DOCSLIB.ORG

A COVID-19 Special Report July 2020 Gaming’S Current State of Play

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A COVID-19 Special Report July 2020 Gaming’S Current State of Play Is Gaming Pandemic Proof? A COVID-19 Special Report July 2020 Gaming’s Current State Of Play: When live sports and entertainment was no longer an option, gaming exhibited a natural resilience and agility as esports teams continue to compete in competitive leagues across multiple game titles. Brand activations and game announcements continue to reach broad audiences through innovative formats. Gaming’s inherent digital breadth and platform flexibility continues to drive creative solutions for brands and sports properties, while growing its relevance to fans around the world. Record-Breaking Active Esports Sports & Entertainment Fundraising & Engagement Leagues & Teams Engagement Solutions New Opportunities Gaming Industry Growth Is A Side Effect Of COVID-19. Total subscribers to Game Pass surpassed 10 million, with a +130% increase in multiplayer engagement since lockdown. Sales of Switch consoles +24% YoY, with the launch of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, selling 13.5 million copies to date. A popular PC gaming platform hit its all-time high concurrent user count at +20 million in March. In April alone, players spent a combined 3.2 billion hours in-game time. Source: Microsoft, Nintendo, Steam, Epic Games Gaming Is Filling Voids In Social Life And Outlet For Escapism. +71% +83% +75% Increase in gaming conversation: Increase in Twitch hours watched YoY: Overall increased gaming +38% new users worldwide; Twitch hours watched increased 67% in Q2; participation in March during +81% increase in gaming YouTube Gaming increased 36% in Q2, peak hours conversation in the US reinforcing its role in socialization & connection As gaming participation increases across all forms of engagement—watching, playing, purchasing and conversation— gaming is becoming more established as a mainstream experience, providing unique opportunities for brands and fans Source: Twitter, Streamelements, Verizon Gaming Is Driving Innovation In Virtual Experiences. College students built campuses in Star Wars hosted a live talk show Travis Scott’s concert within Fortnite Minecraft to replace lost graduation in Animal Crossing with guests joining featured experiences not possible in the ceremonies as avatars real world to 12M “attendees” The distinctive virtual world of gaming is proving to be a creative playground for celebrities, gamers, brands— anyone and everyone—to stretch the boundaries of what’s new and innovative Source: Epic Games Sports & Music Turning To Esports To Fill Cancellations. Nearly every major sporting league has NASCAR and F1 replaced live races Celebrities have joined with gaming created gaming tournaments featuring with simulation games, with NASCAR’s platforms to stay active and relevant, such players & teams—and fans iRacing Series reaching 1.3M viewers as Twitch Stream Aid for COVID relief The accelerated participation in esports has flattened the curve for brands, realizing true business value from the sport and unique access to its fanbase Gaming Now A Leading Platform For Purpose-Driven Causes. Twitch has helped raise +$115M for 40% of the total donations on World Momentum, Merck and Twitch developed 300 different charities Health Day came from YouTube gamer an 8-hour livestreamed fundraising event Jacksepticeye who raised nearly $659K for World Multiple Sclerosis Day, featuring on his channel custom content with Twitch influencers & guest speakers from the MS community Brands are leveraging the platform to create ownable and measured purpose-driven charity events that stand out among brands searching for ways to be authentic and contemporary Although gaming and esports have proven to be somewhat pandemic-proof, the in-person, live experience ultimately cannot be replaced. Attending major conventions like PAX or TwitchCon or the League of Legends Split or Overwatch League Finals remains the zenith of many fans’ engagement with the sport. Equally important, as these industry events become more ingrained in culture, the entire industry moves forward. Brands who will drive real business value from participating in gaming and esports in the future are the ones who can strike the right balance between live and online experiences. Gamers Need The Live Experience, Too. Among Global Sports Fans, Festival and Convention Goers, Esports & Gaming Fans: Are the most likely to return to live events the quickest, and the most likely to travel Feel live esports events are the most-missed experience Are the most receptive toward brand sponsorship and most likely to support a sponsor Are the most likely to find streaming events, webcasts and virtual alternatives appealing Source: Enigma Research 2020 COVID Study How Can Brands Begin To Win Today? Create Live Gaming Events & Custom Content 1 such as Marathon Streaming Events, Bespoke Branded Tournaments, or Fundraising Content Align with Publishers & Gaming Platforms on 2 Activations around their Tentpole Moments, such as New Game Releases and Game Stream Events Partner with Esports Leagues, Tournaments and 3 Teams to Activate Around Broadcast & Content, Drive Social, and Create Partnership Assets Thank You Want to know more? Drop us a line [email protected] Image Sources: Pearce Anderson / The Verge, Animal Talking, Rolling Stone, NBA 2K League, NASCAR iRacing, Twitch, CNN Copyright © Momentum Worldwide. All rights reserved. This document, and its contents, are confidential and may not be reproduced or transmitted without the written permission of Momentum Worldwide..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Esports High Impact and Investable
    Needham Insights: Thought Leader Series Laura A. Martin, CFA & CMT – [email protected] / (917) 373-3066 September 5, 2019 Dan Medina – [email protected] / (626) 893-2925 eSports High Impact and Investable For the past decade, eSports has been growing on the main stage in Asia and in stealth mode in the US. This report addresses questions we get most often from investors about eSports: ➢ What is eSports? Definitions differ. Our definition of eSports is “players competing at a video game in front of a live audience while being live-streamed.” By implication, viewing, attendance, and playing time are linked, and each creates revenue streams for eSports. ➢ How big is eSports? Globally, one out of every three (ie, 33%) 18-25 year olds spent more than an hour a day playing video games, 395mm people watched eSports, and 250mm people played Fortnite in 2018. eSports revenue will be $1.1B in 2019, up 26% y/y. ➢ Should investors care about eSports? We would argue “yes”, owing to: a) global scale; b) time spent playing and viewing; c) compelling demographics; d) eSports vs traditional sports trends; e) revenue growth; and, f) sports betting should supercharge US eSports. ➢ Is eSports a fad? We would argue “no”, owing to: a) many US Universities now offer Varsity eSports scholarships; b) new special purpose eSports stadiums are proliferating; c) billionaires are investing to make eSports successful; d) audience growth; and, e) Olympics potential. ➢ Why have you never heard of eSports? Because zero of the top 30 earning players in the world were from the US in 2018.
    [Show full text]
  • Esports Impact Study
    0 ESPORTS INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................. 1 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 2 2. ESPORTS ECOSYSTEM ........................................................................ 4 2.1 ABOUT THE GEORGIA ECOSYSTEM ............................................................ 4 2.2 KEY PLAYERS ............................................................................................. 8 2.3 EVENTS ..................................................................................................... 8 2.4 VENUES .................................................................................................. 10 2.5 HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE ESPORTS .................................................... 12 3. ESPORTS INDUSTRY ......................................................................... 14 3.1 INDUSTRY DEFINITION AND DESCRIPTION ............................................... 14 3.2 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE....................................................................... 16 3.3 OTHER KEY STATISTICS ............................................................................ 17 4. CONCLUSION .................................................................................. 18 5. APPENDIX - ABOUT THE GEORGIA TECH, ENTERPRISE INNOVATION INSTITUTE ........................................................................................... 19 1 ESPORTS INDUSTRY ASSESSMENT
    [Show full text]
  • The Rise of a New Entertainment Category: Esports
    The Rise of a New Entertainment Category: Esports James Fong Chief Research Officer, UPCEA Director, UPCEA Center for Research and Strategy Brian Trench Research Assistant, UPCEA March 2019 ©Copyright 2019 University Professional and Continuing Education Association, All Rights Reserved Summary ● Esports is competitive video gaming in which teams and individuals compete against each other, usually in tournaments for cash prizes. Similar to entertainment, sports or lotteries, there are complexities regarding fielding competitive teams, sponsorships, marketing and managing events. A parallel to esports could be traditional professional sports or even NASCAR, where wagers are made, talent is recruited, events are created and promoted, and equipment and technology are designed to support the field. ● The market size for esports is expected to rise to $2.96 billion by 2022, much of which is in the form of sponsorships, betting, prize pools, merchandise, event revenues and tournament fees and admission, and advertising. ● Blue-chip brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jack in the Box, Intel, Snickers, and the Coca-Cola Company have all sponsored numerous esports tournaments for exposure to specific target audiences. ● Prominent figures including Michael Jordan, Mark Cuban, Steph Curry, and Steve Young have made substantial investments into esports, realizing the extension and parallels it has to sporting events. ● The development of franchise-based leagues, similar to those in professional sports leagues such as the NFL, is in its infancy, but this evolution is critical for the future-growth of esports. ● Over 100 universities have started esports teams which they use as a differentiating factor for attracting potential students. ● Esports gambling is expected to see large growth, from $315 million wagered in 2015 to $23.5 billion predicted in 2020.
    [Show full text]
  • FIYA OVERWATCH LEAGUE Rules
    FIYA OVERWATCH LEAGUE Rules CONTENTS: General Rules FOR ESPORTS LEAGUES……page 2-4 OVERWATCH LEAGUE Rules………………….page 5 www.onfiya.org/sports/esports Page 1 of 5 General Rules FOR esports LEAGUES • COACHING REQUIREMENTS: Each eSports team should have a NAYS certified coach who will, among other items, initiate communications between the school team and FIYA. The coach should also assist team members with communication amongst its opponents throughout the season and monitor such communication including players’ usernames. • REGISTERING A TEAM: Schools are allowed to have as many teams as they wish. Schools should register their teams as follows: <School Name> <#> <Game Title>. For example, for 2 school teams in Rocket League, the names should be Booker Academy #1 Rocket League and Booker Academy #2 Rocket League. For 3 school teams in Fortnite: Washington Charter #1 Fortnite Washington Charter #2 Fortnite and Washington Charter #3 Fortnite. • SUBSTITUTES: A school team may have substitutes listed on the roster. Substitutions are allowed in between games in a match ONLY. No in game substitutions are allowed. All substitutes must be listed on the roster. • PLAYERS: A player can play on only ONE school team roster per game title. For example, a school has 3 Rocket League teams. A player can only play on one of the Rocket League teams and it has to be the same team throughout the season. As a further example, if this same school also has a team in Overwatch and/or Fortnite, the same player can play on one Rocket League team, one Overwatch team and/or one Fortnite team throughout the season.
    [Show full text]
  • The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
    THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS & SCIENCES ANNOUNCES THE NOMINEES FOR 42nd ANNUAL SPORTS EMMY® AWARDS Ceremony to be held Online on the Emmy® Awards Dedicated OTT Platform New York, NY – April 20, 2021 – The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) today announced the nominees for the 42nd Annual Sports Emmy® Awards which will be live-streamed at Watch.TheEmmys.TV and The Emmy® apps on Tuesday, June 8th, 2021 at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT. “Today we honor the talented professionals who during this unprecedented time of a world-wide pandemic still found ways to inform, entertain and excite the passionate fan base that makes up the sports universe.” said Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS. “The challenges they have overcome and this inspiring and diverse set of nominees is nothing short of remarkable.” “In a year where sports production literally ground to a halt, we received a record number of submissions. From innovative solutions to the constraints of production during the pandemic to the superb storytelling that confronted the social justice issues of our times, we are so proud of what our nominees were able to achieve,” said Justine Gubar, Executive Director, Sports Emmy® Awards. “I'm particularly excited about the debut of our Outstanding Sports Personality-Emerging On-Air Talent category which welcomes 5 new sports personalities into the Emmy nominee family.” The live-stream is available on the web at Watch.TheEmmys.TV and via The Emmy® apps for iOS, tvOS, Android, FireTV, and Roku (full list at apps.theemmys.tv/). The program and many other Emmy® Award events can be watched anytime & anywhere on this platform powered by Vimeo.
    [Show full text]
  • OVERWATCH CONTENDERS OFFICIAL RULES Version 3.0.1
    OVERWATCH CONTENDERS OFFICIAL RULES Version 3.0.1 INTRODUCTION Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (“Blizzard”) created Overwatch® Contenders (“Contenders”) to serve as the premier Overwatch® competition platform outside of the Overwatch League™. Overwatch Contenders will provide a cohesive global competitive Overwatch ecosystem as a platform to showcase the best competitive Overwatch players in the world and serve as the penultimate step in the “Path to Pro”. These Overwatch Contenders Official Rules, including any updates, amendments or supplements thereto (“Official Rules”) codify the rules and standards of conduct that will apply as a condition to participation in Contenders. These Official Rules apply to all Teams, Team Owners, Team Managers, Team Staff, and Players (“Participants”) who are actively participating in Contenders or any event related to Contenders, or plan to participate in any current or future event related to Contenders. The eligibility of Participants for upcoming seasons of Contenders is predicated on compliance with these Official Rules, even when not actively participating in Contenders. These Official Rules have been designed to ensure the integrity of all Contenders competition, to protect the image and reputation of Contenders, the Game (as defined herein) and to create a consistent and high-quality experience for members of the public that view Contenders events. These Official Rules form a contract between Participants, on the one hand, and Blizzard and its affiliates who are engaged in operating Contenders, on the other hand. These Official Rules establish the general rules of tournament play, including rules governing player eligibility, tournament structure, points structure, prize awards, and player conduct. These Official Rules also contain limitations of liability, license grants, and other legally binding contractual terms.
    [Show full text]
  • An Antitrust Analysis of Esports
    Tiebreaker: An Antitrust Analysis of Esports MAX MIROFF* Electronic sports (esports) offers a novel case study in how antitrust analysis should approach multi-sided markets that rely on the ability of numerous entities to access intellectual property (IP). A game publisher’s IP in its game allows for permissible monopolization, but also creates opportunities for anticompetitive IP misuse. Tournament organizers, teams, players, broadcasters, spectators, and advertisers all need access to publishers’ IP to participate in esports markets. As publishers vertically integrate into the downstream market for esports content in their games, they rationally seek to minimize competitive pressure from other entities in the market. A publisher can do this by using its IP monopoly in its game to dominate the downstream esports market in its game by, for example, refusing to license broadcast rights to independent tournament organizers. This Note argues that in order to promote consumer welfare through market competition, antitrust law should restrict game publishers from using IP rights in their games to monopolize the downstream esports market for those games. Because multi-sided markets which rely on access to IP and blur the lines between producer, intermediary, and consumer are likely to grow, the stakes for effective antitrust analysis in these markets will only continue to climb. Part I introduces the esports industry and overviews how antitrust law can be used to shape more competitive markets for the benefit of esports consumers. Part II provides an economic analysis of esports in order to define antitrust-relevant esports markets in which enforcement could be appropriate. Part III outlines the structure of a tying claim against publishers that use their IP monopoly over their games to acquire or maintain a monopoly over esports content produced with their games.
    [Show full text]
  • Overwatch Contenders Gauntlet Europe & North
    OVERWATCH CONTENDERS GAUNTLET EUROPE & NORTH AMERICA REGIONAL RULES Version 1.0 INTRODUCTION Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (“Blizzard”), will be hosting the Overwatch Contenders Gauntlet: Europe & North America (the “Tournament”). The Tournament will be governed by the following: (i) the Overwatch Contenders Official Rules (the “Official Rules”); (ii) Blizzard’s online privacy policy (as described in Section 12.6 of the Official Rules); and (iii) these Overwatch Contenders: The Gauntlet - South America Regional Rules (the “Gauntlet Rules”), unless otherwise indicated. If there is an inconsistency between these Gauntlet Rules and the Official Rules, the Tournament Administration shall decide in its sole discretion which document controls. Defined terms used in these Gauntlet Rules shall have the meanings and definitions ascribed to them in the Official Rules, unless otherwise noted herein. These Gauntlet Rules (along with the Official Rules) form a contract between Participants, on the one hand, and Blizzard and its affiliates who are engaged in operating Contenders, on the other hand. These Gauntlet Rules establish the general rules of tournament play, including rules governing tournament structure, points structure and prize awards. Each Participant is required to read, understand, and agree to these Gauntlet Rules, the Official Rules and Overwatch League Player Selection Process Authorization Form as a condition of participating in the Tournament. THESE GAUNTLET RULES AND ALL DISPUTES RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN CONTENDERS ARE GOVERNED BY A BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE IN SECTION 14 AND A WAIVER OF CLASS ACTION RIGHTS AS WELL AS LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND RELEASE PROVISIONS IN SECTION 12 OF THE OFFICIAL RULES.
    [Show full text]
  • Sports Emmy Awards
    Sports Emmy Awards OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SPECIAL 2020 NBA All-Star Game on TNT TNT The 116th World Series FOX Tampa Bay Rays vs. Los Angeles Dodgers The 146th Kentucky Derby NBC The Match on TNT TNT Champions for Charity Super Bowl LV CBS Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers OUTSTANDING LIVE SPORTS SERIES FOX NASCAR FOX/FS1 FOX NFL FOX/NFL Network NFL on CBS CBS PGA Tour on CBS CBS Sunday Night Football NBC 9 OUTSTANDING PLAYOFF COVERAGE 2020 NBA Playoffs on TNT TNT AFC Playoffs CBS NASCAR Playoffs on NBC NBC/NBCSN NFC Wild Card Game Nickelodeon Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints [CBS Sports] Sunday Night Football: Playoffs NBC/Peacock OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS EVENT COVERAGE America's Game: The 2019 Kansas City Chiefs NFL Network [NFL Films] Hey Rookie: Welcome To The NFL - 2020 NFL Draft ESPN [NFL Films] NFL Game Day All-Access NFL Network Super Bowl LV [NFL Films] NHL on NBC NBCSN WIRED: Stadium Series - Los Angeles Kings vs. Colorado Avalanche UFC The Walk UFC Fight Pass McGregor vs. Cowboy [UFC] 10 OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SPECIAL Inside the NBA TNT Kobe Bryant Memorial NFL 360 NFL Network Black History Month NFL 360 NFL Network Women in Football SC Presents: 2020 – Heroes, History and Hope ESPN The Undefeated Presents ESPN The Stop - Living, Driving and Dying While Black OUTSTANDING EDITED SPORTS SERIES Defying Gravity: The Untold Story of Women's Gymnastics YouTube [YouTube Originals] Greatness Code Apple TV+ [Religion of Sports/UNINTERRUPTED] The Playbook Netflix [SpringHill Company/Delirio Films/Boardwalk Pictures] The Shop: UNINTERRUPTED HBO [UNINTERRUPTED/Frēhand] We Are the Champions Netflix [Dirty Robber] 11 OUTSTANDING ESPORTS COVERAGE Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Challengers Finals YouTube DAL Empire vs.
    [Show full text]
  • E-Sports Arenas: Are Video Games the Next Great Urban Entertainment Anchor in Real Estate?
    E-Sports Arenas: Are Video Games the Next Great Urban Entertainment Anchor in Real Estate? April 5, 2018 | By Adam Ducker, Managing Director, and Taylor Neiman, Senior Associate Electronic sports, or “e-sports,” is a popular global pastime that has experienced massive increases in consumer interest in recent years. Revenue from e-sports has expanded at a CAGR of 36% since 2014 and is forecast to continue to post double-digit growth through 2021, exceeding a billion dollars in revenue that year.1 Viewership has also demonstrated rapid growth, expanding at a 13% CAGR since 2014,2 with forecasts for over half a billion e-sports viewers by sometime in 2020 or 2021. To date, only a small number of dedicated e-sports arenas exist, the majority of which are existing buildings that were repurposed into the new e-sports arena format. As the e-sports market continues to expand, additional demand for e-sports arenas is likely, presenting global development and adaptive reuse opportunities— particularly for arenas anchoring existing and new, large, mixed-use entertainment districts featuring complementary retail, hospitality, and multifamily product. What Is E-Sports? Electronic sports, or “e-sports,” is a broad category covering competitive multiplayer video games played by professional video game players, for spectators’ enjoyment during regular season and tournament league games. E-sports teams are generally organized based on game title and geographic region. These teams practice regularly, have one or more coaches, and are supported by sponsorship, prize money, traditional sports owners, and other revenue streams. The live e-sports games, moderated by professional e-sports commentators and overseen by referees, are frequently broadcast simultaneously via multiple channels, including game publisher websites and live video streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube, in addition to offering in-person viewing experiences at various large and small venues.
    [Show full text]
  • Upper Deck Releases High Series Just in Time for Overwatch League™ Grand Finals
    UPPER DECK RELEASES HIGH SERIES JUST IN TIME FOR OVERWATCH LEAGUE™ GRAND FINALS Upper Deck to offer exclusive content, free trading cards and new Overwatch League High Series product at sold-out Grand Finals in Philadelphia! CARLSBAD, Calif, - September 25, 2019 - Upper Deck, the premier worldwide sports and entertainment collectibles company, announced today the global launch of Overwatch League™ High Series. The new update set marks the second esports trading card product from Upper Deck and comes off the heels of the first-ever esports league-licensed trading card set released by the company earlier this summer. The High Series product adds content from the league’s eight expansion teams, along with 90 new rookies from across the entire league. The new release comes just in time for the sold-out Overwatch League Grand Finals taking place at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia this weekend. In celebration of the event and the new product launch, Upper Deck will be offering free sample packs and exclusive Grand Finals-themed digital content to all fans in attendance, as well as the opportunity to have a personalized Overwatch League trading card created onsite. The company will also host a trading zone at the Grand Finals Fan Fest event where fans can trade cards with Upper Deck staff and get a first-hand look at samples of some rare inserts and achievements from the new Overwatch League card set. Upper Deck’s new Overwatch League High Series set includes never-before-seen hits and chase cards, including foil-etched Star Rookies cards, multi-player jersey Fragment booklet cards, player-autographed Ink insert cards, clear acetate Infra-Sight player cards and rare Holo F/X insert cards.
    [Show full text]
  • 2018 Overwatch Open Division – Official Rules Australia, Europe, North America, Pacific, South America
    2018 Overwatch Open Division – Official Rules Australia, Europe, North America, Pacific, South America 2018 Overwatch Open Division Season One – Ruleset Blizzard Entertainment Introduction The following rules are tailored to the 2018 Overwatch Open Division Season One for the following regions: Australia, Europe, North America, Pacific, and South America. These Overwatch Open Division - Official Rules (the “Official Rules”) form a contract between all Teams and Players (“Participants”), on the one hand, and Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. and its affiliates (“Blizzard”) who are engaged in operating Open Division, on the other hand. These Official Rules establish the general rules of tournament play, including rules governing player eligibility, tournament structure, points structure, prize awards, and player conduct. These Official Rules also contain limitations of liability, license grants, and other legally binding contractual terms. Each Participant is required to read, understand, and agree to these Official Rules before participating in Open Division. THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND ALL DISPUTES RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OPEN DIVISION ARE GOVERNED BY A BINDING ARBITRATION CLAUSE IN SECTION 12 AND A WAIVER OF CLASS ACTION RIGHTS. THAT CLAUSE AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND REMEDIES, AND YOU SHOULD REVIEW IT CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCEPTING THESE OFFICIAL RULES. If a provision of these Official Rules is or becomes illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, that shall not affect the validity or enforceability in that jurisdiction of any other provision of these Official Rules or the validity or enforceability in other jurisdictions of any other provision of these Official Rules. Each Participant must agree to these Official Rules to participate in Open Division.
    [Show full text]