Esport is a form of competitive video gaming that has become popular with millions of people worldwide. Typically played on a variety of video game platforms, esports compete for prize money and recognition in a highly organized competition environment.
The esports industry is a multi-billion dollar market that is growing at a rapid pace. Revenues from esports are forecast to reach $1.5 billion by 2020 and are expected to increase at a CAGR of 35.6% through 2021.
A key difference between esports and traditional sports is that game publishers own the intellectual property of the games, which means they can limit access to their games and restrict which parties can use their games. This includes restrictions on who can play the game, who can watch the game, and how the game can be shared and streamed to audiences.
These restrictions can result in a number of issues for players, including injury and repetitive strain. Injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow, can be common in esports, as well as problems with neck and back pain.
While there are many different types of esports, the most common include online multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), fighting games, card and survival battle royales, and real-time strategy (RTS) games. Most games are played on a console or PC, with teams playing in tournament-style competitions either in person or remotely via high-speed internet connections.
Major esports tournaments draw large crowds and a global audience. For example, the League of Legends World Championship, the Dota 2’s International, and the Intel Extreme Masters have drawn tens of thousands of spectators to stadium events across the globe.
Gamers are a very social bunch and have a strong sense of community. The EGX event at London’s Excel Centre last year saw around 15,000 attendees in person, with an estimated 30 million people watching the action on Twitch.
The esports industry offers a variety of jobs and career paths, ranging from game production to casting to coaching and management. Some players may be called on to do these roles while others may choose to specialize in a particular type of game or franchise.
While esports is still male-dominated, women are making a big push for participation in the industry. Initiatives such as ‘Women in Esports’ are encouraging more women to get involved, allowing them to pursue career opportunities that they might not have considered before.
There are several reasons for this, not least of which is that the esports industry can be a great place to launch a career. Besides the obvious financial and social rewards, getting into esports can also help with other important skills such as teamwork and communication.
Traditionally, esports has been seen as a niche hobby or interest, but it’s now growing in popularity with more and more people every year. More and more companies are starting to recognise the potential of the esports audience and it’s becoming a lucrative industry for brands to target.
