eSports refers to the playing of video games as a competitive sport. But it’s not easy.
Players around the world try to establish their dominance in certain games. Just like regular sports, esports is now a category for organized, multiplayer competitions. Players can choose to participate solo or in a team.
While video games have always accommodated organized competitions, it was not until the later 2000s that players began to take a more professional approach towards it. With the advent of better live streaming technologies and rising spectatorship, it became more important than ever for esports players to deliver.
The video game industry began to embrace esports by the beginning of the 2010s, and game developers took the opportunity to sponsor esports tournament, raising the stakes for many players.
What games are more popular in eSports?
While esports can technically concern any video game, there are certain video game genres that lend themselves better to competitions. These include first-person shooter (FPS), Battle Royale, real-time strategy (RTS), and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games. Many even use esports crypto to deposit money and play these games.
Some still choose to question whether esports truly belongs to the realm of traditional sports, but it would be foolish to ignore the potential in the further growth of esports. Even the International Olympic Committee has expressed a desire to include esports events in upcoming years.
Some of the most popular esports franchises that entice thousands of spectators include Counter-Strike, Street Fighter, and even League of Legends, apart from classics like Super Smash Bros. If you’re a player, you’re probably looking forward to events like the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), and Dota 2’s International. These are a few of the most exciting esports tournaments to take place.
What’s driving the growth in eSports?
One of the most important factors to facilitate the growth of esports is the rise of online streaming media platforms like YouTube and Twitch. More and more people are now taking the time to watch players play video games which has led to a spectacular raise in viewership for esports events. Players have also realized that they stand a real chance of making a professional career out of the game they love.
Current eSports Viewership
The viewership for esports consists of more than 70% male engagement. The video game domain has always been largely male-dominant, but women are slowly beginning to claim their roles in the community actively. With female professional gamers taking the world by storm, the number of women watching esports has also gone up.
Esports primarily received recognition in Asia before trickling over to other countries. China and South Korea especially played a role in popularising esports, with China recognizing it as a real sport as early as 2003.
Top Notable Events in eSports History
- The League of Legends player, Danny “Shiphtur” Le, created history in 2013 as the first professional gamer to get an American P-1A visa, which is usually meant for “Internationally Recognized Athletes”.
- The French government initiated the process of regulating and legitimizing esports back in 2016.
- Many game developers have tried to enhance the esports viewing experience by adding special features for spectators.
- In some cases, players can choose to view the match from a particular POV, while in others they are able to access information that players in game are not aware of.
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team
