PPB August 2019

The Gami ng I ndus t r y Market Snapshot One of the biggest trends in the gaming industry is a move toward mobile. Over the past 10 years, mobile gaming has grown from the smallest segment in the gaming industry to the largest, according to the Global Games Market Report. By 2020, mobile gaming will represent more than half of the total games market. The mobile gaming sector is projected to bring in nearly $100 billion in annual revenue by 2021. Marketers should also pay close attention to esports, which draws an audience of around 400 million fans around the world. The 2018 Global eSports Market Report projects that global esports revenues will reach $1.4 billion by 2020. Spectators often watch from esports arenas such as the $10 million, 100,000-square-foot esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas, the largest esports arena in North America. Wherever fans are watching, companies can use promotional products to create an immersive, exciting and memorable experience. Best U.S. Cities for Gamers WalletHub compared 100 of the country’s most-populated cities across three dimensions—gaming environment, internet quality and coverage, and gamer and developer opportunities—to determine the best cities for gamers. These gamer-friendly destinations rose to the top of the list. 1 Seattle, Washington 2 Irvine, California 3 Los Angeles, California 4 Orlando, Florida 5 Atlanta, Georgia 6 New York, New York 7 San Jose, California 8 San Francisco, California 9 Austin, Texas 10 Raleigh, North Carolina The Rise Of eSports In Academia More than 130 universities around the country offer varsity collegiate esports programs, governed by the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE). More than 3,000 student athletes participate in varsity esports, with NACE awarding $15 million in annual esports scholarships and aid. Sources: ESPN; National Association of Collegiate eSports GROW 44 | AUGUST 2019 |