11 September, 2020 | By Anzu
Esports does not seem to be slowing down -- ever -- and that’s good news for the industry! As more in-game events are scheduled, new platforms are created, and 5G threatens to change the name of the game, there are no dull moments to be had!
F1 has announced its first mobile racing esports competition. Launched on September 7th, the new competition centers upon the F1 Mobile Racing game (which is free to download on iOS and Android), created by Codemasters. Unlike the F1 Esports Series presented by Aramco, which is to return in October, there will be no live events or broadcasts for this competition, with everything being contested in-game on mobile devices. Find more details and schedule on European Gaming.
Music is about to become a much bigger part of Fortnite -- Epic Games has announced a new, three-week-long concert series that will take place on the game’s party royale island. It kicks off with a live performance by Dominic Fike on September 12th and will be broadcasted from a brand-new LA studio built specifically for in-game concerts. It’s all part of a bigger plan to turn Fortnite’s virtual stage into an important place for musicians, claims the Verge. However, the organizers don't expect this concert series to have the same impact as Fortnite’s big musical events, like those from Marshmello and Travis Scott. Those lure in tens of millions of players, but they also take a long time to put together, so the new party royale concerts are meant to be smaller-scale shows that can help fill in these long gaps.
Twitch has announced the creation of a toolset to benefit tournament organizers, players, and fans that goes by the name Twitch Versus, reports the Esports Observer. The end-to-end suite of competition tools has been designed to allow organizers using the Twitch platform to create, manage, and stream competitions with their communities in one integrated environment. They will also be able to produce competitive gaming events.
Despite some major concerns that game streaming services are likely to be the most affected by the delayed rollout of 5G networks, Newzoo has recently released a new study focusing on cloud gaming and reported that the market should generate $585 million in revenue by the end of 2020. The growth is set to continue at full speed, with revenue expected to reach $4.8 billion by 2023, "with even more growth expected in the years after," cites GamesIndustry.biz.
The rapid growth of sim racing has been one of the highlights of the esports industry in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic put real-world motorsports on hold for the first half of the year and saw a range of championships take to the virtual track, offering a form of competition between drivers and providing entertainment to fans. Add this related partnership to the list if you’re counting: Australian simulation racing team Logitech G Altus Esports has partnered with New Zealand race seat manufacturer Racetech. The deal will see Racetech’s logo appear on Altus’ wildcard entry in the SCOPS Bathurst 1000 race, which will take place on the iRacing simulation platform. Having recently developed a new simulator chassis, joining forces with Logitech G Altus Esports marks Racetech’s first foray into esports. Find more details on Esports Insider.
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