Esports is a booming global industry that combines the frenzied competition of professional sports with the high-stakes, social media driven popularity of video games. It is a multibillion dollar market and has become more popular than traditional sporting events like football or basketball.
There are more people watching esports tournaments worldwide than the NBA Finals, NFL Super Bowl or World Cup. In 2016, for example, League of Legends’ world finals were watched by 43 million people, while NBA Game 7 was watched by 31 million.
The popularity of esports has grown so much that a number of major publishers have created video games specifically for the competitive gaming space. This includes the League of Legends and Counter-Strike franchises. Other games include Hearthstone, StarCraft and DOTA 2.
While esports are played at home and online, the biggest competitions occur in large stadiums. These events draw a global audience and provide huge advertising opportunities for brands. In fact, the industry is expected to surpass $1 billion in revenue for the first time in 2022.
Schools should consider offering esports as a club or sport in order to connect disengaged students with their peers and improve their social and emotional skills. The sport provides an opportunity for students to work together in a team setting, fostering friendships and school spirit. It also allows them to build a network of mentors and coaches who can guide them through the complexities of gaming.
It also teaches critical social skills that students need to succeed in their personal and professional lives. These include working well with teammates, establishing and maintaining eye contact, listening and collaborating with others, and refraining from interrupting.
Players learn to develop grit, resilience, and perseverance through the challenges they face. This is a critical skill that will help them throughout their life, and the competition they face in esports provides them with an environment to practice this.
For many students, the best part of playing esports is the friendships and connections they make. As a result, these kids are more likely to participate in school activities and clubs, which makes them more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.
Getting involved in esports also offers kids an opportunity to learn about their own interests and discover new ones. They can learn about different cultures through their involvement in the community, as well as develop their own social skills by competing against their peers.
There are a number of potential career paths in esports, from playing the games themselves to working behind the scenes. There are a number of courses and degrees available in the UK that will prepare graduates to enter the world of esports.
The industry is a booming business and there are plenty of jobs to be had in the sector. There is a lot of competition for esports talent, so it is important to get the right education.
One of the biggest challenges in esports is the lack of uniformity within the industry. This is caused by the fact that most tournaments are run by individual game publishers, so there is no standard set of rules for esports players to follow. This has led to a number of disputes between gamers and organisers.
