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Esports have taken the online world by storm in a way that only a select few were predicting just a few short years ago. Yes, there was always going to be a market for hardcore gamers to watch elite players, but selling out stadiums and arenas? Surely not even the biggest Android fan would have predicted that!
To see just how far the industry is going, we’re going to take a look at the rise of the Emirates Esports Federation and what it means for players. Let’s get this moving!
Why are they investing in Esports?
Lots of eyes and plenty of traffic mean countless sponsorship opportunities and big money. It’s really that simple when it comes down to it because Esports has become a business venture just like all other forms of professional sports. What sets the Emiratis apart is that they have had such a clear vision that it is a mystery why other parts of the world haven’t copied them sooner.
Esports investment has already driven massive increases in new player numbers, attendance at in-person competitions, and streaming numbers for online tournaments. All of this combines to make Esports an attractive business opportunity for anyone who is looking to create value in the market. By making sure that they are right at the head of the queue when it comes to establishing a market, the Emirati Federation has really set the tone and moved the needle.
How big is the Esports investment?
The central part of the investment has involved the Emirates Esports Federation finally becoming an official member of the Asian Esports Federation. This is a key component of the vision of EESF President Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan and his plans to stage competitions such as the UAE Electronic Football League, the UAE Esports League, and the University Esports Championship, to name just a few. And things are only just getting started. The Emirates has also announced plans to build a professional training facility in Abu Dhabi for players and has already put over $1 billion into the project.
Another interesting development is the collaboration with the ITW Universe to launch franchises in the E-Gaming League. Investors in franchises will be able to secure at least 50% of the licensing fees, claim lifetime franchise ownership, and open up the prospect of competing in multiple genres as the years go by. This is a pivotal move for UAE-based businesses who want to capitalise on a $5 billion industry that is all set for rapid expansion both in the region and globally.
What does this mean for players?
Professional players will be able to enter an increasing number of tournaments that offer higher prize funds, greater levels of competition, and more viewing figures. All of these factors add up to create plenty of opportunities for aspiring players to turn their hobby into a full-time profession, and a lucrative one at that.
The more money that is invested into tournaments and competitions, the more the sport will become seen as legitimate in the eyes of the casuals. These are the people you really need to attract when you want to move from being a niche activity to a mainstream source of entertainment. Ideal when you want to be able to attract players from all walks of life who may just have untapped skills that are ready and waiting to amaze the world and thrill millions of new fans.
What does this mean for fans?
Gone are the days when Esports streaming was something of an underground subculture only talked about on message boards. The rise of this incredible federation and the high level of investment it has already received mean that fan engagement is about to go to an all-new level.
Legitimate tournaments and legal streams that can be accessed as easily as signing up for Netflix or Prime are the name of the game here, and they’re about to become the norm. This is great news for the loyal hardcore who want to be able to invite their friends to a watch party so that they can bring loads of casual eyes to the screen.
Fans will also be able to get to know the players in their favorite categories because the federation is actively investing in a whole host of marketing and outreach activities. By making sure that the content goes to the fans rather than forcing the fans to go in search of it, the authorities can create some real buzz around upcoming events.
Will this change the way Esports are being played?
Yes, and the truth is that we are already seeing the main trend take place. Mobile games are becoming a bigger and more important part of Esports with every passing month. It’s not only PCs and consoles any longer when it comes to the Esports landscape — mobile is already taking over.
Honor of Kings is a multiplayer online battle arena that has taken the mobile world by storm in recent months. By being able to play against dozens of other players at the same time, as well as form teams, you can test your reaction times like never before. Following a similar path, but this time with something of a fantasy element, is the inimitable Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Bang combat game. The way you can unlock special powers and moves is something that is proven to increase repeat playing time. Then there is Arena of Valor and the 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena experience it offers. This is something of a medieval-inspired title that is all about classic weaponry combined with the latest graphics.
The fascinating thing about this is that it opens up Esports to a whole new potential audience of casual fans. Whether it’s playing or streaming live feeds, mobile devices allow anyone to get involved without having to make a major time commitment. When you consider the previous culture of expensive gaming PCs and headsets, this is something of a revolution in terms of accessibility.
The growth of mobile games in the Esports world is also all the proof you need that the graphics engines and processing power of tablets and smartphones have really exceeded all expectations. By being able to play massive titles with expansive landscapes in the palm of the hand, Android device owners can now explore a whole new wealth of entertainment options. Perfect when you want to see what’s possible with the right device by your side, and the fun is only just beginning.
The importance of the social element
While playing on PCs and consoles was originally a solitary pursuit before the age of constant connectivity, the same is not true of mobile gaming. Android devices have always had connectivity and social interactions at their heart, and that’s a big part of their success. Early game titles that went viral all had a social element in them: chat functionality, leaderboards, the option to post high scores to social media, etc.
The key is that when your friends play a game, you will want to as well. This applies to everything from outdoor sports and Esports to more niche pursuits like social casino games. If you know that your friends have posted a score or secured a big win, you will naturally want to try and beat them. The social element is really all about spreading the good news of a win and making the competitive element come out in your fellow players.
What’s very interesting is that the social element is so universal that it works in just about every area of life. While outdoor games are an obvious choice, other niche pursuits serve as a better example because you may not expect them to be as heavily driven by social interactions. Let’s take a look at how social casino games have proven themselves to be more popular than anyone would have originally thought to prove this point.
Creating opportunities with social interactions
You only have to look at the number of Esports tournaments that are now affiliated with other sources of online entertainment to get a sense of the cross-pollination. The way in which the social element of Esports lends itself to something as seemingly disconnected as online casino games is really surprising, and it’s certainly worthy of a closer look.
If you want to see how players are making use of the social elements, look at the countless sites highlighting the latest 2025 free spins offers, for example. These free spins are a standard way for casinos to market themselves to new players by de-risking the playing experience. There are literally thousands of online forums where players compete against one another to see who can set the highest score with their free spins in a given casino. It’s the social element that gives rise to competition that is driving all this.
And socially driven competition is what’s at the heart of our love of Esports. Everything comes full circle when you see that the latest mobile devices are all about connecting us so that we can play in new ways with a minimum of effort.
Final thoughts
No matter how you choose to play online — mobile, PC, Esports, or another type of competitive game — the social element has to be at the heart of it. By knowing that you’re sharing a pastime with thousands, if not millions, of like-minded people, you can get so much more out of the experience.