Aside from manufacturing consoles that exceed the demands of gamers worldwide, Sony has enlisted some of the world’s best game creators to produce games that will entertain PlayStation users for hours on end.
Some games have become so popular that previous non-customers will purchase the newest console just to be able to play the latest released version of that game. Some of Sony’s video games have even become iconic.
There isn’t a gamer alive who hasn’t at least heard of Sony’s top-selling game Gran Turismo. Not only is it the highest-selling PlayStation game, but it is also the highest-rated racing video game of all time. A seemingly simple car racing game, GT has sold well over 10 million copies since being released in 2009. Though it may be old by today’s standard, it is still a firm favourite with many gamers. Interestingly, Gran Turismo II is Sony’s 3rd highest selling game.
Other top sellers include the Tomb Raider series, Tekken, and Final Fantasy series. Resident Evil series, Crash Bandicoot series and Spyro the Dragon series also sold well and became firm favourites with many. Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy, Crash Bandicoot and Gran Turismo are the four most popular franchise games available on the Sony PlayStation platform. Madden NFL games also appear several times on Sony’s best-selling games list, along with other sports games such as NASCAR and NBA Live.
The world of gaming has become more interactive since technology gave gamers the ability to play with (and against) others anywhere in the world. Today eSports gaming and tournaments are hugely popular in the video gaming world, with some tournaments paying out very large prizes to the successful winners. Sony’s PlayStation 4 has some of the world’s most popular eSports games in FIFA 18, Street Fighter V, Rocket League and Call of Duty.
While many of the same games began as a way for players to interact with their friends, make teams and take on teams that may consist of players from various countries, today those games are played with high stakes at risk. In PS4 tournaments the stakes can be extremely high, with winners able to beat other players to receive huge amounts of money, and total game prize pools being in the multi-millions.
Anyone who has an active PlayStation Plus membership is eligible (restrictions apply) to enter one of the many PS4 Tournaments but needs to be aware that they will be playing against some of the very best gamers in the world. Competition is fierce, and not surprising with large pools to be won. Tournaments are available for players of all skill levels though, so anyone new to the world of eSports tournaments can try their hand at the lower levels and work their way up to challenge the best of the best. At the end of each tournament, players are notified of the winners and their place in relation to their opponents.
In the current PlayStation 4 Challenger series there are three stages of the tournament, and to qualify for the upper stages, players must first pass the lowest stage. Naturally, as with most tournaments, the higher the player progresses, the more challenging the game becomes, and therefore, the higher the value the prizes to be won. There are three types of tournaments to play: 1 vs 1 (i.e. single-player versus single player), team vs team (teams to consist of several players as game dictates), and Free-For-All where the player will play against many others all vying to win. In team matches, players must have already formed a team. At this time, the ability to become a part of a team as a free agent is not available. Not all tournaments are played for prizes, allowing those who wish to play for casual fun the opportunity to compete against others of like mind. Current tournaments available are Mortal Kombat 11 and Injustice2.
It is believed that as many as 250 million competitive players attend eSports tournaments, with a further 300 million casual players taking part. It is little wonder that eSports dominate the gaming world today, particularly given the high value of the prizes made available to the winners. It is little wonder that Sony has positioned them to gain a large portion of the ‘action’, given their dedication to not only meeting the demands of their loyal PlayStation gamers but exceeding it at every level.
Online eSports betting has become hugely popular too, with online casinos looking to make money from the highly competitive world of eSports tournaments. Betting on the outcome of any particular tournament is very similar to any other form of betting, in that odds are offered on the contestants, and the lucky better receiving a nice payout should their choice win. Casinos are fairly new to get in on the action, but as the popularity of eSports betting grows, it is highly likely that it will be featured in all of the major casinos.
