Online sport is the future of the video game industry

“The quality of computer equipment is crucial for competition,” TyLoo’s He said in an Intel-sponsored event at ChinaJoy. “Skill, strategy and equipment are the critical triangle for success in eSports.”

Intel’s investment in gaming personal computers is increasing every year, with “game and eSports competitions a growing subfield,” said Mark Subotnick, a business manager of Intel, the world’s biggest PC chip maker.

Zhuang Zhengsong, Chinese general manager of Hewlett-Packard, said the company entered the industry three years ago and it’s become a “worthwhile investment.”

Nvidia, the world’s biggest graphic chip vendor, seeded almost 1,000 GeForce computers in the halls of ChinaJoy, offering players “first-class” gaming experiences through its latest GeForce GTX.

In the upcoming Asia Games in Jakarta, eSports will become a performing event for the first time. Media reports speculated the Olympic Games may be next.

Internet giants like Tencent and Alibaba haven’t been blind to the opportunities.

Tencent plans to expand its King Pro League nationwide, with new cities being added in western China. It also plans to hold international events covering countries like South Korea, said Allan Zhang, King Pro League president at Tencent.

Chinese eSports teams like Newbee, IG, EDG and OMG have already won international eSports championships in the games like DOTA 2, LOL and PUBG. TyLoo, named after a legendary beast said to bring good luck in China, represents Asia’s top level in the CS:GO game.

Winning teams in eSports events can win up to US$3 million or US$4 million each, and they also get a cut of the revenue generated by virtual eSports-themed merchandise.

Shanghai-based VSPN, Tencent’s King Pro League event partner, now operates two professional eSports centers in Shanghai and Chengdu. Its local center can hold audiences of up to 500 people.

Nvidia is now establishing several professional eSports training centers globally, including one soon to open in Shanghai. The centers help eSports players, like TyLoo’s He, improve their skills through “combat” training with high-level eSports teams in Europe and other regions.

Another booming offshoot is mobile eSports, which have a relatively low entry threshold and a wider coverage, including many female fans.

Qualcomm, the world’s top mobile chip designer, made its debut in ChinaJoy this year, showing advanced technology in calculation, connection, pictures and sounds to improve mobile game experiences.

The world will have 2.7 billion mobile gamers in 2021, compared with 2.1 billion in 2017, Qualcomm said.

Meanwhile, China’s Vivo Nex has replaced the iPhone X to become the official model for King Pro League events, showcasing the Chinese smartphone maker’s commitment to eSports.