UCC IN GAMING
Esports Market Set to Rocket
In the past decade, esports has transformed from a niche gaming activity into a global phenomenon, fostering unprecedented levels of collaboration and social interaction. Competitive gaming isn’t just about individual skill, it thrives on teamwork, strategy, and communication, while content creators and players in the gaming space thrive by engaging with their communities during live-streaming and online sessions.
Esports has become a popular gaming activity and it is expected to grow. It has gained the notoriety it now enjoys for a number of reasons such as the changing social habits of Gen Z, and the impact of world events like the Covid-19 pandemic, to name a few. Statistica sums up the “unprecedented growth” of esports as being driven by increased viewership, sponsorship opportunities, and the rising popularity of competitive gaming among diverse demographics, with the global esports market currently projected to reach US$4.8 billion in 2025. It has also estimated that the number of “esporters” will hit 896 million by 2029. An undeniable driver of this growth are the ‘game changing’ solutions that are both enabling the technological evolution of esports and helping it to attract a bigger audience and user base. The gaming market as a whole is now worth an estimated US$27.97 billion, with 10.84 million gamers in the UK, according to a study by Uswitch. To participate in esports, you’ll generally need a high-performance computer or gaming console, along with suitable peripherals like a gaming monitor, keyboard, mouse, and headset. A stable internet connection is also crucial, along
with other optional equipment like a streaming camera and microphone for live-streaming or recording.
What is esports? For the uninitiated, esports are
competitive video games played solo or as part of a team. A number of different game genres fall under the ‘esports’ umbrella, including sports games, such as FIFA, first-person shooter games like Counter-Strike 2, strategy games (think Age of Empires), fighting games, for example the legendary Mortal Kombat, and more. Esports isn’t just for fun. It’s played professionally for money with potentially big cash prizes up for grabs. Last year, Dota 2, a multiplayer online battle arena video game, had the biggest tournament prize pool, valued at US$23.86 million. Counter-Strike 2 was the runner-up in 2024, still with a prize pool of a staggering US$20.83 million. The following esports has amassed over such a short timeframe is representative of the gaming industry as a whole, which is becoming an increasingly lucrative field, particularly when you consider the number of devices needed for each and every gamer. A typical gaming setup often includes physical apparatus like purpose-built gaming chairs, desks, wheel hubs and track wheels. Gamers
The gaming market as a whole is now worth an estimated US$27.97 billion, with 10.84 million gamers in the UK, according to a study by Uswitch.
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