Today’s esports environment is a world away from the early days of competitive gaming in the 1980s. Technology such as improved Internet coverage and the increased use of mobile devices has brought gaming to a whole new audience, and the growing number of gaming competitions has led to the recognition of esports as a sport in its own right.
This change in perception is seen on non-Gamstop betting sites where betting on esports competition is available alongside betting on traditional sports, such as football, snooker, and boxing. The value of esports contests, such as the League of Legends World Championship (LoL Worlds), also reflects how much the esports world has progressed. Technology has played a vital role in this progression. Below, you can see more details about the technology that has revolutionized esports and how this has happened.
Examining the Impact of Technology on eSports
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)
The use of virtual reality (VR) in gaming allows esports players to immerse themselves in a virtual environment. They can experience play in a new dimension and put themselves in the place of characters. The advantages that VR brings to players, enhancing their playing skills include,
- Realistic experiences during play that engage the senses.
- Enhanced hand-eye coordination.
- Opportunities to be more physical during play.
Increase in mobile gaming
Mobile gaming is arguably the technological advancement that has most revolutionized esports over the years. The growth in mobile coverage means that more people have the freedom to play games from any location that has access to the Internet. Overall, the changes that mobile gaming has brought to esports include,
- An increase in mobile esports tournaments.
- Improved convenience of playing and practicing.
- Accessibility to a wider demographic, thereby improving competition.
- Integration with social media platforms to enable improved sharing and increase the esports audience.
Gaming in the Cloud
Cloud gaming has truly been a game-changer in esports. It allows gamers to participate in high-end games without having to invest in expensive hardware. The advantages that go along with this are,
- Access to a large catalog of games without the need to download any content.
- Compatibility across devices, including PCs, smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs.
- Reduced expenses for competitive gamers who use the Cloud.
The global Cloud gaming market is set to continue expanding and is expected to reach a value of $7 billion by 2027. Ongoing developments, such as the recent announcement that Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on Meta’s Quest VR headsets, show just how buoyant the Cloud gaming market is.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Esports
Artificial intelligence (AI) has been big news recently concerning the positive and negative impacts it can have on life. In the case of esports, the impact is positive. AI algorithms help to create more intelligent and challenging non-player characters (NPCs). This makes the gaming experience more rewarding. AI also assists with the analysis of player performance and patterns and enables the creation of personalized recommendations.
Each example of technology in this article has played a vital role in revolutionizing esports and turning it into a recognized sport in its own right.
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