The esports market is certainly on the move. Expected to be worth USD 3820.37 Million by 2027, avid gamers, tech developers and the sporting world are coming together to create a new era of competitive sporting events across the globe.
As players swap the pitch for their PS5, could a spike in esports popularity trigger market growth for surrounding industries? From VR headsets to screen-safe wearables, the esports market has become a ripe playing field for eyewear entrepreneurs.
What is Esports?
Esports stands for electronic sports, most commonly described as competitive video gaming. While esports are not played physically, they differ from traditional game-play, often involving a competition prize, engaging spectators and numerous levels of difficulty, mirroring many real-life sporting events.
There are a number of ways to engage with esports. Whether you play one-on-one in games such as Street Fighter and FIFA, or in teams on Halo and Overwatch, esports is accessible to anyone, no matter their physical ability or geographical distance.
Is the Esports market on the move?
The esports market is ripe for development in 2023. On the back of Covid-19’s push for digitalisation, more people than ever before tapped into virtual stadiums to watch an esports match or fight, especially when traditional sporting events were unavailable to attend.
In response, monetisation models are expanding. From introducing NFT merchandise to opening up loyalty programs and pushing for live broadcasting, there are plenty of opportunities arising in 2023 for the industry.
“There’s room to improve live experiences and how esports are broadcast. Enough to eventually bring them up to the same level of popularity as Formula 1 or football,” says Brian Ward, CEO of Savvy Games Group.
“The sector, understandably, has a specific appeal — mainly for the ever-growing audience of gamers or fans of specific competitive games — and we need to broaden that appeal more generally. Accessibility to live or broadcasted esports matches is part of the issue when it comes to appealing to a wider audience.”
Better still, esports is rising up the ranks for its inclusivity. While traditional sporting can discriminate against gender and disability, esports gaming platforms allow any user with the tech to take part.
For example, while we may be used to seeing men's and women's teams segregated in football and rugby, esports creates an opportunity for a mixed kickabout. In response, Women In Games reported that 1 in 20 women have now joined the esports community.
Could Esport’s success create new opportunities for eyewear entrepreneurs?
As the esports market grows, so do the opportunities for tech developers and wearable manufacturers. From VR headsets to gamer glasses, esports success could open up new doors for industry niches.
A call for Gamer Glasses
One topic receiving traction in 2023 is eyestrain. As gaming becomes a more popular pastime, alongside higher emote working figures, we are spending more time with screens every day.
On the back of an esports boom, eyestrain has become a concern for many game developers, especially when a user is exposed to blue light for an extended number of hours. In response, eyewear entrepreneurs have begun to roll out gamer glasses, perfect for esporting while still stylish.
As top brands such as Nike, Gunnar and Oakley roll out glare-reducing lenses for their most popular frames, users can enjoy specs that actually enhance their gaming experience. From enhancing depth perception to improving colour contrast, faced-paced players could benefit from these wearable accessories.
Is immersive eyewear the next Esports trend?
With esports development comes a market ripe for more technological innovation. As games become more immersive, could AR/VR wearables become the next biggest hit on the market?
For example, Meta’s Quest 2 has currently sold over 14.8 million units since its first release in 2020, and its successor, Meta Quest 3, is tipped to be snapped up just as quickly when it drops on the market.
The key to truly embracing esports is to add traditional sporting elements to the gameplay. As developers add in movement and world immersion, making players feel as if they are truly on the pitch, the sky will be the limit for wearable developers that want to take immersivity one step further.
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