Cool light from LED screens shimmers in the dim room. A major e-sports event is in full swing, spectators from all over the world cheer, and the players on stage are focused intently. At the edge of the noise of the hall, a young entrepreneur stands with a well-thought-out mouse pad on his desk – a Danish design with minimalist graphics and raw precision. For him, it is a glimpse of the future: One day he hopes to see this particular piece of equipment become standard on the e-sports scene, and that his company Orbits can one day be represented in e-sports.
Consolidation in e-sports
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Fewer, larger players: The esports industry is consolidating. Large organizations are bringing multiple games and regions under one umbrella. Team Liquid CEO Steve Arhancet predicts that by 2025 we will see “more consolidation, mergers and acquisitions” in the industry esportsinsider.com . The Twitch platform already dominates the streaming market with over 50% of viewership globenewswire.com , while tech giants like Microsoft, Tencent and Riot Games are aggressively acquiring promising startups uc.edu . The combination of massive acquisitions and a few dominant platforms means that the esports economy will be concentrated in fewer, larger players.
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Large events: At the same time, international tournaments are growing. Exclusive events like the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh (with over $70 million in prizes) bring together the entire liquipedia.net ecosystem. Such tournaments attract sponsors and brands from all over the world and create enormous visibility. Fewer, but much larger events attract players, fans and investment to esports and clearly demonstrate the consolidation effect.
New growth markets
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Saudi Arabia and the Middle East: Large state-backed investments have created a new hotspot. PwC highlights that Saudi Arabia was “a key growth player” in the MENA region in 2023 pwc.com . The state-owned company Savvy Games Group has acquired major esports players such as ESL and FACEIT uc.edu , and together with planned events (e.g. EWC 2025 in Riyadh), further billions of dollars are expected. The number of gamers in MENA is already around 68 million – and is expected to grow to ~87 million by 2026 pwc.com – which is evidence of a wave of new capital and interest in esports.
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Asia: The Asia-Pacific region accounts for the vast majority of growth. China, South Korea and Japan drive the market globenewswire.com ; by 2023, China alone will have 250 million active gamers globenewswire.com . China is investing heavily in infrastructure (e.g. a new $900 million esports center in Shanghai globenewswire.com ) and is playing a dominant role in global esports. At the same time, markets like India and Southeast Asia are exploding with hundreds of millions of new gamers, driven by cheap hardware and massive mobile penetration.
Technological trends
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Mobile and cloud gaming: Mobile gaming has now become a major platform for gaming. Around 78% of the world’s gamers prefer mobile devices over PC or console esportsinsider.com . The mobile gaming market is estimated at 139.2 billion USD in 2024 and is expected to grow to 163.8 billion USD by 2028 esportsinsider.com . Big mobile titles like Mobile Legends , PUBG Mobile and Free Fire have managed to build huge esports scenes with high viewership. At the same time, cloud technology is pushing the boundaries of streaming heavy games on weaker devices. This development is making esports more accessible: players can now play high-end games on their phones or via the cloud without expensive hardware, “making esports far more affordable and accessible” uc.edu .
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Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI will permeate sports. AI systems analyze player data to optimize training and strategy, and game developers are using AI to create more dynamic and intelligent gaming environments. The University of Cincinnati even notes that technologies like AI rendering are allowing even simple mobile games to participate in traditional esports tournaments uc.edu . This means that games can become even more alive – with smarter bots and customized gameplay – and that AI is gradually reshaping the entire gaming industry.
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Virtual Reality (VR): VR/AR technology is still in its infancy in esports, but the market is growing. Globally, the VR market was around $15 billion in 2024 trangotech.com , driven by better hardware and new headsets. In 2025, more esports events are expected to experiment with VR elements – from VR training arenas to virtual matches where spectators can “sit” directly in the match via VR goggles. This could revolutionize both the gaming experience and the audience experience, by creating entirely new, immersive battle arenas.
Danish innovation and aesthetics
The Surface One mouse pad from Orbits, for example, is designed specifically for esports – with a micro-textured, water-repellent surface for extra precision and a non-slip neoprene base for stability. It has machine-stitched edges and durable materials for long life, and a stylish, discreet design that can be incorporated into any environment – “away from the stereotypical 'teenage gamer' gear”. This product offers a stylish alternative to the colorful, noisy gamer gear you otherwise see.
In conclusion , it is clear that esports in 2025 will unfold at the intersection of consolidation, emerging markets and technological advancements. Gamers can expect fewer, larger brands on the scene, while mobile, AI and VR continue to push the boundaries. So the question is: How will you take the stage yourself as the next era of esports begins?
