in the Core Gaming Backpack with Velcro panel, which features a Velcro panel on which athletes and fans can affix patches and emblems of their favorite teams.

Gamers also need power and performance on the go, and Mobile Edge’s CORE product line offers two options to meet the mobile power supply needs of users.

CORE Power AC USB (27,000mAh Portable Laptop Charger)

The compact and versatile CORE Power AC, with its massive battery capacity, provides extreme power and performance for even your most power-hungry devices! It features a universal AC outlet that delivers an incredible 85 watts of power. With 27,000mAh, you can plug in and power laptops and personal electronics, as well as USB devices.

  • Features: Universal AC outlet, 3 High-Speed USB ports, High-Power USB-C port, Quick Charge 3.0 technology, Rapid DC input, Fast recharging, Sleek & ultra-portable design, Airplane friendly, International wall socket adapters (AU/US/UK/EU) included

CORE Power (26,800mAh Portable USB Battery/Charger)

Perfect for business professionals, travelers, students, and other commuters, the CORE Power battery/charger easily slips into a briefcase, handbag, backpack, or carry-on for reliable universal portable power at your fingertips. Works with smartphones, tablets, cameras, speakers, drones, Bluetooth headsets, wearables, and other USB devices.

  • Features: Ultra-high battery capacity, Charges most smartphones 8 to 12 times or tablets 2 to 3 times, Quick Charge 3.0 technology, Displays real-time information about battery and connected devices, Airplane friendly

Check out the CORE Gaming Backpack and other CORE accessories at Mobile Edge.

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For the next 10 days, enter Promo code ESPT18 when you check out from Mobile Edge’s online store and get 20% off your purchase of a CORE Gaming Backpack or a CORE power accessory, with free shipping on orders of more than $75.

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