GPWA Times Magazine - Issue 49 - April 2021

The future of esports Despite the general technological progress, the development of esports depends on many factors. In particular, the priority right now is the accessibility for millions of potential players. Even though esports is immensely popular, it’s not yet available to everyone. Most Third World countries still have problems accessing the internet, and not everyone can afford to buy a PC. Accordingly, potential players not only don’t play esports, but they are not interested in it since it’s not a part of their life. The main priorities are affordable devices, plus the spread of cheap and fast internet. This combination will allow millions of new players to master the exciting world of esports. The result will be local tournaments in new regions, and in the best case, the emergence of stars capable of reaching world-class level. What does this mean for affiliates? First of all, the geography of esports is expanding, which automatically extends the geography of partners working within this gambling sector. However, there will undoubtedly be some console tournaments and disciplines. For example, FIFA tournaments are overwhelm- ingly held on consoles for convenience reasons. In general, the trend of affordability should prevail soon. For 1xBet affiliates, this will bring even bigger esports audiences and ample opportunities to monetize traffic further. Why does esports have such a broad appeal? Several key factors make esports wildly popular and result in an ever-expanding fan base. The first is accessibility. There are specific physical requirements for playing sports at a professional level, but everything is a little easier for esports. Today, millions of people can not only watch, but also play the same game as esports stars. The opportunity to try it themselves captivates the audience even more. Secondly is the emergence of new disciplines, something that is lacking in regular sports. Football has been played for hundreds of years, basketball and tennis were also invented a long time ago, with very few changes made since. In esports, things evolve, develop and innovate quickly. At one time, everyone played StarCraft, but today the RTS genre is generally not popular. New disciplines, new genres, and new rules of the game appear in the esports arena every year. This keeps things fresh and exciting. Thirdly, the simplicity of organizing competitions. You often don’t even need to rent a room; the tournament can be held entirely online, with thousands of players watching from the comfort of their own homes. Such simplicity and accessibility allows enthusiasts to maximize their enjoyment. IS ESPORTS READY TO ERUPT? Looking towards the future , the prospects are promising . Esports has not yet revealed half of its potential . Digitalization is already reaching the farthest corners of our planet , and therefore the audience will only grow . What technologies are vital to esports? Worth highlighting are inclusive gadgets that help people with special needs fulfill their potential in esports. The principle of inclusiveness is a goal in es- ports because equality for all categories of players can be achieved. VR devices can also occupy their niche, but their widespread use will not come about for quite some time. In the near future, these devices’ popularity will be inhibited by their high price and impracticality to use. The emergence of a new generation of consoles is a definite plus for gamers. Even still, the impact on esports will be niche due to the low availability of these gadgets for a broad audience. Today, millions of people can not only watch, but also play the same game as esports stars . The opportunity to try it themselves captivates the audience even more. Maxim Ishunin is the Head of Business development at 1xBet, where he implements new strategies, attracts key partners, studies customer needs, integrates payment solutions, and much more. Founded in 2007, 1xBet is a market leader in the bookmaker business, operating offline and offering online services at 1xBet.com. 38 G P W A t i m e s . o r g