It’s difficult to comprehend how quickly eSports gaming has become such a hugely significant, global industry. Video gaming has long provided investors and analysts with many reasons to preach about the potential behemoth that lies in waiting for the right company that could connect gamers globally in the most convenient way possible. In the 1980s, even primitive arcades were cash cows for businesses, turning over thousands of dollars a week in profit. As the devices became more personal and sophisticated, home consoles like the PlayStation 1 and Nintendo 64 shifted tens of millions of units.
Before the internet existed, these companies aimed to bring together competitors worldwide, but finding and bringing them together was a lot more challenging than in today’s market. Every console game or PC game like League of Legends has a detailed set of statistics and data about the top players or teams, making it far easier for eSports tournament organizers to identify the most talented players and bring them on board. League Of Legends is on the Mount Rushmore of eSports, so to speak; it is the most popular, brings in the most significant global audiences, and was one of the first games to establish itself as an eSports and present the whole industry as a viable business model.
The Original Blueprint
Several big gaming titles are vying to become the biggest eSports league. As the prize pools continue to grow and more companies find new innovative ways to connect fans and players to interact with these multi-million dollar tournaments, League Of Legends was one of the first to establish itself. The free-to-play game wasn’t just a revelation when it came out, but it is still a hugely successful game, despite coming out in 2009. With millions of people globally tuning in to watch League Of Legends eSports tournaments, it was only a matter of time before a gambling market aimed at those who enjoy watching the games rose to the surface.
Professional sports have long been popular markets, from basketball to soccer and American football. Any competition that attracts millions of viewers will inevitably result in a gambling market that intertwines with it at some stage. Professional video gaming markets are the latest area where gambling companies have established a multitude of markets covering a broad range of games and tournaments. League Of Legends betting set the blueprint for eSports gambling and showed a vast potential market for those who enjoy watching eSports games. So when we talk about the blueprint, we also refer to the market that works in tandem with these colossal companies.
Daring To Dream Big
It might seem second nature now, but League Of Legends tournaments were the first eSports games to aim at stadiums and arenas. Although the initial promise of eSports tournaments became painstakingly obvious given how quickly small halls and theatres would sell out, League Of Legends dared to go one step beyond. Many mainstream media outlets proclaimed League Of Legends as an example of how eSports began establishing itself as one of the most exciting new industries in sports entertainment.
As the internet started to influence video console gaming, few could have imagined that League Of Legends would be hosting stadium tournaments. It flourished from an exciting idea to a multi-billion dollar sector in a little over a decade. In addition, the fact multiple large international news companies were monitoring the tournament shows just how much attention moved toward the industry.
The 2017 World Championships took place in Beijing National Stadium, which has a capacity of 80,000. Two years later, it surpassed the 100 million viewers mark, and as a standalone market, it brings in more global views than the NBA.
True Spirit Of Gaming Culture & Community
The free-to-play model is something that has caught on within the world of video gaming over the last few years. Although League Of Legends wasn’t the first game to follow this model, it’s arguably the most successful example. In today’s market, free-to-play games where you purchase in-game tools and skins are a saturated market. However, in 2009, League Of Legends not only perfected this format, but the designers constructed a game with genuine longevity and value.
By designing a game that required no upfront payment, Riot Games could advertise League Of Legends to prospective players without them having to pay a dime. Unlike many other games that preceded it, which can involve quite a considerable upfront cost before you even decide whether you like it, League Of Legends brought people on board for minimal cost. This long-term strategy has paid dividends, as it is now one of the most profitable games ever. In addition, it is considered one of the greatest video games of all time and undoubtedly one of the most popular.
