The Rise of Massive Multiplayer Online Games, eSports, and Game Live Streaming

The art of playing games is fast changing with the times. In no more than a decade, online gaming has exploded massively, with the industry estimated to hit close to $200 billion in revenue by the year 2022. It is one of the fastest growing industries in the world.

Where it all started

It has been established that video gaming prototypes were created as early as the 1950s, but the first gaming console was only made available for purchase in the 1970s. As a result of the rapid growth of the internet, the use of online games proliferated in the late 90s and has seen tremendous growth ever since. Online gaming companies such as Betway have helped popularise eSports and live online games through their platforms.

The widespread availability of the internet in the 1990s set the stage for what we have today, and what has followed ever since has been magnificent.
• 2003: Digital Storefront Steam was launched to allow gamers to purchase and review games online
• 2004: The first Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO), World of Warcraft was launched, gaining over 10 million active subscribers
• 2007: Mobile online gaming started taking shape
• 2009: Minecraft was launched, instantly becoming a hit as the best-selling video game with sales of over 176 million copies
• 2015: There were 1.5 billion online gamers registered around the world
• 2016: Pokemon Go, an Augmented Reality game, was launched, becoming the biggest revenue generator on the mobile platform in its first month.
• 2019: Stadia by Google, a cloud gaming service that allows for playing without a console was launched

Technological innovations have played a significant role in the evolution of online gaming, but other factors cannot be overlooked. Looking into the components that make up online gaming, factors such as distribution and sales of games, online streaming services, hardware and software developers, eSports, gaming arenas, game publishers and developers have been instrumental in the rise.

The future of online gaming is mobile

In 2019, the mobile online platform produced $68.5 billion in revenue, equivalent to 45 percent of the total market share that also includes tablet and PC gaming.
Mobile gaming is a relatively new segment, but it has progressed at an astonishing speed. Some 2.4 billion people played online games on their mobiles in 2019 alone, making it the biggest platform yet. Much of the development can be attributed to the innovative and smooth user experience, which relies heavily on user-friendly features like established in-app purchases.
Now the 5G era is here with us, and even more should be expected from these mobile gaming consoles. The industry is set for a massive transformation and exciting times ahead.

What more?
It is a new age of entertainment, and with the growing number of players, we should be braced for endless technological possibilities. Virtual Reality is already a massive hit in the industry. Market leaders such as Valve and Oculus announced cheaper headset options, which will bridge the gap between reality and fantasy far more easily. Consequently, big players in the betting industry like Betway are also set to reap significant benefits from the new developments.
Cloud gaming has picked up from where it left off in 2019, taking advantage of faster, more reliable internet connections. Gamers can now enjoy the luxury of live streaming games instead of playing on a console.

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