The esports industry continues to grow at an explosive rate as we enter 2025. New categories are emerging, prize pools have reached all-time highs, and significant scandals are reshaping the playing field. With the rising tide of professional gaming, both casual players and devoted fans are tuning in to watch live streams and tournaments.
Interestingly, the growth of esports mirrors trends seen in the beer world, where niche interests have expanded into global movements. Just as esports has transformed from a hobby into a worldwide phenomenon, homebrewing, and beer culture have evolved into thriving industries supported by enthusiasts and professionals alike. Both domains celebrate creativity, skill, and a shared sense of community, bringing people together across borders.
New Esports Disciplines Emergent in 2024
If you love pairing homebrews with the thrill of competitive gaming, 2024 introduced a fresh wave of esports disciplines that promise to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Esports is a fairly stable industry, and the top sports are typically occupied by the same games. However, from time to time, new and exciting esports disciplines emerge. Here is a list of some of these disciplines and detailed information about them:
- EA Sports FC 24 – This is the continuation of the legendary football game series, so in a sense, it’s not a brand-new game. Every year, a new installment of this football simulator is released, immediately capturing the entire gaming industry and football fans alike. In 2024, the game made it to the list of the 20 best esports disciplines, with tournament prize pools reaching $3.5 million.
- Deadlock – The highly anticipated game from Valve, which, although still in development, is gaining popularity. This third-person shooter incorporates aspects of various gaming genres, such as MOBA. So, if you’re tired of lol predictions, you might want to give Deadlock a try. It’s worth noting that tournaments for this discipline are still in their early stages but could become more prominent as the game is fully released.
- Tekken 8 – The continuation of the legendary Tekken fighting game series. This version features improved graphics, gameplay mechanics, and new features. Major tournaments have already been held for Tekken 8, and the game was also nominated for “Best Multiplayer Game” at The Game Awards.
This is just a small selection of the new arrivals in esports that performed quite well in 2024, but they certainly deserve mention in this article.
Record Prize Pools Shaped the Esports in 2024
2024 had been a year that not only introduced new esports genres but also some unprecedented prize money. This trend of rising prize money has been in place for the past years and 2024 was not the exception which reflects the growing phenomenon of esports.
Dota 2, this game has consistently been the most commercially viable in esports, having the highest prize pools. Tournaments, e.g., The International, stand as the touchstones in the esports industry. Last year, the total prize purse for Dota 2 reached $21 million which is the highest in all esports. This increase in prize money has led to a greater sponsorship buy and brands are keen to be in the same environment alongside the best in this game.
Next in line is CS2 and, surprisingly, Honor of Kings. You can read more about these games on EgamersWorld to discover what makes them unique and learn about their tournaments. Returning to prize pools, these games also boast impressive figures: CS2 amassed $20.5 million, while Honor of Kings slightly exceeded $20 million.
Prize pools continue to expand and so do the fan engagement levels. Viewership of televised major tournaments is rising which is expanding the funding for esports broadcasts to new levels. This tells us that there esports industry is now a major contributor to the entertainment landscape, a leading contributor to the entertainment field alongside professional sports.
Scandals Rocking Esports in 2024
Similar to how a homebrewer carefully ensures that each batch is crafted with integrity, the esports industry in 2024 faced its own challenges in maintaining fairness and transparency. Scandals, including player conflicts and match-fixing, rocked the scene, drawing parallels to the importance of quality control in brewing.
One of the most talked-about controversies this year took place in Dota 2 between players ATF and SoNNeikO. The conflict occurred during the PGL Wallachia 2024 tournament when the players clashed during a match. The altercation escalated when SoNNeikO allegedly threatened to physically attack ATF, who tried to avoid further confrontation. This led ATF’s team to consider withdrawing from the tournament unless the organizers intervened. Fortunately, the situation was resolved without any harm, and the tournament continued without further incidents.
Another recurring issue in esports involves match-fixing and cheating. Although match-fixing was more apparent in the past, it still does occur. The more lucrative the financial payoff becomes, the more players or teams turn to improper behavior, such as intentionally throwing games in the hope of a bet payout. Nevertheless, by tightening the reins on such behavior, the frequencies of match-fixing have dropped considerably, resulting in a lot of fairer matches.
The Future of Esports: Opportunities and Challenges
The takeaway from these events and the rest of the remaining future is that esports took giant leaps in 2024. Within a short period of time, the scale of the industry has exponentially increased to the ceiling, similar to the advanced level of a traditional sport. As the breakouts of studies increasingly move into the highest grossing, and, more importantly, the number of announcements of the discovery in the population to audiences is growing exponentially faster, the rate of this field is accelerating. Nevertheless, challenges should not be swept aside and will be taken on board in order to strive forward.
In order to be fully unleashed, the esports ecosystem requires an ongoing increase in tournament and event experiences through the development of organized, professional competitions, events, and their payouts exceeding just market exposure. Furthermore, it is also very important to further improve the infrastructure, e.g., constructing esports venues and academies to train the youth esports players. A similar strategy will both contribute to the consolidation of esports as a mainstream activity in the entertainment industry and further develop a professional scene.
However, in order for the potential to be realized, the esports industry must address issues of fairness, transparency, and governance of sport. Efforts to combat match-fixing and cheating must persist. In addition, the ethical treatment of players and the ability to meet the fans’ expectations will play a significant role in establishing the lasting health of esports.
Looking Ahead: Esports in 2024 and Beyond
Be it esports or the beer world—whether in homebrewing or professional brewing—growth often brings both opportunities and challenges. If combining all facts, it can be concluded that in 2024, esports presented a fascinating combination of innovation, all-time high records, and difficulties. Novel fields appeared, prize amounts increased, and the number of professional events expanded, all contributing to the rise in popularity of esports. But with expansion comes the duty to confront ethical concerns that could damage the reputation of the industry.
