The esports community is expanding and showing no signs of slowing down. Many people have taken up gaming as a hobby, seeking entertainment and interaction while subjected to strict travel restrictions and lockdowns. Since then, the stage for competitive video gaming has grown as audiences have developed, and gaming has become a profitable source of income. The number of esports enthusiasts is expected to reach 577.2 million by 2024.
Despite relying heavily on live competitive-gaming tournaments, esports successfully transitioned several live events online in 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic was wreaking havoc on other live-entertainment businesses. According to a research group, Newzoo, esports revenue could nearly double to US$1.8 billion by the end of this year. Although the pandemic may have an impact on the actual 2022 figure, the fact remains that esports is thriving.
Like the esports industry, the gambling industry experienced a boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the pandemic has ended, casinos are still attracting a huge number of players by offering them various bonuses. Instant withdrawal casinos are also becoming very popular in 2022. These online casinos are fully committed to providing excellent customer service and convenience. Esports and gambling are inextricably linked; most esports fans also place bets on their favorite games.
If you needed further evidence to understand how far esports has come, sports organizations have also looked to capitalize on them, as some of the biggest organizations have looked to engage and attract new viewers!
Now that life has returned to regular, several tournaments have been scheduled and played worldwide, one of which is the FIFA World Cup, held in Qatar. Thousands of fans have gathered to take in the mega-event. Furthermore, various cricket and baseball tournaments are played and watched worldwide.
The Best Esports Games for 2022
Apex Legends
Apex Legends, developed by Respawn Entertainment, is an online battle royale game that has become very popular in the gaming and esports world. The game features a unique blend of exploration, rapid-fire combat, and teamplay. Players can compete as part of three-person teams in King’s Canyon or World’s Edge arenas to eliminate their opponents.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
In this free-to-play MOBA, you’re tasked with picking one of the more than 100 playable Heroes to lead your squad to victory by utilizing that character’s unique skills, playing style, and other qualities.
Dragon Ball Fighter Z
The most recent video game adaption of the series, Dragon Ball Fighter Z, forgoes the arena-brawling style of the Xenoverse titles in favor of 3-against-3 tag-team combat on a 2D plane. One of the numerous factors that make Dragon Ball Fighter Z one of the most exciting esports games is the gameplay modification.
Fortnite
Fortnite has a lot going for it, accessible gameplay modes, bright and stylistic graphics, and a fantastic construction system. Less than stellar combat and microtransactions detract from the experience, but fans of the genre should try it because it is free to play. Additionally, the game is available on almost every platform that supports video games.
Overall, the industry is continuing to grow and develop at an impressive rate – with more sponsorships being signed and bigger tournaments taking place daily. So if you love watching professional gamers compete head-to-head, then there’s no doubt that the future looks bright for esports!
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