Esports 2024 wrap up
2024 ends caveated with cautious optimizm
esports stands at another pivotal moment, inviting familiar discussion around its future direction. Each of the topics in this article warrants its own debate and exploration, but we aim to highlight key themes that have emerged or, in some cases, remained over the past half-century of esports’ rise. Is esports ready to consolidate its fragmented structure and embrace a truly global model, or will it remain splintered by local leagues and shifting interests?
While esports is uniquely positioned for worldwide reach, it also faces significant challenges in unifying itself under a single, cohesive umbrella. Drawing inspiration from the global successes of F1, the NBA, even the olympics and other established sports could be the key to making esports a streamlined, accessible, and profitable industry indulgence.
Below, we delve into some of the central dynamics and questions that may shape esports’ global future and ask: is the industry prepared to take the next leap? or if it needs a push, is it getting the right one? is it an industry or a side hussle of a another hussle? let’s not get into the who and why today, let’s focus on the opportunity and the horizon ahead! THere are many hard working people out there who put the players and fans as the priority, lets hope that fandom saves the day and the decade, leaving the haters and doubters “defeated”!
Creating Global Icons: A Path to Building Esports Heroes
In traditional sports, global stars like Messi, Federer, and Hamilton transcend borders, and a similar opportunity exists within esports. Recognizable players have massive fanbases, but these stars have yet to reach the universal stature of athletes from the NBA or F1. A centralized esports structure could elevate the top players and teams, making them household names and building global fandom around their stories and accomplishments.
Yet, it raises an interesting question: will one game eventually dominate the landscape, creating a stable base of esports heroes, or will a diversity of popular titles hold esports back? The variety of games in esports is a double-edged sword—it offers broad appeal but also divides attention across different titles. A single dominant game could unify viewership, but if this diversity continues, esports may need to find a new way to centralize attention around its most elite players and teams.
The Low Barrier to Entry and Broad Fandom Appeal
Esports’ low barrier to entry makes it accessible to fans and players worldwide, allowing anyone with an internet connection to compete or watch. However, while accessibility builds a broad base, the industry sees only a fraction of gamers interested in the competitive aspects of esports. In fact, most gaming content consumed daily centers around entertainment, storytelling, or casual gaming rather than competitive play. As a result, esports viewership struggles to capture the same numbers as mainstream gaming content outside marquee events.
Despite this, fandom remains a powerful force in esports, with many fans following players and teams passionately. This fandom is undeniable, and focusing on elevating esports personalities and teams could unlock new levels of engagement, making esports an entertainment mainstay even among casual gamers.
Lessons from Broadcast and Monetization: Moving Toward Simplicity
In sports like F1 or the Premier League, broadcast deals have been structured to make viewership simple and accessible globally. This accessibility is critical to building a strong viewership base, yet esports remains fragmented across platforms, often shifting with game popularity and regional licensing deals. Game IPs often go in and out of popularity as generational preferences shift, adding another layer of complexity to the broadcast landscape. This variation can dilute fan commitment and hinders advertisers from making long-term sponsorship investments.
Would esports benefit from a unified, simplified broadcast structure? There’s strong potential, but aligning the priorities of game developers and esports organizers remains challenging. Developers’ goals for a title might not align with an esports organizer’s vision for longevity or global appeal, making cohesive broadcasts harder to achieve. A more unified approach would benefit the industry’s growth, but collaboration between developers, organizers, and broadcasters will be essential for long-term success.
The Need for a Global-First Model and a Top-Down Structure
F1 is an example of a regional sport that evolved into a global phenomenon by creating a standardized experience for fans everywhere. Such a model could work for esports, yet it will require careful collaboration across developers and game titles. The nature of game IPs, with different developers each holding rights, makes this a complex undertaking. Aligning these interests to achieve a top-down approach similar to F1 could bring cohesion and elevate esports to a universal entertainment platform, but success depends on stakeholders agreeing on a shared vision for esports as a truly global product.
Could esports embrace this top-down model? While the fragmentation across games and platforms presents challenges, the potential rewards could make it worthwhile. A universal esports structure, centered on elite global competitions, would provide fans with a clearer path to follow and allow players to become global stars.
Managing IP and Rights: Key to Unlocking Global Appeal
One of the most complex aspects of esports is intellectual property management, as game publishers hold significant control over the IP of esports titles. In a globalized model, simplifying the commercial and broadcasting rights for major tournaments is essential to creating a cohesive viewing experience and maximizing revenue streams. Esports can learn from traditional sports that have struck a balance between IP rights and accessibility.
By working closely with game publishers and streamlining the commercial rights for major events, esports can reduce the fragmentation that currently hinders its growth. A more straightforward IP and rights structure would enable better packaging for global media deals, facilitating monetization through advertising and sponsorship in a unified manner. The result is a more attractive proposition for both investors and advertisers, who can leverage the global reach of esports without the administrative headache of navigating localized rights.
Profitability and Outside Investments: Who Stands to Gain?
As esports attracts more external investment, questions of profitability and sustainability become more pressing. Investors outside the gaming world bring both opportunities and risks, and their priorities don’t always align with those within the industry. While some investments may embolden esports by bringing in capital and expertise, others could distort the landscape, emphasizing short-term gains over sustainable growth. It’s a topic worth exploring in future discussions, as esports must determine what kind of investments will foster growth and which may ultimately hinder its development.
Global First, Local Later: Building a Universal Fanbase for Esports
If esports prioritizes a global model first, it could then layer in local events and regional engagement, similar to the way the NBA or F1 expanded globally before creating local touchpoints. With a unified fanbase, esports could then introduce regional competitions, fan events, and local team initiatives to strengthen engagement. This global-first approach provides clarity for fans and sponsors while creating a solid foundation for long-term growth and profitability.
The Path Forward for Esports: Can It Unite on the Global Stage?
Esports holds immense promise to reshape entertainment, but to realize this potential, it must address its structural challenges. The steps ahead, creating global heroes, simplifying broadcasts, adopting a unified model, and managing IP rights effectively, will define whether esports can become the universal sport it aspires to be. The industry’s growth will require compromise, collaboration, and a focus on building a stable, accessible experience for fans and players alike.
Ultimately, the question for esports stakeholders, publishers, organizers, and teams remains: can they come together to create a product that resonates universally? If so, esports could very well stand alongside traditional sports as a global phenomenon. For fans and investors alike, this could be the beginning of a new era in entertainment, one where esports truly breaks down borders, capturing imaginations around the world.
The challenge has been laid out. Will esports take the leap?
