Esports is a competitive video game community that is rapidly growing in popularity. The games, which range from multiplayer shooters to battle royale, are largely played on digital platforms. A player controls one character and competes with others in an arena, similar to that of traditional athletics. While some games are team-based, many are single-player.
Unlike traditional sports, esports require a higher mental effort than physical effort. The players have to work together to overcome obstacles, and they must also develop interpersonal skills. They also have to be ready to make a living from esports.
The esports industry is a multi-million dollar industry, and has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. Its revenue is projected to grow to US$1 billion by 2020. Its biggest tournaments draw thousands of fans. Many of these events are held in places such as the Seattle KeyArena, London Wembley Arena, and the Los Angeles Staples Center. Most of the tournaments are free to watch.
Esports is a form of competitive gaming that has been growing in popularity since the late 1990s. Initially, the esports industry was dominated by packaged home console software. However, with increased viewership and sponsorships, esports has become a mainstream sport.
Esports has gained massive popularity in the United States. Despite the industry’s rapid growth, its legitimacy as a sport remains a debate. In fact, the International Olympic Committee has discussed whether esports should be included in future Olympic events.
Several major tournaments such as the Intel Extreme Masters drew 173,000 attendees to the Los Angeles Staples Center and sold out the 40,000-seat World Cup Stadium in Seoul. Those who didn’t attend were able to follow the event through live stream. This popularity has helped the esports industry become more lucrative.
Some of the biggest esports organizations include Fnatic, Team SoloMid, and G2. These organizations have multiple teams that specialize in various video games. For example, Fnatic has a team in each of the following: League of Legends, PUBG Mobile, Fortnite, Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Esports has also created an impressive presence on college campuses. Almost half of all esports viewers are young adults and teens. Moreover, esports has generated huge interest in K-12 schools. And, with more than 71.5 million fans, esports has become a big player in the entertainment industry.
Esports is the fastest-growing industry in the United States. The number of viewers is expected to rise to 454 million by the end of the 2010s. As esports continues to expand its reach, the esports industry is likely to surpass football and become the next big thing.
Esports has also gained widespread attention in the media. For example, ESPN views esports as a true sport. That has made it easier to sell the esports tournaments to advertisers. Another advantage of esports is that it generates lots of revenue for sponsors. Among those sponsoring esports are multinational corporations.
Esports also has an enormous global reach. Major tournaments are held in Asia, Europe, and South Korea, and these events attract dozens of fans each time.