E-sports, or electronic sports, is a form of competitive gaming between professional gamers who play video games at a high level. Competitive gaming began in the early 1970s, but it wasn’t until the late 90s that the term e-sports was coined. Since then, various organizations have hosted gaming competitions, attracting thousands of gamers globally. The significant boom of e-sports began in the 2010s with the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube, allowing millions of fans worldwide to watch competitive gaming. The industry is predicted to grow beyond $1 billion by 2021, and it’s just a matter of time before e-sports becomes an Olympic sport.
The Rise of E-Sports and the Professional Gaming Scene
Introduction
Gaming has always been a hobby, entertainment and even a profession for most of the players around the world. The recent rise of e-sports has drastically changed the entire gaming industry where professional gamers are earning millions of dollars and commands a global following. Now the gaming is not just limited to sitting in front of a console, it has become a competitive platform for players to showcase their skills and earn recognition.
What is E-Sports?
E-sports or Electronic sports is the competition between professional gamers around the globe to play video games at a high level. It’s a form of sports which involves video games played on a platform like consoles, PC or mobiles. The players compete with each other in various tournaments or leagues, and the rewards can range from money to sponsorships and even celebrity status.
The Early Days
The concept of competitive gaming started in the arcades in the early 1970s with the game Pong, but it wasn’t until the late 90s that the term e-sports was coined. The first notable e-sports tournament was the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) held in 1997 in Dallas, Texas, and it featured games like Quake and Doom. Since then, various organizations have hosted gaming competitions, attracting thousands of gamers globally.
The Boom in E-Sports
E-sports continued to grow over the years, but the significant boom began in the 2010s with the rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. Platforms allowed millions of fans worldwide to watch competitive gaming, cheering for their favorite teams and players. The streaming platforms provided the players and fans a means to connect and interact with each other, opening a new dimension of gaming experience.
Professional Gaming
The gaming industry revolutionized with the emergence of professional gaming, which allowed players to compete and earn a living from their passion. The professional gamers are treated just like any other athlete, and their training sessions are as rigorous as other sports athletes. The players typically practice for several hours daily, and it can be extremely physically and mentally demanding.
E-Sports Tournaments
E-sports tournaments have become grander, attracting huge audiences and big prize pools in recent years. The International DOTA 2 Championship, for example, has over $40 million in prize money, making it one of the richest tournaments in the world. League of Legends, Fortnite, and CS: GO are some of the popular games adopted by e-sports tournaments globally.
Sponsorships and Advertising
With millions of viewers worldwide, the e-sports industry is an attractive platform for companies to invest in sponsorships and advertising. Big brands like Red Bull, Intel, Monster energy drink, and many others have sponsored esports tournaments and teams, and it’s only going to increase. Even gaming companies like Valve and Riot Games have taken notice of the growth and organized their tournaments, showcasing the popularity of esports.
The Future of E-Sports
The gaming industry is not slowing down, and neither is the business of e-sports. The industry is predicted to grow beyond $1 billion by 2021, and it’s just a matter of time before e-sports becomes an Olympic sport. The rise of Virtual reality (VR) and Augmented reality (AR) is another factor that compliments the growth of e-sports, allowing players and fans to experience gaming like never before.
Conclusion
The rise of e-sports has changed the paradigm from gaming being just an entertainment medium to an intense competitive field of professional players, huge tournaments, and attracted millions of viewers worldwide. With its growth predicted to continue, e-sports is an industry that will give rise to a new dimension of entertainment and showcase gaming as a form of competitive art.