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From game to competition: The unstoppable rise of esports and competitive gaming

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In the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment, few industries have witnessed a tremendous rise quite like eSports.

What once started as a niche in the gaming world has now grown into a global sensation, captivating both amateur and professional players with its competitive events, life-changing cash prizes, and viewership figures in the hundreds of millions. Domain and hosting experts Fasthosts has compiled a brief overview of the rise of eSports, and competitive gaming throughout the years, and where the future may take the industry.

The Start of Competitive Gaming

eSports, at its core, revolves around competitive video gaming, and has experienced exponential growth over the past five decades. The earliest known gaming competition stems back to 1972, when Stanford University hosted a contest featuring the science fiction rocket game ‘Spacewar’. The event – orchestrated by sports reporter Stewart Brand – showcased the potential of video games as an “exhilarating spectator sport”, setting the stage for what was to come.

The Slow but Steady Rise

For several decades, the popularity of eSports experienced a gradual rise. In the pre-internet era, arcade tournaments provided the battleground for players, with magazines and record books recognising top players’ achievements. The 1990s marked a turning point as gaming tournaments began to gain traction, offering increasingly substantial prize pools. The technological advancements in video game consoles, and internet and PC gaming paved the way for a prosperous decade for the industry. At the end of the 90s we saw the internet cafe boom where young players would meet and play together in PC cafes, which was the start of the strong youth social gaming culture you see today.

The New Millennium

It was the early 2000s that witnessed the true birth of eSports as leagues and tournaments started to take shape around iconic titles like Counter-Strike, StarCraft, and Warcraft III. In 2001, the first World Cyber Games was held in Seoul. The tournament featured several popular games and attracted over 174,000 participants from 17 countries, making for an unexpected global success. In 2005, the CPL World Tour or Cyberathlete Professional League became the first event to have a prize pool offering over $1 million, demonstrating the start of life changing prizes that go hand in hand with competitive gaming.

Streaming Platforms: The Catalyst for Growth

From 2010 onwards, the world witnessed the revolutionary impact of online streaming platforms like Twitch.tv and Youtube Gaming, leading to skyrocketing eSports viewership figures. When Twitch launched, the ‘League of Legends’ world championship viewership figures went from 1.7 million in 2011 to 8.2 million in 2012, and to 32 million in 2013.

These streaming platforms connected fans worldwide, allowing them to tune into live events from home. The large viewing figures, advertising, and sponsorship opportunities led to investors starting their own teams, and household game developers creating leagues and tournaments. It became standard for eSports events to attract millions of viewers, and the landscape of competitive gaming had been transformed.

The Summit

In 2015, eSports reached a defining moment with The International 2015: Dota 2 Championships. The prize pool offered a staggering $18 million, breaking records and solidifying eSports’ place on the global stage. This marked a monumental shift, proving that tournaments could rival traditional sports events in terms of both prize money and profitability.

The New Decade: eSports Takes Centre Stage

As the calendar turned to the 2020s, eSports entered a new era. The decade began with some of the largest tournaments in history, attracting millions of spectators and providing the largest prize pools seen to date such as The 2021 International Dota 2 Championships which took place in Bucharest Romania, offering a $40,018,400.00 prize pool – the largest prize at the time.

By 2020, it had become increasingly common to see the term “professional eSports player” conceptualising the individuals dedicating their lives to competitive gaming, undergoing strict routines and training in the unique journey of becoming the world’s next best gaming athlete.

The Future

At present, the most-viewed tournaments are impressive spectacles in their own right, with titles like ‘Free Fire World Series’, ‘League of Legends’, and ‘Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’ drawing millions of viewers. Looking to the future, in August 2023, Saudi Arabian tournament organiser Gamers8 ran their ‘The Land of Heroes’ tournament with a colossal prize of $45 million dollars, a figure that has been shattered this year with the life-changing sum of $60 million dollars to be won at the eSports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Reinforcing the growing nature of the industry, according to BeyonGames.biz, the eSports market is estimated to grow at 21.81% between 2022 and 2027, with the size of the market expected to increase by $3,515.1 million.

The journey of competitive gaming from its humble beginnings to its current global standing is a testament to its enduring appeal and cultural impact. With its exhilarating competition and substantial rewards, eSports has become a true force in the entertainment world. As the industry continues to innovate and evolve, one thing remains clear: this isn’t just a passing trend. It’s a phenomenon that has permanently transformed the way we engage with and celebrate competitive gaming.

 

The post From game to competition: The unstoppable rise of esports and competitive gaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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NEW HORIZONS FOR ZETTAONLINE AFTER SBC SUMMIT

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Milena Tsankarska, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer, represented ZettaOnline at the SBC Summit, leaving the event with promising new opportunities for the company. The summit, held from September 24th to 26th, 2024, at the Feira Internacional de Lisboa, brought together some of the top global experts in the gaming industry in the Portuguese capital.

“We have the chance to exchange ideas and form promising new partnerships which faced directly our marketing strategy to expand our services to different markets by establishing and cultivating long-term partnerships with new clients,” shared Milena Tsankarska. “At Lisbon our team was actively involved in engaging with industry peers, showcasing our cutting-edge solutions, and discussing potential collaborations that could drive mutual growth and success,” she added afterwords.

More than 600 exhibitors showed their new products and services within the gaming and entertainment industry in Lisbon. There also were a variety of dynamic conference formats where 450+ speakers shared their experience, and everyone had the opportunity to connect with 25,000 industry professionals.

“We would like to thank the organizers for hosting such an outstanding event. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to our esteemed partners and clients for the opportunity to reconnect, explore new possibilities, and create memorable moments together,” said Milena after the SCB Summit. At the SBC Summit, there were several themed areas like the Casino & iGaming Zone, Sports Betting Zone, Player Protection Zone, ESI Lisbon – Esports, Gaming & Creators Zone, and two summits: Payment Expert Summit and Affiliate Leaders’ Summit.

Next stop for Zettaonline’s team is BEGE/EEGS, which are two of the premier events in the gaming and entertainment industry. The Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo (BEGE) will showcase the latest innovative technologies and trends from across the sector. The Eastern European Gaming Summit (EEGS) is an annual gaming conference, just parallel to BEGE, with more than 400 industry representatives from 25 countries. For more information about our participation and to book a meeting with us, please contact [email protected].

The post NEW HORIZONS FOR ZETTAONLINE AFTER SBC SUMMIT appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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MIRACL partners with Continent 8 to offer its single-step passwordless MFA solution to simplify the login experience

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MIRACL’s passwordless multi-factor authentication (MFA) service adds to Continent 8’s multi-layered cybersecurity and regulatory compliance suite of solutions, providing secure, frictionless logins on any browser or device.

MIRACL, a provider of passwordless multi-factor authentication (MFA), today announces a new partnership with Continent 8 Technologies, a leading provider of global managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity solutions to the iGaming and online sports betting industry.

This collaboration has enabled Continent 8 to enhance their regulated cybersecurity product portfolio with MIRACL’s secure, single-step MFA solution, offering the most secure and efficient authentication experience possible.

MIRACL’s MFA service streamlines the authentication process with a single personal identification number (PIN) code or device-based biometric. This allows players to access an online service via browser or app in under two seconds – 20 times faster than traditional multi-step MFA methods. Crucially, this means MIRACL enjoys the highest Login Success Rate, 99.9% on average, which leads to increased traffic and conversions, boosting revenue and enhancing user experience.

The solution also saves cost by preventing account takeovers and minimising account resets, allowing gaming operators and suppliers to reduce IT helpdesk and infrastructure support costs.

The MIRACL MFA solution delivers banking-grade security through a zero-knowledge framework, ensuring that no security-related information is stored or shared. By eliminating credential exchanges, the service is fully resistant to all remote and brute-force attacks, including credential stuffing, man-in-the-middle, password spraying, phishing, replay and SMS fatigue, thereby offering zero vulnerabilities. The MFA solution complies with the most stringent security and privacy regulations, including MFA legislation requirements for the regulated iGaming and online sports betting industry.

Rob Griffin, CEO at MIRACL said “The shift to mandated MFA by regulators is set to be a massive change in the industry with requirements changing quickly across the globe. MIRACL meets 100% of these requirements for 100% of users while also massively improving their experience.

Over the last 25 years, Continent 8 has become a trusted authority within iGaming in respect of cybersecurity, regulatory adherence and the art of provisioning gaming services that delight their customers. MIRACL’s innovative solutions exceed customers’ expectations in all three of these realms so for us, Continent 8 is the perfect partner. We look forward to bringing our passwordless, single-step MFA to their global client base.

While operators can understand conceptually the potential for passwordless authentication to increase revenues and save costs, they need a trusted and expert partner to help navigate the path. Working closely in tandem, MIRACL and Continent 8 can meet that sizable customer need to ensure customers realise the massive ROI that MIRACL’s passwordless MFA enables.”

MIRACL’s passwordless MFA solution will be part of Continent 8 and C8 Secure’s (a Continent 8 company specialised in cybersecurity) comprehensive suite of multi-layered cybersecurity solutions. The current portfolio includes VAPT, Compliance Audit, DDoS, EDR & MDR, Mobile Protect, SafeBait, SIEM & SOC, V-Scan, Backup and WAAP services, among others.

David Brace, Principal, Innovation & Technology at Continent 8, said: “Speed, uptime, compliance and security are the pillars of our business, whether it be infrastructure, connectivity or the protection of digital assets. By partnering with MIRACL, we add an MFA service that protects players from fraud and cyber attacks, meets regulatory compliance and offers operators a swift, password-less MFA experience.

“This strategic alliance is a significant step forward in our ongoing mission to be the trusted cybersecurity and infrastructure partner for the regulated iGaming and online sports betting industry.”

The post MIRACL partners with Continent 8 to offer its single-step passwordless MFA solution to simplify the login experience appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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7777 gaming signs strategic agreement with R. Franco Digital, expanding reach in Spain and Latin America

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7777 gaming signs a strategic agreement with R. Franco Digital, a prominent player in the gaming sector and part of the Orenes Group. This partnership sees 7777 gaming’s extensive portfolio of casino content distributed across Spain and key markets in Latin America, where R. Franco Digital has a significant presence.

Through this agreement, players in these regions will gain access to 7777 gaming’s popular and diverse titles, including Devil’s Deal Soul for Sale, Cash 100, Crazy 100 Bucks, Thracian Treasures, Crazy 20 Bucks, Barbarian, Candy Anyways, Club Mr. Luck, Jinn, Sea of Treasures, and many more. Known for their innovative features and captivating gameplay, these games are set to bring a fresh wave of excitement to players across Spain and Latin America.

Zhana Aleksandrova, Business Development Manager for Spain & Latin America at 7777 gaming, commented: “The signed agreement with R. Franco Digital gives us another level of motivation and dedication to two very important markets for us – Spain and Latin America. R. Franco Digital has a strong presence, a wide network of partners, and an audience that loves exciting and innovative casino games. We are confident in our mutual success and are looking forward to receiving feedback from the players’ community.”

Guillermo Ruipérez, Head of Sales at R. Franco Digital, added: “We always strive to adapt our offerings to the requirements of our clients and their players. Our partnership with 7777 gaming aligns with our mission to offer the latest and most innovative gaming concepts available on the market right now. We are constantly upgrading and expanding our portfolio of providers to ensure that our clients are satisfied with what we can offer.”

This collaboration represents a significant step forward for both companies, as they work together to bring high-quality, engaging casino games to new and existing players in these vibrant markets.

The post 7777 gaming signs strategic agreement with R. Franco Digital, expanding reach in Spain and Latin America appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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