eSports
What to expect from esport in 2019
Esports have grown to a massive industry in just the past few years, and 2019 is predicted to be even bigger. Many industry analysts predict global esport revenue to surpass $1.1 billion USD in 2019. Expected revenue breaks down as follows:
Obviously, this means huge tournament prizes and team earnings for competitors this year.
2019 Esport Games
Weâre going to see game genres mixed up a bit more in 2019 esports. While RTS and MOBA games have traditionally been the most popular esport games, a handful of fighting and shooter titles are slated to be rising stars in 2019. Of particular interest are the rise of battle royale games, which weâll touch on briefly.
The games anticipated to do most hotly in 2019 global esports are as follows:
Overwatch
Fortnite
Dota 2
League of Legends
CS: GO
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
PubG
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Clash Royale
Magic: The Gathering Arena
A dark horse also arose early in February, Apex Legends. Many of the 2019 esport predictions were made at the end of December 2018, or early January 2019. Apex Legends was released early February, with zero marketing behind it – Apex Legends literally came out of left field (American slang meaning âtotally unexpectedâ, for you global readers).
The reason Apex Legends is worth mentioning is that the game hit 25 million players only a week after being released. It also became the #1 live-streamed game on Twitch, ending February with an average 217,997 viewers, or around 11% of Twitchâs total audience. This is no small feat for a game that was released completely unannounced into the wild west of the battle royale genre.
If Apex Legends continues the popularity trend, it could also become a hot item in 2019 esports.
Of course you see some old staples on the list of games. Dota 2 and League of Legends are certainly not going anywhere, being the most popular MOBAs on a global scale.
Also of growing interest are racing and sport games (oh, the irony of playing sports games in esports). There are a number of smaller esport leagues dedicated exclusively to racing games, such as the F1 eSports Series, and the GT Championships.
There is also potential for more indie and browser-based titles in smaller esport leagues. Mobile Esports, for example, partnered up with Blayze Games, the developers of the popular browser-based first-person shooter Bullet Force and offers tournament grand prizes of $500. Other popular browser games have good Twitch and Youtube stream followings – Slither.io for example has 17,307 followers on Twitch.
Indeed, this game could be a cool niche for the browser based esport racing scene. As for sports, games like NBA 2K and FIFA have serious dedicated leagues as well. Especially the latter, as many enjoy playing soccer games particularly in Europe.
2019 Esport Sponsors
A lot of global brands are getting into esport endorsement – in fact, just a few days ago Nike inked its first esport sponsorship deal, following the heels of Adidas and Puma (pun intended). This adds to the growing list of high-profile brands that are sponsoring esports. Esport sponsors fall into the categories âendemicâ and ânon-endemicâ. Endemic sponsors are companies that are related to esports in some way, such as selling PC hardware and other technology manufacturers. Non-endemic sponsors are companies that have pretty much nothing to do with esports, like Nike.
Many articles that list esport sponsors put food and drink companies in the ânon-endemicâ category, but I disagree. Brands like Chipotle, Mountain Dew, and Snickers are every bit as endemic to esports as Corsair, Intel, and MSI. Gamers gotta eat, and weâve got a reputation for unhealthy diets, right? Other ânon-endemicâ brands like Gillette, well⌠you know, some esports players really do badly need a shave. So it fits.
Here are the top non-endemic global sponsors for esports in 2018 / 2019:
- Adidas
- Gillette
- Geico
- Tinder
- Mercedes Benz
- Airbus
- Nike
The top endemic global sponsors for esports in 2018 / 2019:
- HyperX
- Intel
- Red Bull
- Monster Energy
- Mountain Dew
- Alienware
- Logitech
- Corsair
- Razer
- iBuyPower
- Twitch
Honestly I could continue, but itâs a pretty huge list and my editor will think Iâm just filling word count. Check out Esports marketing blog, they cover this stuff more in-depth.
China Banhammers Like, Everybody
One thing of note is how China plays into the market – or doesnât play in the market, to be more technical. While many analysts include China in their âglobal esport revenueâ reports, China lately has been taking its ball and playing at home. The country has a massive esport scene that caters to native games, which are not seen on the international level.
Chinaâs biggest esport game is Honor of Kings, also known as Arena of Valor on the international market. Itâs pretty much been Chinaâs biggest MOBA for awhile, and has expanded to the Asia-Pacific region. Honor of Kings was released internationally as Arena of Valor, but hasnât seen the same success its enjoyed in China.
To add to this, mainland China also recently banned a number of highly popular esport games, while putting others on a âwatch listâ. Itâs an effort from their Online Ethics Committee to crack down on âvulgarityâ and explicit violence in video games. The most popular esport games banned games in mainland China are:
- PubG
- Fortnite
- H1Z1
- Alliance of Valiant Arms
Hereâs a full list of games that were either banned or put on a watch / review list in mainland China – youâll notice a few Chinese games are also on the list, including Arena of Valor, the game I just said was Chinaâs biggest esport draw. Tencent, the developers of Arena of Valor, actually skipped off to Hong Kong for laxer laws, tweeting âafter everything we did for you đ @XiJingpingrealâ. Actually Iâm making that up, they didnât tweet anything. But they did skip off to Hong Kong.
In any case, when you take into considering mainland Chinaâs clamping down on mobile games for their âcorruption of youthâ potential, then itâs not hard to believe North America will once again be the largest esports market in 2019. America boasted esport revenues of $409.1 million in 2018, and Iâm pretty sure we won the most esport trophies. Whatâs that? South Korea, you say? They donât count. Their public education was replaced with MOBA training campuses years ago.
Iâm 99% positive these photos are from South Korean elementary schools. Prove me wrong.
Author: Katie Green
Asia
The PokĂŠmon Company Announces Open-For-All PokĂŠmon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 With $10,000 Prize Pool, Skyesports To Serve As Esports Partner
The PokĂŠmon Company, with Skyesports as the esports partner, has announced an exciting new grassroots esports tournament, the PokĂŠmon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025. Open for all players across the country, this competition offers an opportunity for aspiring pro players to represent India on the global stage.
Registrations for the tournament are now live and will remain open until Jan. 29, 2025. Players from across the country can sign up on the official website to secure their spot and compete for national pride and international glory.
The PokĂŠmon UNITE Winter Tournament boasts a massive prize pool of $10,000. The stakes are even higher, though, as the tournament winner will join the champion of the PokĂŠmon UNITE ACL India League as Indiaâs representatives in an international tournament. This international competition is the PokĂŠmon UNITE Asia Champions League 2025 Finals which will bring the best-of-the-best from across Asia to Shinjuku, Japan on March 29 and 30 to fight for the ultimate title!
- The PokĂŠmon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 will begin with the Qualifier Stage, which will follow a single-elimination bracket.
- The top 16 teams from the qualifiers will advance to the Group Stage. Here, they will be evenly split into 4 groups where a single round-robin format will be followed.
- Finally, the top two teams from each group will progress to the Playoffs. These top 8 teams will compete in this penultimate stage across a double-elimination bracket for glory and the chance to represent India on the international stage.
The PokĂŠmon Company executive said, âWhile the ACL India League supports the top-tier organizations of the country, the Winter Tournament highlights our commitment to grassroots development. By supporting players at every levelâfrom grassroots to the pro sceneâwe aim to ensure the sustainable growth of PokĂŠmon UNITE esports in India.â
Commenting on the tournament, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports, said, âWith the ongoing PokĂŠmon UNITE ACL India League bringing esports action to thousands of players, we are now thrilled to introduce the open-for-all PokĂŠmon UNITE Winter Tournament. This competition gives every aspiring pro player a chance to shine and represent the country in Japan. As long-term partners of The PokĂŠmon Company, the tournament underscores Skyesportsâ vision of giving Indian players and teams a chance to compete on the global stage. I wish the best of luck to all participants.â
With its intense 10-minute matches, PokĂŠmon UNITE has seen remarkable growth in India, attracting a vibrant community of players and fans. The Winter Tournament is the latest effort to nurture and expand this ecosystem.
Todayâs announcement follows the PokĂŠmon UNITE ACL India League, where The PokĂŠmon Company has directly invited Indiaâs top eight esports organizations to compete, which includes the likes of S8UL, GodLike, Revenant XSpark, and Global Esports. The tournament, currently ongoing, is set to wrap up on Jan. 26, 2025. Immediately after, Skyesports will kick off the PokĂŠmon UNITE Winter Tournament to continue the momentum of PokĂŠmon UNITE esports in the country.
The complete schedule for the PokĂŠmon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 is as follows:
- Registrations: Until Jan. 29
- Qualifier Stage: Feb. 1 and 2
- Group Stage: Feb. 8
- Playoffs: Feb. 9
Asia
Revenant XSpark Partners With iQOO In Landmark Esports Deal
Revenant XSpark, one of Indiaâs leading Esports organization is excited to announce a ground-breaking partnership with iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand. Leveraging the growing appeal of Esports, Revenant XSparks & iQOO have partnered together, with iQOO securing the naming rights for Indiaâs top-performing Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) roster under the Revenant XSpark brand. The team will now compete under the name iQOO RNTX, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Indian esports. This collaboration stands as one of the biggest deals in Indian Esports history.
A collaboration between Revenant Esports and Team XSpark; The vision & goal behind the creation of âRevenant XSparkâ was to redefine the Esports landscape in India and neighbouring regions.
Having been unveiled at the recent collaboration, Revenant XSparkâs (BGMI) roster competes across regional and international competitions. With an unmatched track record of securing two back-to-back titles at major Krafton events, the team is led by coach Osmium as one of the premier teams in the country. Dominating competition across the board, the team of Sarang (Sarangajyoti Deka), Spraygod (Harsh Malik), Joker (Khush Singh), and Shadow (Tenzin Kelsang), have been able to carve a name for themselves in the Esports landscape as a force to be reckoned with in both global and local platforms.
Champions at the BGMI Pro Series and BGMI India Series, the team already has a firm foothold in the India market and is aiming to build and expand its narrative globally. Alongside iQOOâs innovation driven mindset, the collaboration will leverage expertise from both sides for mutual beneficial outcomes.
Rohit Jagasia, Founder and CEO of Revenant Esports, said, “Weâre incredibly proud to announce our groundbreaking partnership with iQOO. This is a monumental moment for Indian Esports – marking one of the largest deals in the industry. iQOO’s commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with our vision at Revenant XSpark. By joining forces, we’re creating a powerful synergy that will elevate the Indian Esports scene to new heights. Together, we aim to redefine the landscape of competitive gaming and inspire the next generation of gamers.”
Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO said, âWeâre thrilled to be part of this moment in Indian esports. Partnering with Revenant XSpark goes beyond supporting an exceptional team itâs an investment in the future of competitive gaming. Together, we aim to inspire the next generation of gamers, drive meaningful innovation, and shape the future of esports in India. This collaboration is a step towards achieving long-term synergies that align with our broader vision to elevate the gaming experience.â
Asia
8Bit Creatives secures biggest ever esports Naming Rights deal in India with iQOO
8Bit Creatives, Indiaâs premier esports & gaming talent management agency, has secured a major mandate in the largest naming rights sponsorship deal in Indian gaming history with iQOO, a leading performance smartphone brand. 8Bit Creatives bagged three out of the five naming rights deals, further cementing its leadership in the esports ecosystem.
The three teams represented by 8Bit Creatives are:
- 8bit Esports
- Reckoning Esports
- Revenant Xspark
This historic partnership further cements iQOOâs commitment to the esports ecosystem in India, building on its ongoing association with Team iQOO Soul, which has been a flagship collaboration with 8Bit Creatives for over a year.
Speaking about the partnership, Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives, said:
âWe are incredibly grateful to iQOO for placing their trust in us to represent three of their five teams, and we are happy to support their gaming & esports initiatives. This is a moment of great pride for Indian gaming, and we are excited to see iQOOâs continued contribution to growing the esports landscape in India.âÂ
Sarang Naicker, Owner of Reckoning Esports, commented:
âPartnering with 8Bit Creatives has always been a key driver of Reckoning Esportsâ growth. This historic association with iQOO reflects the strength of our collaboration and our shared vision to elevate the esports ecosystem in India. Together, we aim to continue setting new benchmarks for gaming excellence.âÂ
Rohit Jagasia, team owner of Revenant Xspark, added:
âOur partnership with 8Bit Creatives has always been focused on driving innovation and creating meaningful opportunities for our players and fans. This association with iQOO is a testament to that vision, and we are thrilled to continue our journey together to elevate esports in India.âÂ
With this deal, iQOO continues redefining the boundaries of brand integration within esports, ensuring that fans and players benefit from an elevated experience. By associating its high-performance brand with some of Indiaâs leading esports teams, iQOO reinforces its position as a key driver of the countryâs gaming revolution.
The naming rights deal is not just a commercial success but also a testament to the thriving Indian esports ecosystem, as brands increasingly recognize the value of invest ing in gamingâs vibrant community.
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