Column: Tech in Mbombela

E-sports (electronic sports), or competitive gaming, is almost worth a whopping $700 million this year alone, and brands have contributed $517 million towards the industry, with a global audience of 385 million and 191 million enthusiasts. According to the Global E-sports Market Report, brand investment will double by 2020.

Also read: Column: Tech in Mbombela

While the market value of South African e-sports may be comparatively low to that of the US (just below a R20-million industry), the visibility of how many brands are investing in e-sports is on the rise.

Also read:  Macau shows off robot croupiers as hopes of recovery rise

The sport is enjoying more attention with 40 per cent of the audience not being competitive gamers themselves. SuperSport recently partnered with British gaming channel Ginx TV to offer a 24-hour channel to DStv Now subscribers.

Some games at large tournaments such as RAGE can already have prize pools of as much as R550 000, with first place receiving R220 000, and brands are increasingly interested in sponsoring competitive teams.

There has been talks of forming an e-sports governing body of sorts, similar to other national sport organisations or unions. Undoubtedly, the sport is becoming serious in South Africa.

Local cryptocurrency experts and e-sports team Leetpro recently launched a local corporate league to provide an informal networking platform for likeminded businesses in the Lowveld, in which teams compete in a game of their choice against each other. Check out Lowveld E-Sports on Facebook.

Also read: Video games, e-commerce booming in Mideast: study

Leetpro itself recently acquired a sponsorship by well-known hardware brand MSI, regularly providing them with the newest and best parts.
The team is also growing in popularity with the recent signing of some well-known professional gamers. Lowvelders can look forward to hearing from this local team in national tournaments next year.