In recent years, competitive gaming has exploded into one of the top-earning verticals in the country. What was once niche and special interest has risen to the entertainment forefront, replete with large-scale events, creators and influencers.

Making a career out of playing video games for an audience, whether via streaming or a live gaming league event, was once unheard of. Now, professional gamers, creators, influencers and Let’s Play empires have become leading revenue makers with audiences poised to grow by 10.4% every year until 2023. Even higher education is getting in on the action, with colleges like Maryville University creating esports leagues that sit under the school’s athletics department.

Esports levels up

Esports – and competitive gaming overall – began growing in popularity after YouTube’s birth in 2005. YouTube is a platform that lends itself to show-and-tell content, with a design perfect for visual, long-form storytelling. Because of this, gamers and viewers alike flocked to it. Today, there are over 40 million active gaming channels on YouTube, over 26 million active gaming channels on Twitch and over 120 billion watchable hours of accumulative gaming content on YouTube and Twitch. 

Gaming and esports became so influential and widespread on YouTube that new social platforms like Twitch were created with the gaming community in mind. And with the rise of visual-based platforms like Instagram and TikTok, opportunities for gaming gurus and esports legends to transition to content creators have skyrocketed. 

COVID, who? 

What was once seen as a subculture is now one of the most lucrative verticals in the world. And COVID-19 didn’t slow esports down. While live esports competitions attracted big crowds, sponsorships and investments – much like professional sports teams – the nationwide shutdown simply forced esports back to where it all began: leagues of people gaming from the comfort of their homes.

How brands can get involved

Brands can partner with professional gamers and influencers on the micro and nano level to act as brand ambassadors. And even though the gaming industry frequently capitalizes on the most popular streamers with big partnerships, remember that you don’t have to be a gaming brand to partner with gaming influencers. 

Other verticals unrelated to gaming have seen success from partnering with gaming influencers, especially ones that are well-known and trusted in their niche. Some brands even have a dedicated wing of their staff working on gaming and esports partnerships. Here are a few markets that have seen great results from gamer collaborations: 

      • Food and beverage
      • Hardware 
      • Electronics and technology
      • Fashion and apparel


Some esports personalities have found it more lucrative to partner with brands as content creators versus continuing on with their gaming leagues. Live streams with product sponsorships, affiliate marketing, personal testimonials, product endorsements, podcast advertising and so much more can add up to a big payday for gamers and be less stressful than playing in a league. That’s why gaming personalities like Jacksepticeye, SssniperWolf and Sky Does Everything (formerly SkyDoesMinecraft) have opted for lucrative streaming and content creation careers. 

And brands are seeing strong returns as well. It’s clear that esports is a force unto themselves and have the earning potential to set brands – and their creators – up for successful partnerships. Third-party platforms like Mavrck are playing a big role in connecting brands with gaming micro-influencers and nano-influencers that can help companies meet their goals.

Key points: 
      • The esports and gaming vertical is no longer a subculture – it’s a dominant category that has seen growing success and popularity despite COVID-19
      • Professional gamers are active on social media and attract legions of fans
      • Many gamers are moving away from leagues to manage their own play on platforms like Twitch, Instagram and TikTok
      • Brands from an array of verticals, including food and beverage, technology and electronics, apparel and so much more, can benefit from partnering with an esports pro
      • Mavrck can help you manage your gaming influencer activation and devise a strategy that works for your brand