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Mobile Esports As Career?

Mobile esports is on the rise. Everyone’s got a smartphone or a tablet, and they’re loaded with video games. Games like Vainglory, Arena of Valor, Fortnite, and Clash of Clans have millions of fans—and are bringing in millions in revenue. Tournament organizers have caught on, offering hundreds of thousands of dollars to mobile esports players. Big-name esports teams are starting to get in on the action, too. The massive numbers that mobile titles are pulling in are unprecedented. Not everyone can afford a high-end gaming computer, but nearly everyone has a smartphone and a Wi-Fi connection. Click a button to download, and you’re good to go. Esports as a whole is booming, with major investors taking interest in tournaments like the ESL Pro League and the League of LegendsChampionship Series. This sector of gaming will revolutionize the entertainment and sports industries. Mobile esports will likely be a part of that, and it’s only just starting to get off the ground. Mobile gaming is the most lucrative segment of the gaming market, according to analytics firm Newzoo. Revenue for the sector swelled to $46.1 billion in 2017. That’s 42 percent of the total gaming market. Newzoo expects that number to continue to grow in the years to come, to $64.9 billion by 2020. The biggest market for mobile gaming is the Asia-Pacific region, which generates $27.5 billion in revenue. There’s a low cost of entry to get into mobile esports, but it’s clear the player base is spending money on its favorite titles.

Clash Royale developer Supercell wanted to capitalize on its huge audience with a $1 million tournament last year. It had a staggering 27.4 million entrants, meaning the event had more entrants than any other esports event, ever. The tournament was a huge success, the stadium not too different than something you’d see at a regular esports event. Huge projectors streaming the game, screaming crowds, tons of money on the line… just no desktop computers. Traditional esports organizations have taken notice, too. Popular teams like SK Gaming, esports, G2 Esports, Fnatic, and Immortals now all field teams in mobile titles. Arena of Valor is just one game in the mobile multiplayer battle arena genre that’s taking over the competitive esports scene; with an estimated 200 million monthly active players in China alone, it’s got a huge user base. Mobile games are one of the fastest-growing parts of the gaming industry, which makes mobile esports attractive to team owners, like Immortals CEO Noah Whinston. Immortals will participate in the Arena of Valor World Cup in Los Angeles, California, for their chance at a massive $500,000 prize pool. Other teams like Vitality, Team Liquid, and SK Gaming are all expected to participate in the tournament, too. Tencent is investing a ton of money in the title’s rapidly growing esports scene, which has seen most of its success in China. There’s a push for growth outside of China, though, which is why the game’s major tournament is headed to California. Mobile gamers already understand just how big their esports sector can be, but traditional esports enthusiasts are just starting to realize mobile’s might. Arena of Valor in particular has tapped into something that resonates with global gamers. For mobile esports to reach their highest potential, international companies will have to invest similarly. And that’s already beginning: Mobile esports tournaments are only getting bigger and bigger. Each year, prize pools grow.

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