Does the Esports Market Need More Light-hearted Titles to Expand Its Audience?

The esports market is booming and getting bigger by the year, but it’s not fully mainstream yet. For that to happen, it will need to expand and branch out into different games to appeal to a more diverse audience.

There’s a strong argument to suggest that the esports industry should attempt to learn from other sectors of gaming. Mobile and online casinos have enjoyed immense success by providing a lot of lighthearted content alongside their more serious options.

Games Like Fall Guys are Growing in Popularity

The most successful esports to date have been serious games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, and League of Legends. Players of these games need to spend a lot of time refining their skills and tactics, and when competitive matches get underway, the rivalries are intense. There’s no doubt that these epic battles are great viewing for a lot of esports fans, but they may not appeal as much to people who don’t know about the games.

Recently, titles like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout have proven that there’s a gap in the market for more lighthearted content in the esports industry. The battle royale game from Mediatonic isn’t a major esport by any stretch of the imagination, but there are various tournaments happening around the world. The fact that fun games like this are increasing their influence in the esports scene should encourage other developers to make similar titles.

Other Offshoots of Gaming Should Provide Inspiration

Any offshoot of the gaming industry that wants to balloon in size should take inspiration from sectors that have blown up in recent times. The mobile gaming industry is a prime example of one that has enjoyed amazing success. It barely existed before the smartphone era of the 2010s, but now mobile gaming is worth more than $108.15 billion. Players were drawn to titles on the portable devices thanks to the variety on offer. There have been many serious games like Vikings: War of Clans and PUBG Mobile, but these have been interspersed with tons more lighthearted casual titles like Candy Crush and Angry Birds.

The online slot market is another example of how it’s important to offer a mix of serious and fun games. Some players may gravitate towards more traditional casino games while others may like the themed variations, and choose to play the Piggy Riches game. This offering from NetEnt is one of many examples where the traditional slot has had a makeover, with additional game features thrown in. Since its release in 2010, it has remained a popular choice, which suggests that the more choice players have, the better.

It’s hard to think of any esports that are like these slots and mobile games in the current scene, but this could be set to change in the years ahead as the industry aims to appeal to more people.

The esports industry is going to continue growing with the current roster of top games. However, if it is to be as big as other offshoots of the gaming industry, it may need to include a bunch of more lighthearted titles to appeal to casual viewers. Judging by the way the industry has expanded so far, this wouldn't be out of the question. Developers keep coming up with new games that attract viewers, and all it will take is one lighthearted hit to influence a new subgenre of esports.