COVID-19 has affected almost every country in the world! Businesses have been halted, with many even permanently shutting down. The international economy is at a decline. The repercussions are felt in almost any industry. If there’s one that is booming, however, it would be online gaming, especially e-sports. COVID-19 lockdown boosted user engagement. With almost nowhere to go, people turn online to entertain themselves and play!
Among others, one game that became more popular in recent months is Counter Strike: Global Offensive. This multiplayer first-person shooting game attracts people of all ages in different parts of the world. This 2022, the game is expected to become even bigger. Keep on reading and we’ll talk about some of the most important trends you should watch out for.
A Continuous Upward Trend
If there is one thing that CS: GO will continue to experience in 2022, it would be its upward trend. We are not singling out CS: GO. Instead, we are referring to e-sports and online gaming in general. In recent months, contact sports like basketball, football, and boxing have stopped. In cases where there are sports events, they are held without an audience. These challenges prompted in a way the increase in the popularity of online gaming, which is expected to continue enjoying an upward trajectory in 2022.
In one report from Statista, it was revealed that there were more than 1 million concurrent players in Steam in September 2020. This is a result of having most people encouraged or required to stay in their homes.
Not Just for Gamers
Just like how it has been in the previous years, CS: GO in 2022 is a game not just for gamers but even for spectators. It is expected that there will be more e-sports tournaments in 2022, which will attract millions of spectators all over the world. Streaming has grown exponentially in 2020, and we expect it to become even bigger next year as it becomes a source of entertainment globally. Even when the lockdowns are lifted and as we slowly return to the so-called new normal, we believe that streaming will continue to be big.
Bigger Money for Players
As a result of CS: GO’s anticipated popularity in 2022, the players will become richer. Bigger paydays are waiting those who will be joining tournaments and winning championships. In the past, CS: GO has made headlines for staging some of the biggest e-sports tournaments in the world, giving away millions of dollars to some of its best players. This trend will go on in 2022 with the prize money anticipated to even go higher! The first major event of the year is expected in February where players will battle for the coveted $1 million prize money! In 2020, player fatigue has been a significant issue amongst players. To address this problem, 2022 tournaments will have lowered density matches to provide a better experience to the participants.
More Money from Skins
Those who have been playing. CS: GO are aware of how valuable skins are. In the past, some people have sold skins for tens of thousands of dollars, making a fortune for themselves. It is expected that this trend will continue in 2022. If you have a collection of skins and you want to sell them, the Skinwallet market is one of the expected platforms. Despite the absence of actual statistics, we believe that more skins will be sold in 2022 as it has been in the previous years. The rare skins sold in the past can soon be back in the global market at even more expensive prices.
Conclusion
In sum, 2022 is expected to become an even bigger year for CS: GO. The popularity of the game will continue to rise, not only amongst players but even with spectators. Big players will make bigger money with exciting tournaments planned ahead. Skins will continue to be popular. While most skins will have insignificant value, we are expecting that we will see some with incredible prices.