Esports is a form of competitive gaming, which involves the playing of video games on a computer. The players compete in organized leagues. Tournaments may have hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes. They can be watched live online or at a live physical event.
Esports is a thriving industry and is expected to grow at 41% in 2017 and by 51% in 2020. This industry is led by North America, Europe and Asia. It is also growing rapidly in the United States and has become an integral part of the global esports ecosystem. There are now more than 191 million people interested in esports, and the audience is expected to reach 385 million by 2017.
Esports has evolved significantly in recent years, with more and more gamers participating in tournaments and leagues. These tournaments are watched by millions of fans and are often as large as traditional sporting events. Many fans watch esports online as well as in person. The average esports player spends at least 25 hours a week watching videos on streaming platforms.
Professional esports players have contracts with organisations to perform on a paid basis. Some teams even have psychologists, coaches, and personal trainers. A team’s success depends on their ability to think on their feet and play the game in real-time.
The most popular esports are shooters and first person shooters. Games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2 and League of Legends are some of the most popular. Others include survival battle royales. In many other genres, there are esports tournaments as well.
Esports is a competitive activity governed by game developers, publishers, and organisers. Players and teams practice daily to prepare for events. Tournaments can range from one-on-one competitions to team based games. Teams are usually recruited for their skills.
The most popular esports games are played on PCs and video game consoles. Players use their own gaming systems to compete. Some games are playable over a LAN connection. To make the game playable, players may need to connect to regional servers. Having a strong internet connection is essential, as lag can degrade the user experience.
In the early 2000s, Major League Gaming launched. During its first season, the tournaments attracted dozens of fans. Eventually, it became so popular that a 40,000-seat World Cup Stadium in Seoul sold out in an hour. Today, esports tournaments are held in several venues all over the world. Some of the biggest tournaments draw hundreds of thousands of fans and even have prize pools in the tens of millions of dollars.
Unlike traditional sports, esports players can participate from anywhere in the world. Despite its accessibility, it has still not fully developed its infrastructure in Africa. However, some African esports fans are able to connect to servers in Europe and North America.
Esports is a great way for students to spend extra time, especially those who don’t have time to take classes. Young adults are the primary consumers of esports, and they are driving new cultural trends. Moreover, esports is a healthy activity for young people. Approximately 60% of esports fans are willing to travel to watch their favorite tournaments and players.
