These last few years, video game competitions have come a long way and is still growing fast. We see games being updated regularly, new disciplines are making a splash, the introduction of new technologies or more simply, new ways of putting on a show. Today it\u2019s impossible to tell what the electronic competitions will look like in ten years. Yet, as we analyze the trajectory that video games is following right now, it is possible to draw up a sample of what tomorrow\u2019s e-sports could look like.
\n<\/p>\n
Video game competitions have always heavily relied on technology. It follows trends and adapts to new products. Eye tracking, augmented reality, movement sensors etc. Some products are already available to consumers, others, highly anticipated, will be entering the market as soon as next year. But will the year 2016 really be synonymous to revolution? First, let\u2019s take a step back from the marketing messages.\u00a0 Yes these new technologies have a huge potential, and it\u2019s a near certainty: they will profoundly change the way we play<\/a>. However these products are still first generation tech and putting aside their starting price, they still require some very powerful gaming rigs that are extremely expensive to the average Joe. To profit fully from the Vive headset produces by HTC and Valve you would need, if possible, to have a nice space of around 16m\u00b2 to use it in! A whole room dedicated only to gaming? A big challenge! Especially as integrating these technologies on a competitive stand point is still something that needs to be achieved by any company. For Geoffrey De Bie, marketing manager for SteelSeries, one thing is clear: \u201cVR is the booming business of 2016! It\u2019s the type of product that will really buzz on the market. On the other hand, I don\u2019t think that will have a real impact on video game competition. There may be some tournaments, some tries, but it won\u2019t go any further for the moment\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n Cheaper, products like Eye Tracking may become indispensable for tomorrow\u2019s pro-gamers. Nevertheless, even today the extra data or available features are not numerous enough for a real democratization of these products to take place among gamers. With roughly 600 Eye Sentry units in stores and 300 units sold to the public, Geoffrey De Bie explains: \u201cthe Eye Sentry is a really innovating product but we cannot talk of top sellers. These technologies must make an entrance in the competitive world. This is not yet the case despite their potential. I think the future of these technologies is in the hands of developers, game editors and tournament organizers who must work together to integrate these components in the competitions.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n