Esports is a competitive game that’s a mix of video games and sports. It’s often played online, but it also exists in live venues, such as the London Wembley Arena. Most esports are live streamed, which makes them available to a larger audience.
Esports is a competitive gaming genre that has gained widespread popularity in recent years. It has become a lucrative industry, with a predicted revenue of US$1 billion in 2020. Many games are also designed with esports in mind from the beginning. In fact, some of the most popular esports games are professionally designed, such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and StarCraft II. This allows them to be played for a living, with pro gamers earning six-figure salaries.
Esports started in Asia in the 1990s. The popularity of Street Fighter II, which allowed players to compete head-to-head, gave esports its first real push. Today, esports are popular in the Americas and Europe, but they are underdeveloped in Japan.
eSports is similar to traditional athletics, except that it doesn’t have the same physical limitations. For example, a basketball court can’t accommodate 200 players at once, and many esports games are incredibly fast paced, with tournaments and championships taking place in 40,000 seat stadiums.
Esports leagues have been modeled after professional sports leagues, with all teams supported by a major financial sponsor. Players are paid for their participation, and they can be traded among teams or sign a contract. They’re also given the opportunity to earn a share of the prize money.
Professional esports competitions can be played on a variety of platforms, such as YouTube or Twitch. Streamers interact with viewers, answering questions and maintaining a general conversation. Some games are team-based, and others are solo. There are also tournaments for a wide range of genres, such as the battle royale genre. These tournaments can feature prizes of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Esports has been expanding rapidly in the United States, with major tournaments such as the League of Legends Championship, the Intel Extreme Masters, and the Call of Duty esports tournament all drawing crowds. These events are often hosted at a large stadium, such as the 40,000 seat World Cup Stadium in Seoul.
As a rule, esports are dominated by males, but women have started to play professionally. Esports players generally start their careers around age 16 and retire at about 24. Young adults are driving new cultural trends, and they’re responsible for the massive growth of the esports industry. A survey of esports fans found that 60% would travel to see their favorite tournaments.
While some esports fans have been known to pay for subscriptions, most esports are free to watch. The most popular streaming platforms include YouTube and Twitch. Even with a paywall, the intimacy that esports enthusiasts feel for their favorite games is impossible to replicate on a paywall.
With such a large demographic, esports can offer advertisers and sponsors a very lucrative way to get their message out. The esports industry is projected to grow 41% in 2016.
