https://www.scmp.com/rss/324718/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com In business terms, there is huge amount of room for growth in the e-sports space. When it comes to the development of e-sports competition and the games that it is based around, the future is boundless. By 2020 e-sports revenues are forecast to grow to US$1.5 billion, and the fan base is predicted to reach nearly 600 million. Current revenue per fan is US$3.65, and this is expected to reach US$5.20 by 2020. However, this is nothing compared to the extent which traditional sports have been... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2106548/e-sports-here-stay-huge-potential-further-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2106548/e-sports-here-stay-huge-potential-further-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 13 Aug 2017 02:16:10 +0000 E-sports and technology are inextricably linked to each other. As the two feed into each other amazing possibilities are born. Some of the most exciting advances can be seen in viewing and fan engagement, where virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and game design methods are being used to revolutionise the fan experience. With the progress being made, the live e-sports experience may soon surpass that of traditional sports. E-sports has been tipped as a possible driver for widespread... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2106543/futures-bright-futures-reality-how-technology-revolutionising-e?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2106543/futures-bright-futures-reality-how-technology-revolutionising-e?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Aug 2017 10:16:02 +0000 The history of sports is the business of sports. Pele, Namath and Jordan won sports fans hearts, but Monday Night Football, ESPN, and Nike won their share of their minds and wallets. In the history of professional sports, business shaped the conversation, broadcasted the message, sealed the deals, filled the stadiums and sold the merchandise and broadcasting rights that grew sports into the global behemoth it is today. And now with those same forces eyeing the next prize, the 100-year story of... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2106404/group-online-competitors-next-massive-market-opportunity-how-much?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2106404/group-online-competitors-next-massive-market-opportunity-how-much?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Aug 2017 06:11:20 +0000 E-sports can trace its roots back to the arcade culture of the 1970s and 1980s and the fighting game community that was born there. And this week’s RETRO.HK and the RETROCUP at Hong Kong Polytechnic University celebrates that as Hong Kong’s first and only retro gaming expo and competitive retro gaming tournament enters its third year. Amateur tournaments at the volunteer organised event focus on retro fighting games such as Street Fighter II and King of Fighters ’98, which are the arcade games... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2106085/retrohk-show-hong-kongs-e-sports-music-festival-how-its-done?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2106085/retrohk-show-hong-kongs-e-sports-music-festival-how-its-done?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Aug 2017 07:29:35 +0000 Activision Blizzard’s Overwatch League (OWL) is the most ambitious undertaking in the history of e-sports, or sports for that matter: a global city based e-sports league to rival those of traditional sports, with franchises in every major market, built not in decades, but a few short years. Blizzard aims to take e-sports to the next level, raising e-sports players to the heights of celebrity enjoyed by their counterparts in traditional sports, and carving out a place for e-sports in business and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105958/overwatch-league-strives-professionalism-e-sports-grabs-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105958/overwatch-league-strives-professionalism-e-sports-grabs-global?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Aug 2017 10:11:12 +0000 The explosion of popularity in e-sports and the vast sums of money flowing into the space are both driven by the people who build and support the community. Here, top professional players and the most influential business people in e-sports tell us how they came to be involved in the global phenomenon and what they think of the current scene. Their experiences, their perspectives and their aims are not just the story of how e-sports got to where it is, they’re a window into what its future may... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105674/who-are-big-hitters-e-sports-meet-top-players-and-most-influential?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105674/who-are-big-hitters-e-sports-meet-top-players-and-most-influential?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Aug 2017 02:45:00 +0000 Team Mainland China, dominant throughout the tournament, dealt a crushing defeat to the Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau side in the Return of the Legends Finals at the Coliseum on Sunday night. The atmosphere in the Coliseum was electric. Although all players from both teams hold massive respect in the region, the crowd was overwhelmingly in support of THM. And the THM players couldn’t contain their delight as they came out to screams of supporters on their home turf. The crowd lost their minds when Hong... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2105651/team-mainland-china-take-2-0-win-and-hk300000-return-legends-finals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2105651/team-mainland-china-take-2-0-win-and-hk300000-return-legends-finals?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Aug 2017 14:45:15 +0000 The Coliseum was only half-full again this morning; a disappointment, considering the hype around the match-up between China and NA. China received a warm welcome and cheers from the crowd, but it was obvious the real stars of the show were Team NA. The crowd went wild as each of Leagues old school heroes were introduced. Before the match, Misaya said he looked forward to playing against Team NA’s strongest previous meta. NA were never expected to win going into the match, though. EU, China and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105603/team-mainland-china-take-2-0-win-over-team-na-secure-their-place?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105603/team-mainland-china-take-2-0-win-over-team-na-secure-their-place?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Aug 2017 07:00:30 +0000 The term e-sports is a necessary but misleading simplification of many diverse and fascinating communities. The growing list of games which are “going e-sports” and their colourful and rapidly evolving cultures are stretching the term to its limits. By some counts, there are now 385 million e-sports enthusiasts globally, however, these fans are actually spread across many different games which are each supported by their own unique cultures. The following are a few of the main genres and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2105563/its-many-different-things-many-different-people-what-exactly-e?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2105563/its-many-different-things-many-different-people-what-exactly-e?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Aug 2017 09:24:35 +0000 Team Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau reached the finals of the E-Sports and Music Festival at the Hong Kong Coliseum on Friday with a 2-1 victory over Team Europe in the semi-finals. The victory means Team Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau will square off with either Team North America or Team China, who play on Sunday,in the final later on Sunday. The atmosphere at the Coliseum, although only at about 50 per cent full, was wild. The crowd was almost all local or mainland Chinese and every push by Team Team... https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2105495/home-fans-go-wild-thm-slay-team-eu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/article/2105495/home-fans-go-wild-thm-slay-team-eu?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Aug 2017 12:45:15 +0000 E-sports is shaping lifestyles, careers, investment and even government policy around the world. Game developer Activision Blizzard’s international city-based franchise, Overwatch League, is full-steam ahead, with teams reportedly selling for up to US$20 million. Chinese internet giant Tencent has announced plans to invest US$15 billion into Chinese e-sports in the next five years. And the Hong Kong Tourism Board is presenting its HK$35 million e-sports gambit – the e-sports and K-pop music... https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105447/e-sports-here-stay-so-its-time-we-began-understand-how-it-got-here?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/other-sport/article/2105447/e-sports-here-stay-so-its-time-we-began-understand-how-it-got-here?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Aug 2017 08:58:46 +0000 The half-baked esports festival is beginning to unravel with the Hong Kong Tourism Board feeling the heat. Initial concerns over the lack of participation of Hong Kong esports community, the format and also the participants have now given way to more serious concerns as to whether the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) knows what it’s doing – or if the event will even take place. The HKTB announced last weekend that due to “unstable weather” in recent days, all ticket sales have been postponed and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2100854/what-are-they-thinking-esports-not-game-hong-kong-tourism-board-play?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/hong-kong/article/2100854/what-are-they-thinking-esports-not-game-hong-kong-tourism-board-play?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Jul 2017 01:15:00 +0000