By Irina O’Connor
May 12th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
The continued growth of the gaming market has led to various market opportunities and segments in Canada in recent years. According to data from Statista, the country’s eSports market is projected to reach $138.9 million (CA$187.6 million) by the end of the year, with a projected market volume of $177.8 million (CA$240.2 million) by 2028. Market researchers also predict that the number of users in the market is expected to amount to 14.8 million users by the end of the research period in 2028.
A sport where brains are what is needed. Endurance is a skill set as well.
Among various factors associated with the rapidly growing eSports market, Canada has seen increased investments in eSports-related infrastructure and the formation of various professional teams in many competitive titles. Canada is also home to various eSports stakeholders such as OverActive Media, Rivalry, and Enthusiast Gaming. Thanks to the country’s location, Canada’s eSports scene also benefits from easy connectivity and online play with North American player bases.
Some of the most talked about eSports pros in the scene today hail from the Great White North, including Valorant superstar Tyson “TenZ” Ngo, who recently celebrated a long overdue victory at the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas Kickoff tournament after a two-year slump with an all-new roster at North American organization Sentinels. Ngo and his team are set to compete in VCT’s Masters stage in Madrid shortly as the only North American representative team that qualified. Retired Canadian CS:GO pro and legendary Twitch streamer Mike “Shroud” Grzesiek is also a prominent figure in the scene, even years after leaving pro play.
Today, alongside various game releases and major tournaments taking place globally, Canada’s eSports scene continues to grow. Below, we’ll be taking a look at the state of eSports in Canada and what we may expect in the future:
A budding eSports culture
It was pure pandemonium in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. Confetti sprinkled through the sky, a roar ran through a crowd of thousands, and a team of six, the London Spitfire, all took their hands off their keyboards and mice to embrace each other in celebration of their victory while their opponents, the Philadelphia Fusion, hung their heads in defeat.
As highlighted above, many of the most popular eSports pros and personalities today are Canadians. In addition to the likes of TenZ and Shroud, Canada is also home to some of the most popular eSports and gaming streamers and content creators. These include Felix “xQc” Lengyel, who made his name competing in Overwatch leagues for various North American teams. xQc boasts an extremely high viewership, with ten million viewers as of 2021 and remains a dominant personality among gamers.
Aside from birthing eSports pros and streamers, Canada is also home to prominent eSports tournaments across different titles. This year, Toronto is set to host the Call of Duty Major 3, with the team Toronto Ultra set to benefit from the home advantage and lift the prestigious CDL Major trophy. Canada has also hosted many other eSports tournaments, including the Konami Arcade Championship, NBA 2K League, and the now-defunct Overwatch League.
Aside from bringing competition and entertainment into the country, Canada’s presence in eSports contributes significantly to the community by boosting viewership. Gamers and fans who may not be able to compete can still participate in the scene by placing bets on favored teams and players. According to these eSports betting tips, watching, listening, and learning from tournament broadcasts are great ways to research, understand betting odds, and improve predictions. As such, the increasingly popular betting scene in the country comes hand-in-hand with the growing eSports scene.
Building eSports arenas
Another factor contributing to the growth of eSports in Canada is the continued investment in eSports-related infrastructure, such as eSports arenas. Building and designing eSports-specific centers and locations are crucial for hosting events and tournaments locally and providing an avenue for budding and experienced pros to connect and develop skills.
There are training schools for students that want to learn the fundamentals of eSports. These students will have a lot more than a high school diploma when they are ready for college or university
In 2021, Valhallan Esports Training, the largest and fastest-growing youth eSports franchise, opened its first arena in Whitby, Ontario. The arena was designed to provide a space for competitive gaming for gamers 7-17 years old, where they can train and compete in tournaments for titles like Overwatch, Fortnite, Rocket League, and Valorant. The arena also provides coaching and team collaboration so players can learn skills outside of gaming, including teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Of course, this isn’t the only prominent eSports arena in Ontario. As of 2023, OverActive Media Group provided updates on the previously delayed Toronto eSports Arena, set to house 7,000 seats in downtown Toronto. The eSports venue would also double as a concert hall. The arena is set to be opened by 2025, pending further updates.
Collegiate eSports
Finally, aside from the big guns, Canada also actively encourages aspiring eSports athletes through various collegiate eSports programs and local events. These are crucial for developing young talent in the eSports scene while ensuring they get the best exposure and experience competing professionally at a young age.
Windsor’s St. Clair College has an Applied Science program that is usually fully registered.
Currently, Windsor’s St. Clair College has made a name for itself short of a major championship. The team, affectionately called the Saints, has come closest to lifting trophies at the National Association of Collegiate Esports’ (NACE) tournaments for titles such as League of Legends and Valorant, as well as the National Esports Collegiate Conference’s (NECC) Nationals League of Legends championship. The Ontario school emerged as runner-up at these championship runs, with strong top-four finishes in NACE championships for Overwatch, Rocket League, and Call of Duty.
