eSports
The future of Esports: Video games to be played at Olympics and Glastonbury by 2050, experts predict

How big will the industry be in 30 years time?
With esports now a $1billion industry this year and its popularity still rising, we ask the question – what does the future hold for professional gaming?
A gaming stage at Glastonbury, giant sold out 100,000-seater stadiums and even a place in the Olympics?
That’s where some academics feel esports could be by 2050.
After exclusively speaking to the experts, we’ve created some food for thought about how the industry evolves in decades to come.
Gaming at festivals such as Glastonbury or Coachella?
As many event organisers now look to bring in wider audiences and test the waters, gaming could be on the cards to feature at some of the world’s biggest festivals.
With comedy stages, poetry and circus acts becoming part of the usual attractions, could competitive gaming be an outlet to bring in new audiences?
Lincoln Geraghty, Professor of Media Cultures at University of Portsmouth in the UK, said: “Absolutely, the crossovers are there. Comicon for example in the last 30 years has gone from comic books to games to big marketing launches.
“So I see a space like Glastonbury, that has a subcultural prestige with people interested in explicit music and the relationship of music and games, people might be drawn to it.”
Esports in the Olympics?
Esports games are already broadcasted to millions of people around the world. Last year’s League of Legends World Championship semi-finals were watched live by 3.9million.
But what about on an elite, mainstream level? The Intel World Open was set to precede this year’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics before it was cancelled, a stepping stone for esports to potentially feature in the competition itself.
Professor Geraghty said: “This is something the Olympic committee is looking at and it would almost certainly provide a much safer space for this competition to take place.
“Whether it be a massive tournament on the scale of the World Cup or be included in the Olympics in 30 years time, it won’t be unexpected and won’t be a surprise.”
All colleges and universities to offer esports majors/degrees?
This is unlikely, but not impossible.
There are already cases around the world of university majors and degrees being offered in game design and for specific games themselves.
As more people in higher education take up these courses, the novelty may wear off and that could lead to more awareness of the power games have on society.
Professor Regan Mandryk, Professor in Computer Science at University of Saskatchewan in Canada, said: “You can now go through college on a League of Legends scholarship, that’s going to change the cache of being an esports athlete.
“I would like to see the stigma of it being a “nerdy” activity change. It’s going to be hard, but it will happen by more people being exposed to different aspects of playing.”
Regularly filling 100,000 seater stadiums?
Whether it’s the World Cup or the Super Bowl, thousands of people want to be there to see how sporting events play out.
And this is no different for esports, even now.
The Spodak Arena in Katowice, Poland held 173,000 people to watch the Intel Extreme Masters in 2017.
“People see their heroes in these gamers and esports personalities,” Professor Geraghty added.
“It’s only replacing the footballer on the pitch with a competitor on your computer screen.”
He said: “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a football stadium or convention centres sell out to see a huge gaming tournament.
“As content creators increase in popularity, people will pay to come out and see them in person.”
To better the understanding of mental and physical health
We all understand games can be stressful and frustrating at times, but the techniques used in a lot of the technology is actually helping health professionals understand humans more.
Despite many negative connotations, studies have found games can actually help our mental health, but also be used to understand the physical effects of stress and recovery.
“Gaming can be very good for you. There are lots of ways that it can help you recover from stress,” added Professor Mandryk.
“It can help you disconnect from the pressures around you. It can also help you connect socially with other people.
“We’ve done research that shows gaming can actually combat loneliness.”
But, how do we get the best out games in the future within other areas of society?
Professor Mandryk said: “Part of the answer is to stop being so afraid of games.”
“This is a very powerful median that we can leverage. There is a lot of motivational pull and people are devoting a lot of time to playing games so why aren’t we harnessing what’s great about them to better society.”
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2XKO
DATA.BET the First to Launch 2XKO Offering

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Introducing Riot Gamesâ newest title to the esports landscape
DATA.BET, the award-winning sports betting solution supplier, has pioneered the betting market by launching 2XKO, a new dynamic competitive format.
2XKO marks a new addition to the global esports scene. With its fast-paced, double-elimination structure, it brings a distinctive rhythm of short yet high-stakes matches â a setup that potentially opens new avenues for betting engagement and audience retention as the format evolves.
At this stage, DATA.BETâs coverage focuses on key pre-match markets, including Winner and To Reach the Final for overall tournament outcomes, as well as Winner within individual matches. During the final stages of the competition, the company also plans to expand its offering with Map Winner markets for each map.
What makes 2XKO unique is the combination of short-form, high-intensity gameplay. This setup maximizes player engagement, mirroring the popularity of competitive fighting games worldwide while translating seamlessly into a betting environment.
DATA.BET debuted its 2XKO betting coverage at the upcoming 2 NICE KO tournament in Nice, France (Oct 10â12, 2025), featuring nearly 300 players across top fighting titles.
Bogdan Holovnov, Head of Esports at DATA.BET, said: âEsports thrives on creativity and innovation, and 2XKO is the perfect example of how new formats can drive excitement for players and bettors alike. At DATA.BET, weâre proud to be the first to bring this to market â giving our partners exclusive access to content that captures the speed, intensity, and global appeal of fighting games. This launch reinforces our commitment to expanding esports betting with fresh, high-impact experiences.â
The post DATA.BET the First to Launch 2XKO Offering appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Akshat Rathee
PlayStation and NODWIN Gaming Announce the Fourth Edition of the PlayStation India Cup Featuring EA SPORTS FC 26

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NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming and esports, has announced the fourth edition of the PlayStation India Cup, featuring EA SPORTS FC 26, exclusively on PS5 console.
The tournament marks the return of Indiaâs only official console esports tournament, and features daily online qualifiers, followed by an online playoffs. The top 8 players will progress to the grand finale, which will take place during Delhi Comic Con at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi, from 5th December to 7th December 2025. Fans will witness the countryâs top EA FC 26 players competing for a total prize pool of âš4,00,000. With the rise of football fandom in India and the ever-growing EA SPORTS FC community, this yearâs championship promises bigger competition and unmatched excitement.
The previous edition of the India Cup Finals at Delhi Comic Con 2024 also featured an immersive PlayStation gaming pavilion with hands-on demos and live commentary, which saw strong engagement from Comic Con attendees.
This year, in addition to the sizable prize pool, all finalists will receive official PlayStation merchandise, making the competition even more rewarding for players who make it to the big stage.
How to Register
Registrations for the PlayStation India Cup started on October 08, 2025. Players across India can participate in the daily online qualifiers through the following steps:
Step-by-Step Registration Process
Step 1: Boot up the PlayStation 5 and ensure it is connected to the internet.
Step 2: Navigate to the âEventsâ or âTournamentsâ section on the PS5 dashboard.
Step 3: Look for the âPlayStation India Cup FC 26â (EA SPORTS FC 26) tournament listing.
Step 4: Select the tournament and follow the on-screen prompts to complete registration.
Step 5: Confirm participation and monitor notifications for match schedules or additional requirements.
The Daily Cups conclude on November 10, 2025. Players are encouraged to register early to secure their spot in the daily qualifiers.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said: âThe console esports scene in India is a premium niche, and the PlayStation India Cup with EA FC captures that perfectly. Delhi Comic Con, where our journey began over a decade ago, provides the ideal stage, bringing together fans who love both pop culture and competitive gaming. Hosting the tournament in our 40,000 sq. ft. Gaming Arena adds to the festive spirit of Comic Con, where football fans can compete, cheer, and experience EA FC like never before. Itâs a true celebration of Delhiâs vibrant fandom and the growing console esports community in India.â
The tournament will be amplified with influencer-led content, live streams and weekly updates, ensuring both players and fans remain engaged throughout the journey.
The post PlayStation and NODWIN Gaming Announce the Fourth Edition of the PlayStation India Cup Featuring EA SPORTS FC 26 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Asia
KONAMI Teams Up with Sunil Chhetri to Celebrate Diwali with Exclusive eFootball⢠Content and National Tournament

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Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. (KONAMI) today announced a historic collaboration with Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, bringing his exclusive player card and avatar to eFootball. Launched today, 9th October, the move is timed with the celebration of Diwali, marking a milestone moment for Indian fans. Adding to the celebrations, Konami also unveils the Diwali Cup, a national level eFootball
tournament with a âš1 Lakh prize pool, allowing fans a chance to celebrate one of the countryâs most festive seasons and also play as a national icon.
Registrations for the tournament are now open via the eFootball India Discord server, closing on 16th October Matches commence between October 16 to 30, with top performers and the winner able to secure an opportunity to meet celebrity guests such as Sunil Chhetri, KL Rahul, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Focused Indian and Ahan Shetty at the exclusive event in Mumbai this December. The Diwali Cup is designed to blend competition with festivity, giving fans a chance to celebrate the season on and off the virtual pitch.
To further embrace the spirit of Diwali, the brand will also introduce a special in-game âDiwali Campaignâ From themed jerseys and firework goal effects to celebratory profile banners, these exclusive design elements aim to bring an Indian cultural flavor into the game. Ensuring fans can experience both the festival and the beautiful game in a unique way. Additionally, fans can look forward to obtaining the Sunil Chhetri Starter Set on sale from November onwards.
Speaking about the launch, Junichi Taya, eFootball General Producer at KONAMI, said: âIndia has an incredible passion for football, and Sunil Chhetri stands as a true symbol of that spirit. We are honored to celebrate his career with this special in-game card. Additionally, as we look to build a stronger presence in the sub-continent, we are seeking to embrace localized activations, and this aligns with our vision perfectly. This collaboration reflects our long-term commitment to Indian fans as we look forward to seeing them celebrate both their hero and their festival inside eFootball
.â
With over two decades of international football, Sunil Chhetriâs arrival in eFootball marks a new chapter in honoring his legacy. For fans across India, the launch is aimed to be a celebration of national pride, passion, and the growing power of Indian football. As KONAMI pushes ahead to deliver meaningful, localized experiences across the subcontinent, the brand seeks to ensure Indian fans remain at the heart of eFootball
.
The post KONAMI Teams Up with Sunil Chhetri to Celebrate Diwali with Exclusive eFootball⢠Content and National Tournament appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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