Objective: The research plan is essential in determining the broad questions that will guide a future research paper on esports. This learning plan formulates specific broad questions based on different topics related to esports and its transformative impact on gaming.
Key Research Questions
- What are the factors that have led to the rise of esports in the gaming industry?
- How is the growth of esports changing the gaming economy? What are the current trends and future projections?
- How have technological advancements influenced changes in the gaming industry, especially in promoting esports?
- What have been the major influences on the growth of esports and the increasing number of fans engaging in competitive gaming?
- How can we predict future esports tournaments and the role they will play in shaping the gaming industry?
Focus Paper Definition
The purpose of the research plan is to develop a list of questions that will form the foundation for a future research paper on the transformative impact of esports on gaming. The explanation about the focus paper statement is significant because it identifies different topics that will be discussed and the questions that will be answered.
The purpose of the research paper will be to discuss how esports has transformed the gaming industry. The chosen topics aim to provide detailed information that will demonstrate a clear understanding of the research topic. Each question will be answered based on the broader research conducted to test its relevance to the research topic.
Key Learning from the Questionnaire
The activity is crucial in designing a research project that is data-rich and meaningful. The following are the core areas of learning based on this activity:
- Understanding the purpose of a research project in formulating questions to create knowledge on the subject.
- Defining the purpose of a focus paper and its topics to form tentative questions to be answered based on research.
- Preparing a list of topics and questions to assist in designing a future research paper based on collected data.
Future Trends in Esports
- Record-breaking Prize Pools: The average prize pool for major esports tournaments will break the $10 million mark by 2026. This will attract top talent and increase the competitiveness of the sport.
- Online Tournaments Dominate: About 70% of all esports gatherings will be held online. All games can have more accessible versions online, and many players can also participate in these competitions.
- Variety of Games Represented: More titles will be represented in events, sometimes from new genres or unique games that appeal to a wider audience.
- Fan Engagement: Live tournaments will be focused on connecting to the fans, with interactive features such as live polls and other forms of participation. The more viewers can influence the outcomes, the more invested they are likely to become.
- Worldwide Following: Live tournaments will host international audiences, with streaming peaks hitting 300 million live viewers throughout the world.
- College Programs: More than 1,000 schools will offer esports scholarships by 2025.
Impacts of Live Stream on Esports
Live streaming is building a firm foundation for the esports community to grow. Fans can directly participate in the viewing of their favorite publishers and players and can even purchase products, like skins or merchandise, directly inspired by the content creators.
Twitch, the first mainstay on the streaming platform, has been the breakout success story of the industry, but other platforms like YouTube Gaming and Facebook Gaming have also made their presence felt.
Some estimates predict that viewership of live streaming of games will hit 1 billion hours per month by 2026. As such, it is likely that brands around the world will fund esports events, as they will also have a huge audience base for the streamed events.
to one source, $1 billion of sponsorship revenue will be realized by 2024. With the advancement of live streaming, its role in fan engagement and community building will be even more significant. In the future, streams will become increasingly innovative, such as interactive overlays and viewer polls, which will immerse fans in the experience deeply. As a result, player communities will grow along with the viewers’ loyalty to them.
Possible Scenario for the Esports Sponsorship and Media Coverage
Considering the ever-growing acceptance of esports, their sponsorship is also destined to grow. The share of esports sponsorship in the overall market will increase to 60% by 2025. As esports are still underestimated by many industries and individuals, the number of companies utilizing sponsorship opportunities will also increase. Companies will sponsor professional teams, players, and events, contributing to the overall growth of this segment.
Due to the increase in sponsorship and general interest, esports will receive more media coverage by 2024. An estimate indicates that over 50% of major media outlets will be providing esports content, such as highlights, player and analyst interviews, and post-match analyses. The promotion of esports through traditional news media and online platforms will be mutual—media channels will receive increased viewership, while esports will gain more legitimacy and acknowledgment from a broader audience.
Due to esports’ expansion into mainstream media, cross-promotion and co-branding of esports products, teams, and players will take place more often. Brands will try to engage their young target audiences by hinting at their support of esports, assisting in their growth, and wanting to make them better. Esports expansion will be beneficial for brands and media.
Future Developments in the Gaming Culture and Career Opportunities
As a result of the growing popularity of esports, they are bound to influence the gaming culture of the future. As esports’ status grows, so will the number of opportunities in the gaming industry. By 2026, the esports workforce will exceed 10,000 individuals. Such great numbers of specialists will be required for player management, content production, event management, and marketing.
The rise of competitive gaming, and naturally esports, will influence gaming by transforming it and creating a more competitive hedonic experience. Gaming was traditionally enjoyed as a recreational experience, but it will involve greater competition from now on as players seek more excitement.
The concept of independent play was considered appealing, but in an age of social media, competitive gaming will be the order of the day. The rise of amateur tournaments will encourage more people to join and improve, and this new trend of competitive gaming will be highly beneficial for the gaming industry in the future.
It will help to popularize the idea of gaming across generations since players of any age can find the right competitive scenario.
Esports will also shape the future of the industry by creating a ready labor force. Institutions of learning will increasingly recognize the role of esports in the lives of students, knowing that many of them will seek careers in gaming.
By 2025, more than 250 colleges will offer a degree in esports: the management of and related fields. The industry is fast-growing, and people need the skills to take charge of the ever-changing business environment. Other opportunities by 2025 will include employment in the media, technology, and marketing industry with varying skills, therefore supporting the gaming world.
More people from diverse backgrounds will be interested in engaging the sector with a myriad of choices for those who never took to playing. Such moves will help the industry to innovate. Peace of mind for developers since more competitive experiences will be available.
