GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival is returning to the RDS, Dublin this May 27th and 28th after the hugely successful event last year which saw 5,000+ gamers gather in person for the first time since covid.
The epic GamerFest weekend will be a celebration of all things gaming and will feature the latest gaming releases, VR gaming, esports, gaming challenges and a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators and a variety of exciting live stage content. Among those confirmed to attend are Ryan Mar, Mr Gibbon, Antitinkerbell and The Gara Show, with more exciting special guest announcements coming soon. Meanwhile, Club Loaded Energy and Energise Energy have been confirmed as Official Drinks Partners with multiple giveaways and competitions planned at the event.
This year, GamerFest has teamed up with Nativz Collegiate to launch their first ever Collegiate Challenge which will see Ireland’s top colleges face off on the GamerFest Esports Stage. Teams from University College Dublin and Technological University Dublin will go head to head on stage in both Valorant and Rocket League matches.
GamerFest is also running online open tournaments in Valorant and FIFA for competitive gamers. The finalists of these online tournaments will then go forward to compete on the Esports Stage in May in front of a live audience.
GamerFest has also confirmed a ground-breaking partnership with Williams Esports. Five cutting edge Williams Esports sim racing rigs will be available at GamerFest so fans can put their racing skills to the test. In addition to a Fastest Lap Challenge taking place across the weekend, Williams Esports Irish driver Daire McCormack will also be in attendance, meeting the crowd and chatting about his sim racing career to date.
Zero Latency VR will be returning to GamerFest with the most incredibly immersive VR gaming experience, bringing a unique combination of technology and pure imagination that transports players into a world of free-roam gaming. Organisers have also revealed a partnership with Sega that will see Sega Frontiers featured at the event along with a host of other titles.
Visitors both young and old can take a walk down memory lane in the popular Retro Zone which hosts a range of old school games and consoles including Mega Drive and Atari, along with a host of classic retro arcade machines.
The newly launched Industry Zone will also provide visitors a chance to explore the incredible education and career opportunities within gaming. Pulse College and Black Shamrock Studio will be in attendance to provide advice and guidance for aspiring professionals.
Since its establishment in 2017, GamerFest has established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, whether that be casual gaming with friends or those who engage in competitive esports tournaments, game development and design or content creation.
GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says:
“We can’t wait to see everyone at GamerFest Summer for an absolutely packed weekend of gaming! Whether you’re a dedicated esports player, or a young casual gamer, we have something for everyone at the event.”
GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this May 27th and 28th
GamerFest is an epic weekend celebration of gaming that includes the latest games, VR tech, esports and career exploration, as well as a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators. With 5,000 visitors in attendance there is something for every gamer.
As part of the partnership, Williams Esports will be bringing five cutting edge Williams Esports sim racing rigs for the GamerFest crowd to test their racing skills. In addition to a Fastest Lap Challenge taking place across the weekend, Williams Esports Irish driver Daire McCormack will also be in attendance, meeting the crowd and chatting about his sim racing career to date.
Speaking at the announcement, GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey believes the Williams Esports team will be a hugely popular addition to the event: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Williams Esports to GamerFest this May. This is the first time that a global sim racing team has visited Ireland so there’s going to be a massive buzz around the Williams Esports area at the event.”
Director of Esports at Williams Racing, Steven English, is looking forward to meeting the Irish gaming community: “We’re excited about this opportunity to come over to Ireland and engage with the passionate sim racing and gaming community that we know is thriving here. We strive to give as many people as possible the chance to try an elite sim racing rig and help to grow their enthusiasm for the sport we love.
We hope to add a real highlight to the GamerFest event, and maybe we’ll even identify some top Irish sim racing prospects in the process!”
Ireland’s first professional esports training centre, the WYLDE Academy powered by Virgin Media, was officially opened today (Monday) by Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Simon Coveney T.D.
Based in Ireland, WYLDE esports, co-owned by Usain Bolt, competes in major esports titles and tournaments around the world. The WYLDE Academy is a high performance centre for national and international professionals to train in a world class facility powered by Virgin Media superfast broadband.
Speaking at the official opening of the WYLDE Academy in Republic of Work, Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Simon Coveney T.D. said: “There is such a high level of expertise, commitment and professionalism required to compete and win globally in the world of esports. These WYLDE players are a new generation of talented and ambitious professionals mentored by the world’s fastest man Usain Bolt. It is wonderful to see such global ambition in the world’s fastest growing sport from an indigenous Irish company.”
“The opening of the WYLDE Academy is another step in our journey towards ensuring that Ireland is at the forefront of professional esports internationally. Sponsors like Virgin Media and PUMA have made it possible for us to create a training base in Cork for some of the world’s best talent. This country has an opportunity to create significant employment in the area of gaming and esports for future generations”, said David Cronin, co-founder of WYLDE.
Vice President of Commercial at Virgin Media, Paul Higgins said: “Virgin Media recognise the audiences, engagement rates and growth of gaming and esports across the globe. Our strategic partnership with WYLDE ensures that we are supporting the development of Irish esports as we align with Ireland’s first professional esports academy.”
On the international stage, as one of the top teams in Europe, the WYLDE Rainbow Six Siege team now competes in Ubisoft’s top tier European League (EUL) following a rapid rise to the top. In 2022, WYLDE won the EU Gamers Without Borders Championship securing a $250,000 donation to UNICEF, and went on to the global semi-final of the $2 million Gamers 8 tournament in Saudi Arabia, beating Team Liquid and former World Champions Space Station Gaming along the way. WYLDE then went on to win Ubisoft GSA Grand Final Trophy in Germany. WYLDE fields international teams in Riot Games ‘Valorant’, EA’s ‘FIFA’ and Psyonix’s ‘Rocket League’. The company recently unveiled PUMA as their official kit sponsor globally in what was described as a ‘significant’ multi-year sponsorship deal.
This new partnership positions Virgin Media at the forefront of gaming in Ireland, working with Usain Bolt’s WYLDE esports organisation, to grow Ireland’s roster of world-class esports athletes.
The global eSports industry is by no means mature, but it has come a long way in recent years. The eSports scene has made its way into the mainstream in more ways than one, with a host of video games attracting hugely talented eSports gamers and personalities worldwide.
With plenty of upside potential in the global eSports market, we’ve used the turn of the New Year as inspiration to look at some of the emerging trends that are likely to catch fire in 2023.
More professional sports clubs entering the eSports arena
One of the biggest trends we’ve seen emerging in eSports is the entry of professional sports clubs entering the eSports scene. More and more sports clubs are launching their own professional eSports teams as a means of enhancing their brand exposure. Many of the world’s best sports events are also introducing virtual versions of their competitions.
We’ve seen the Commonwealth Games recently accept eSports as a credible test event and the Indian Super League – India’s premier soccer league – has also unveiled its own eISL, with each ISL franchise having their own eSports team.
Considerable interest in eSports betting markets
As live coverage of the biggest eSports tournaments and leagues becomes increasingly mainstream – across Twitch and YouTube channels, satellite networks and even sports betting sites – there will be a surge of interest in betting on eSports events in real time. As of 2021, Business Research Insights estimated the global eSports betting market was worth $9.7 billion. This is predicted to grow to $24.19 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7%.
Some online sportsbooks are rapidly embracing eSports betting markets, to the point that they’re a significant liquidity driver rather than a niche market. Unibet is one of the leading operators in the North American market to focus its efforts on eSports. In licensed states where eSports betting is legal, Unibet offers a host of moneyline and prop bets (both pre-game and in-play) to drive engagement among gaming enthusiasts. Unibet’s emergence in six US states has seen the European brand become one of OddsChecker’s top five sites based on the strength of its promotions for first-time users stateside.
The emergence of female eSports stars
One of the biggest and most exciting developments in the world of eSports is the rise of female eSports professionals. Just a matter of days ago, Jeon “DangMoo” Su-jin was signed by Liiv SANDBOX for the LCK CL competition, becoming the first female player in the tournament. “DangMoo” is a trailblazer, building on the recent attempts among eSports teams to develop and harness female eSports talent.
In Turkey, eSports franchise the Istanbul Wildcats had their own ‘Turkish Academy’, featuring a string of hot female prospects. None of whom have yet managed to pierce their way into the professional scene quite like South Korean “DangMoo”.
2023 looks set to be the year of VALORANT
The general consensus among eSports executives is that the game VALORANT is expected to explode onto the scene in a big way in 2023. It looks likely that VALORANT will be the fastest-growing eSport this year, with Riot Games investing considerable time and money in developing an ecosystem that works worldwide.
Global VALORANT events are going to be scheduled throughout the year, with a view to raising the bar and incentivising top global talent. There will also be a trio of new “Premier-level” international VALORANT leagues where players will do battle “in-studio” to qualify for the big-ticket global events. The expansion of the domestic and “Game Changers” leagues will also make VALORANT more accessible to emerging eSports markets.
High-profile collaborations
It also hasn’t gone unnoticed that a number of professional sports stars are also joining forces with the eSports elite. Recent 2022 FIFA World Cup winner Lionel Messi partnered with PUBG Mobile recently, which helped raise the profile of PUBG Mobile to sports stars worldwide. It’s not just sports stars either; there are pop stars like Justin Bieber getting involved too. Bieber collaborated with Free Fire in 2022 and it’s likely there will be even bigger fireworks in 2023 collaborations-wise.
With a third of the global economy said to be experiencing a recession in 2023, there are risks to the downside for the eSports industry, although there is no such indication that prize pools will diminish this year as a result.
Technology defines not only many areas of modern everyday life, but also the world of cyber sport. Digital technology helps to avoid bad decisions and thereby ensure a fair playing field.
Technology has an impact on life
Technology has long had a firm place in everyday life. The main reason for this is undoubtedly the Internet. It has shaken the business foundations of many industries. How else, for example, could the autonomous driving that Tesla is aiming for be implemented?
Many industries, however, have completely reinvented themselves thanks to the internet. Thus, the games industry has become the largest sub-sector of the entertainment industry. As a result, many types of games that used to be played offline have migrated to the Internet.
The best example of this is the booming iGaming industry. Today, thanks to the internet, a variety of online casino offerings can be played without any prior download.
Innovation is also driven by technical possibilities
The enormous range of offerings has also facilitated the development of new sports. For example, eSports and Overwatch bet tournaments can be held without participants physically meeting. Gamers from all over the world meet in a virtual space to crown the best amongst their peers.
Looking at the development in eFootball Championship Pro, it is clear that the best football clubs in the world are also setting the tone in the cybersport version of the sport.
A provider such as Vulkanbet now also has a wide range of live casino games in its pipeline, which use streaming technology.
Despite the large selection and constant innovations, the original basic idea of the respective games has not been forgotten.
A rapid development can be seen, for example, in the mobile network. The new 5G mobile communications standard is setting the pace. It offers speeds ten times faster than 4G. This new standard benefits above all those services that require high speeds, such as mobile cybersport games and esport bets. It speeds up and automates processes and improves communication between devices.
Digital technology in sports
Smart applications support decision-making and thus play an important role in ensuring fairness. This is especially true for the video assistant in football. However, it does not make decisions autonomously, but provides facts that enable human referees to correctly assess a disputed situation.
Virtual and augmented reality
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are increasingly penetrating our everyday lives. Trend researchers predict a great future for both new technologies as they make work more efficient, games more impressive, and human interaction more versatile in many areas.
There are also many uses for AR, among which are Games. Computer games are the most popular and probably the most common application.
Increasingly, game makers are developing pure VR games that can be played entirely without control devices thanks to new technology. The game pieces are superimposed on the real-world environment. The principle of the game became known thanks to the popular game Pokémon GO.
GamerFest, Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, is returning to the RDS, Dublin this October 22nd & 23rd. The epic weekend celebration of gaming entertainment will include the latest games, VR gaming, esports and gaming challenges, a host of special guests including top Twitch and YouTube creators, and a variety of live stage content.
Organisers have also announced an exciting new partnership with Lucozade, the 2022 Title Sponsor of GamerFest, who will be showing up big at the event and supporting a wide range of gaming activations across the entire weekend.
Since its establishment in 2017 GamerFest has established itself as a diverse, community-led gaming event for everyone with a passion for gaming, whether that be casual gaming with friends or those who engage in competitive esports tournaments, game development and design or content creation.
Over the last number of years GamerFest has become a hub for content creator talent in Ireland, with a host of YouTube and Twitch special guests set to attend October’s event. Content creators confirmed to date include Antitinkerbell, Jamie Jay Car, The Gara Show, Audrey and event hosts All Cast Irish Gamers with more special guest announcements coming soon.
Fans of esports will witness a packed line-up of competitive action on the GamerFest Main Stage including an Official Partnership with Ubisoft and the launch of the GamerFest Rainbow Six Siege Ireland Open. This tournament offers an incredible opportunity for Irish teams to qualify for the UK Ireland Nationals (UKIN) and ultimately earn a professional spot in the Rainbow Six Northern Premier League.
Organisers have also confirmed a ground-breaking partnership with Legion Collegiate Esports, Ireland’s dedicated esports series for third-level students in Ireland, which will see some of the best student esports talent in the country go head to head across a range of titles including Rocket League, Apex Legends and FIFA.
Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to get hands on with HADO, the very latest in Augmented Reality (AR) gaming, where players do battle with virtual energy balls and shields on a real life court. HADO will also launch the first ever Irish HADO Championship at GamerFest which will see the winning team represent Ireland at the upcoming HADO European Championships in France.
The wide array of gaming entertainment on offer at GamerFest includes:
The latest titles, VR gaming and technology
A showcase of the best in Irish gaming content creator talent with a new ‘Creator Zone’ offering visitors the chance to meet their favourite Twitch and YouTube creators
An expo hall and market place to get the latest gaming equipment and gear
A host of esports tournaments featuring on the GamerFest Main Stage
A range of special guest appearances and Meet + Greet opportunities
GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey says:
“Like our visitors, the team behind GamerFest are gamers. Ever since our first event five years ago, we’ve kept an absolute focus on one thing – the gaming community. Community guides us in everything we do, ensuring we have the best games, content, special guests and entertainment possible at all our events.”
“Just like every other live event, it’s been incredibly tough not seeing our community since 2020 throughout the Covid pandemic. So, we’re incredibly excited to see the anticipation for the return of GamerFest this year. It will be wonderful to see people physically come together and celebrate all things gaming, bringing to life all the incredible friendships and relationships that have developed online over the last number of years.”
GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this October 22nd and 23rd with tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.
The mobile game industry will surely continue to develop rapidly to become a lucrative business area. This industry has exceeded all technical and commercial targets. You can anticipate the future of mobile games with an internet presence of over 3 million worldwide players. It’s therefore reasonable to expect an ingenious mobile gaming future. Developing games will help improve the ability to handle the risk and difficulties of the games industry.
Mobile Game Development Trends to Follow in 2022
You must keep a watch out for new advancements while investing in mobile games because there are so many different games accessible, from casually paced games to$1 deposit casinos Canada. Here are a few predictions for 2023’s mobile game development trends.
NFTs and Blockchain based Games
Blockchain technology and blockchain technologies have become crucial to the mobile game business. FT’s look much like another cryptocurrency like ETH or BTC. This nonfungible token is commonly used to tokenize real estate, music, artwork, and other things. Despite these advantages, blockchain technology provides strong stability. Therefore, NFT tokenisation is also possible in some game characters. A further benefit is that they could be used to tokenize trade cards in card games. A number of popular games from the metaverse are “NFT”. The markets of NFT gaming have accelerated. According to the report, the number of digital currency wallet accounts associated with gaming was up by 307,636 in early 2022 from 307,326 in early 2021.
Esports are on the rise
In recent years, mobile gaming has become increasingly popular. It’s possible to view it as an upcoming competition for the professional players and gamers who are interested. Many people in the world have watched or followed these games via direct viewing or watching different live shows. Live streams provide an easy way to watch upcoming games on your PC in real time. The eSport market has been valued by experts at over a billion by 2021 – an almost 50% increase compared to 2021. A further increase of $2bn is anticipated to occur in 2023.
Metaverse
The Metaverse has become an emerging trend, but there is no clarity as to how this will affect gaming in mobile. This year mobile gaming has been joined to the Metaverse enabling enhanced gameplay. Among them are: Fortnite concerts. Various companies like Nike land on Roblox also have gaming worlds built on. Start-ups are preparing to help build a metaverse infrastructure and offer its users the tools for creating and maintaining the metaverse, such as creating real life avatars. Soon it will be more accessible for people with an interest in reading the Metaverse in 2021.
Increased gaming socialization
Mobile game interaction grew as more people became involved via social media. During the pandemic the isolation and constant search for interaction have made mobile gaming an important social area for people. 45% of American gamers use Facebook chat while playing. Most Americans have started a liking for online modes and multiplayer games over single player games. Games developers will benefit from new features such as guilds, social networks,chat rooms, etc. Social media has been gaining popularity among gamers as he has become increasingly popular with gamers.
Cross-platform mobile gaming
Cross-platform games are an interesting trend shaping the gaming industry in 2024. It can also take place across platforms on cellular phones, tablets, mobile phones, and other devices. Players couldn’t play across different platforms for several reasons. In 2021 gamers experience gaming on multiple platforms with Game code-based software. Developers are interested in making the game available to a variety of platforms, including laptop, mobile phones and tablets. The app is made up of cross-platform technology which allows quick discovery of its functionality.
Hyper-Casuals will take the lead
Sensor Tower has published a report titled Industry Trend Report predicting a burgeoning hyper casual gaming trend for 2025 to 3035. Hyper-casual games offer gamers a chance at relaxation without increasing intelligence. The global online gaming industry will forecast growth of 1% by 2019, the company said. Market predictions and assessments thus indicate a high growth of hyper-casual video game industry in 2025. Many famous examples such as Candy Crush Monster Strike and Coin master have quickly become tough competition in game play on PC and console.
Multiplayer functionality
Mobile games can be played in many different formats than a gaming console. Several are accessed and more will become available in 2022. Mobile phone apps are an all-encompassing multi-player game. Recently the world has witnessed a booming multiplayer game craze. In 2022 multiplayer game is expected to become an increasingly prominent trend with the rise of mobile games. Mobile games are intended to help you boost mental energy, relax yourself, or strengthen your relationships. We want everyone to have fun playing on the Internet.
Artificial Intelligence in Gaming
Artificial intelligence can certainly enhance gameplay and playability. AI in games could tell you whether your games are successful. It’s already been mentioned that popular technology is gaining popularity. Ultimately, AR and AI technology will change gaming. AI will be more influential on gaming over the next decade, according to our predictions. AI helps developers create fun games. AI aims to improve NPC learning abilities. NPCs may use artificial intelligence for their responses, making video games trickier.
Mobile Cloud Gaming
Mobile cloud gaming is good for learning how to live. Additionally, the subscription model influences developers’ motivation more. They can also easily integrate certain payment options with gaming strengths. So, a user can build strength and use tools such as Fortnight Candy Crush / PUBG for quick and efficient performances in any situation. Developers’ earnings surely are flawless if they can access remote servers without hardware assistance and access downloadable software from remote servers.
Gaming with Augmented Reality
In augmented reality games, AR can combine graphics and video to create a visual interface which allows a user to experience a game’s content in real-time. Contrary to VR gaming AR uses current environment to create playable environments. You do not require special headsets for AR devices. User can view and play virtual reality games using mobile device. A very advanced example of AR game applications with GPS, smartphones and cameras is Pokémon Go. The system supports location-specific AR environments.
Wearable technology
Wearables is an e-gypsum that uses a sensor that enables users to monitor, identify, and communicate information directly with the user. Fitness rings, wristbands, and smart watches are a few typical wearable devices that utilize wearable technology. Wearable devices are generally connected to wellness and development has also occurred rapidly in the gaming business. You can use an electronic tracker to track games that players are playing. This information enhances the gaming experience of players.
The rise of VR (Virtual Reality) Gaming
VR provides gamers with an amazing experience. Virtual reality headsets enable users to use objects in a locked space. While VR headsets may appear costly at the moment, technology advancement could be used to help reduce their cost. In the future, graphics and VR gaming quality could improve. The future for VR gaming looks amazing as tech giants such as Microsoft, Apple and IBM have already started with similar technology.
Ireland’s biggest gaming and esports festival, GamerFest, has announced its long awaited return, with 5,000 visitors expected at the RDS, Dublin this October 22nd & 23rd.
Originally established in 2017, GamerFest is a diverse and inclusive celebration of all things gaming and esports that has been developed with a community-first approach, welcoming visitors from across Ireland, the UK and Europe.
Central to the event has been the GamerFest Live Stage which sees a huge variety of gaming content across the weekend including esports tournaments, special guest appearances and gaming challenges.
Visitors to the event can also expect a wide array of gaming entertainment including the latest titles, VR gaming and technology, expo hall and market place to grab the latest gaming equipment and gear. Esports tournaments will continue to be a huge part of GamerFest with a full list of tournaments, schedules and prize pools to be announced over the summer.
The festival is also planning to showcase the best in Irish gaming content creator talent with the launch of a new Creator Zone where visitors will get the chance to meet their favourite Twitch and YouTube creators at the event. Further announcements regarding special guests will be made by the organisers over the coming weeks.
Speaking at the announcement of the event, GamerFest CEO Stuart Dempsey was excited to see the return to live events for the Irish gaming community. “It’s obviously been a really tough couple of years for everyone involved with live events and we certainly haven’t been immune. But to see the excitement and anticipation amongst our community for the return of GamerFest is just incredible. We can’t wait to see everyone again at the RDS this October.”
GamerFest takes place at The RDS, Dublin this October 22nd and 23rd with tickets on sale now at GamerFest.ie.
Fnatic, the London-based esports performance brand, in partnership with German motoring manufacturer BMW, have today unveiled a brand new Esports Performance Facility based in Berlin. The BMW x Fnatic Esports Performance Facility will feature an array of solutions designed to cater to the needs of esports professionals competing at the highest level, setting a new standard for European esports training centres.
The purpose built training centre is equipped ultra-fast broadband with top range internal networking systems and has a range of high-spec features including; an in-house gym, fully serviced kitchen with appliances supplied by Hisense, changing rooms, a relaxation and recreation area, two gaming performance rooms, a content studio, a match review room, changing rooms, BMW sim racing rig and dedicated office space.
The facility will be used extensively by the Fnatic League of Legends team as they compete in the upcoming League of Legends European Championship (LEC) Summer Season. With qualifying spots for the League of Legends World Championship on the line, Fnatic will be looking to the increased capabilities of their Esports Performance Facility to raise their game and return to the top of the LEC.
Jens Hofer, Director of Fnatic’s High Performance Unit, said: “The BMW x Fnatic Esports Performance Facility has been specifically designed to support our League of Legends players as they strive for excellence in the upcoming LEC Summer Season. We’re so excited to finally be opening the unit alongside BMW and setting a new standard for esports facilities in Europe. This facility is another step forward for our HPU as we plan our return to the top of European League of Legends”.
“It is crucial to be able to offer our players a great 360º experience that covers all their needs. That combined with the right staff in all meaningful areas like sport psychology and performance, in-game knowledge, management and content, gives our players the resources they need to be able to get to their best version.” added LOL Team Director Javier Zafra
The BMW x Fnatic Esports Performance Facility supports Fnatic’s wider esports performance strategy, which is based on eight different performance pillars. These include health, research, technology and software, in-game performance, processes and operations, youth structure, infrastructure and education. The ambition of the unit is to consistently improve the capabilities of Fnatic players by making marginal performance gains and improving results, starting with the Fnatic League of Legends team based in Berlin.
Pia Schörner, BMW Group Head of Gaming and Sponsoring, said: “We are excited to collaborate with Fnatic, one of our successful United in Rivalry teams, on the new BMW x Fnatic Esports Performance Facility. It will cover all aspects needed for a team to be able to compete at the highest level of Esports. The broad approach, ranging from players’ physical and mental health over content creation to in-game performance, is reflecting the philosophy of BMW when it comes to Esports. In addition, the facility provides the perfect stage to showcase BMW Group innovations that we will provide to support Fnatic and their players to further increase their performance. We’ll bring some exciting projects to life in the future.”
