Every year, digital game distribution services report an increase in released games. So, about 13,000 video games were released on Steam in 2022. This is twice as many as in 2017. However, of the games released over the past 20 years, only a few titles have become essential eSports disciplines.
Today, we will discuss video games that shape the face of the industry and penetrate related areas – for example, they contribute to developing eSports betting services.
League of Legends
LoL is the most prominent esports discipline, with an audience of 150+ million players. The video game is designed in the genre of a battle arena, where players in two 5v5 teams fight online. The participant’s task is to destroy the enemy base called Nexus.
The feature of this game is 150+ “champion” characters with unique sets of skills. Because of them, strategizing skills have a significant impact on success. But this is not enough. The game also requires a quick response, dynamic action, and organization of team combinations.
Predicting the course of the round is not easy. Therefore, it is worth betting on LoL only if you understand the game’s intricacies and are immersed in the context of the competition. This is where classic online casino entertainment has an advantage over eSports betting which can be found at sites like, Joe Fortune.
League of Legends is especially popular among Asian gamers. For example, it has a cult status in China, and the top ten strongest esports players in the ratings for this discipline always include players from South Korea.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS: GO is the #1 esports in the multiplayer first-person shooter genre. Global Offensive has been on powerful platforms for over 10 years, making it difficult for a video game to compete with new titles in graphics and technology. Regular fixes and weapon skin updates compensate for this shortcoming.
The essence of the game is unchanged. The player gets into a team of terrorists or counter-terrorists comprising 5 members. The goal is to destroy the enemy. Terrorists can additionally achieve victory in the round by planting and detonating a bomb at a designated point. The gameplay is dynamic. The drawing speed and the abundance of action make the game enjoyable to watch and attract viewers.
Another reason CS:GO has been in the top for so long is the powerful support for Majors esports tournaments from the developer Valve. The prize pools of the largest tournaments exceed $1 million.
The video game is entirely free and easy to learn at the start. Therefore, it often attracts those who want to try themselves as an esportsman. However, if you’re going to play at a high level, the increased competition will make it incomparably more challenging to play. To maintain balance in teams, CS: GO uses the Ranks and MMR system, which affects the selection of opponents.
Valorant
Yahoo! Finance forecasts a CAGR of +10.3% for the betting industry between 2023 and 2030. This opinion is based on the materials of the independent research and consulting company GVR Incorporated. It is the eSports betting segment that is expected to grow the most. Such a conclusion allows a sharp increase in interest in interactive games.
The release of Valorant in 2020 gives hope that the game dev industry can continue to release new video games that will provide an influx of esports players and fans. The game is similar to Counter-Strike and Overwatch (which essentially copies CS). However, it has distinctive graphical aspects and animations contributed to its dramatic rise in popularity.
The current version provides keyboard + mouse control. It is possible to switch to a gamepad or controller through the emulator. The game is intended to launch on a PC. However, the developers have indicated their intention to release Valorant on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles in 2023.
Dota 2
The Dota 2: The International 2021 tournament holds the record for the largest prize pool in esports. Through sponsorship contracts, gaming products, and merchandise sales, the event organizers in Bucharest managed to raise $40 million. Other significant competitions are regularly held, which are attractive for cybersportsmen from a financial point of view. You can see this in the schedule on the official Dota 2 website.
Dota 2 can be called the predecessor of LoL. That said, it would be too optimistic to say that progression to a high level in this video game is easier to achieve than in a newer MOBA. However, the complexity of learning does not deter users. The monthly audience of registered players is 7 million people.
PUBG
Mobile video games are a promising direction for the game development industry. However, few titles for smartphones and tablets fit the requirements for transitioning to a full-fledged esports discipline. PUBG with PUB Mobile Pro League is just such an exception. Of course, the game is also available on other platforms: PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Google Stadia.
In PUBG, the player has several modes available. The most popular is Battle Royal. The clash of participants occurs in a limited area and continues until only one survivor remains.
A nice feature of the game is that the image does not lose visual appeal at low graphics settings. This means you can run PUBG on a less powerful device with little visual impact.
