eSports has always been a sector that is continually changing and trying to get hold of in popular culture.
Industry professionals examined and considered the last year in eSports to gauge how the sector has evolved.
When we consider the year overall, 2024 was rife with significant eSports announcements and historic occurrences. Beginning with the change from professional CS:GO to Counter-Strike 2, the eSports industry was represented by the eSports World Cup and the Overwatch Championship Series. The last LCS goodbye with League of Legend was happening concurrently.
The way eSports companies and ecosystems kept negotiating, adjusting, and developing under the demanding climate of the eSports winter marked 2024 as well. Consolidation was a common word used all year long as companies revealed significant mergers and acquisitions meant to improve their standing in the industry.
Go on to see how industry players characterized eSports in 2024 as well as which situations most (and least) affected them.
How would you characterize eSports in 2024?
“Some businesses have not withstood the pressure, but those that have adapted continue to thrive,” Team Liquid CEO Steve Arhancet said of 2024 as a transforming year. He underlines the continuous expansion of the gaming audience and the difficulties in properly profiting from this passion.
Nicolas Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality, agrees, pointing out that important events such as League of Legends, CS2, and VALORATIVE remain major cornerstones of the eSports sector. He underlines their increasing importance in luring sponsors and investors, thus guaranteeing stability and long-term success.
CEO Alban Dechelotte of G2 eSports notes the worldwide eSports fan base has increased and the launch of historic events like the IOC Olympic eSports Games and the eSports World Cup. These benchmarks, he thinks, have revitalized the ecosystem and raised the industry’s worldwide attraction.
Monica Dinsmore, Senior Director of eSports and Ventures Brand at Electronic Arts, stresses the need for eSports as a vehicle for involvement and community development. She points to EA’s emphasis on such important competitive games as Madden NFL, EA SPORTS FC, and Apex Legends, which still inspire significant engagement with their player base.
eSports World Cup Foundation Chief Product Officer Faisal Binhomran says 2024 will be a year of progress and healing. He points to the rising popularity of worldwide events like the eSports World Cup and League of Legends Worlds as well as the comeback in viewing figures.
Ninjas in Pyjamas CEO Hicham Chahine muses about the wary beginning of 2024 and the latter months’ good change. He credits this shift to macroeconomic changes like reduced inflation and brand interest from eSports sponsorships.
eSports has confirmed its position as a popular cultural phenomenon, said S8UL co-founder Animesh “8Bit Thug.” He draws attention to the obvious differences between general gaming material and competitive gaming as well as the developing synergy of eSports, conventional sports, and influencer-driven content.
Finally, BLAST CEO Robbie Douek views 2024 as a pivotal year and a renewed focus. Through consumer-oriented events, he underlines the industry’s attempts to bring eSports closer to fans, therefore representing a major development for the sector.
Cybersports: New frontiers
Furthermore, noted in 2024 is the start of projects such as the Olympic Cybersport Games from the IOC and the eSports World Cup. These events have helped cybersport to become a worldwide phenomenon more firmly established. G2 eSports CEO Alban Deschlott emphasized the team’s performance on the worldwide scene, as well as the notable increase in the fan base in China.
One of the pioneers in eSports betting, GGBET has helped to popularize the sport by providing consumers with a large range of events to wager on and thus enhancing the user experience on its platform.
Achievements and challenges
The sector has had several difficulties despite its achievements. Emphasizing the need for macroeconomic circumstances and reduced inflation, which let businesses spend more in cybersports, Ninja in Pyjamas CEO Hisham Shaheen said Still important subjects of debate, nevertheless, are financial difficulties and the necessity of adaptation to change.
2024 shows how dynamically changing cybersports are still. Significant sector players like Team Liquid, G2 eSports and Ninjas in Pyjamas are opening the path for a sustainable future. Under these circumstances, GGBET is still a reliable partner that helps cybersports become more globally popularized. For this vibrant sector, 2025 promises only what we can advance.