E-sports took off in the 2010s and has since ballooned into a $2.4 billion industry that is still growing. Tech companies like Twitch and YouTube, along with game developers, have been influential in shaping the current state of the e-sport landscape, which today involves more than just gaming. According to the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federations, or NASEF, the e-sports industry comprises software developers, marketers, event organizers and journalists, all contributing to its growth. Below are some of the top Seattle tech companies in the e-sports space to know.
Top Seattle E-Sports Companies
- Activision Blizzard
- Matcherino
- Twitch
- Electronic Arts
- Atomic
Top E-Sports Companies in Seattle
Video game developer Activision Blizzard has implemented several e-sports initiatives for its popular titles. In recent years, the company launched e-sports leagues for its Overwatch and Call of Duty franchises, which led to creation of several regional teams that compete in tournaments. Activision Blizzard has also hosted tournaments for its other games, including StarCraft and Hearthstone.
Matcherino’s software helps gamers organize and run online tournaments. The platform features tools for ticketing, crowdsourcing, paying out prize pools and gaining sponsors. It also offers portals that let fans stream coverage, donate and buy physical and digital merchandise. Hundreds of tournament organizers run their e-sports competitions on Matcherino’s platform, and the company often works directly with game publishers to maximize the reach of their titles.
Twitch is one of the companies most closely associated with e-sports tournaments. The Amazon-owned platform facilitates live video streaming for. Additionally, Twitch has taken proactive steps to expand its e-sports presence by signing exclusive tournament broadcast rights and partnering with several well-regarded teams.
Electronic Arts, commonly known as EA, publishes several titles based on real-world sports. For example, Madden focuses on American football, and FC is based on soccer. The company has also hosted e-sports competitions that allow top-ranked players to face off and determine who's the best player in the world.
Atomic is a tech and creative agency that helps tournament organizers broadcast their events worldwide. The company provides everything from equipment rentals to Wi-Fi deployment and multi-platform connectivity. Atomic also uses its tech skills to develop custom streaming applications to further elevate client productions.
