In the last two years, e-sports have developed to become one of the most powerful industries within the international sports business, redefining how one understands and relates to competitive gaming. From an obscure part of the entertainment arena, it turned itself into an audience base in millions, professional players, and multi-million dollar sponsorships. This article describes the rise of e-sports and its influence on the gaming community: is it, in fact, a sport?.

Esports, by definition, is a form of sport game conducted on an electronic platform. Players or teams usually compete with each other in video games and take home material awards or monetary compensation in return.

Although it remains vague and not well-documented, the exact date of the origin of e-sports traces back to the early 1970s when video games such as "Pong" first gained popularity. But the beginning of organized competitive gaming starts with the first official event in 1980, when Atari Inc. organized the "Space Invaders Championship."
The event had thousands participating across the United States.

This turn for e-sports came about in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, through the beginning of the internet, gamers were able to connect to many different places around the world and compete. New genres of games, such as MOBA, really took off during this period: "Dota 2" and "League of Legends" became very popular games.
Large tournaments started giving out big prizes, luring both gamers and viewers alike.


With time, however, as technology advanced, streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming started to totally revolutionize broadcasting methods at e-sport competitions. It got to a point where, out of the comfort of their living rooms, fans were able to view ongoing matches, hence increasing viewership and engagement in sport massively.

Major events such as "Dota 2's" The International and League of Legends World Championship started running audiences into millions and almost rivaled more conventional sports events.

Growth of E-Sports

It revolutionized the face of the gaming industry with the rise of e-sport, placing it as a strong player in the wider sporting landscape.
According to Newzoo, the leading market research firm for games, in 2021, the global e-sports audience reached 474 million people, while revenues are at an estimated $1.08 billion. These numbers are only going to increase with so many people enjoying this type of gaming.

Various reasons are considered to be involved in such growth of e-sports. Some of those factors are discussed as follows:

E-sport can be played on PCs and consoles at a personal level, and no class limit is reached for it, as it often is in traditional sports that require a venue, equipment, and resources. Because of this accessibility, competitors from all walks of life can, therefore, compete on equal terms because they compete against each other online.

E-sports is an extremely interactive community, be it for the fans, players, or teams within it. The online platforms allow for communication, sharing of content, and following of the players for their fans, thus getting the feeling of belonging. Social media also promotes e-sport events because many professional players have the practice to stream their play and communicate with audiences in real time.

As the popularity grew, so did the investments by traditional sports franchises and corporations into e-sports. Major companies like Coca-Cola, Intel, and Red Bull entered sponsorships with e-sport events and teams, realizing huge potential this emerging market possessed. What's more, this added to the credibility of the sport because established brands further attract more and more fans and participants.

Another contribution it has given is that e-sporting is becoming more professional. Now, teams can be organized much like any other franchise with coaches, analysts, and other support staff. Players practice hard, much like any other regular sport players, and even go professional in it.

In fact, the reach of e-sports extends beyond the game publishers. E-sports have inspired popular culture.
For example, documentaries about e-sports find their place in movies, TV series, and even music. Actually, streaming services are already the main channel of entertainment for a younger audience, where audiences of e-sport events reached millions of viewers. Literally, this was the cultural shift that opened the door to e-sports as a form of entertainment much like traditional sports.

With the continuous growth in e-sports, its inclusion in the Olympic Games is fast becoming one of the hottest debates.
In 2021, the International Olympic Committee organized an e-sport forum that further opened the door for competitive gaming within the Olympic framework. While fair play and what constitutes an e-sport are still debated, this dialogue signals a growing recognition of e-sports as a valid competitive activity.

The exponential growth of e-sport has its issues and controversies. Cheating, match-fixing, and player burnout raise questions about integrity and sustainability.
Besides, debates over health effects resulting from prolonged sessions have consequently translated into calls for mental health support for players.

The other challenge the industry faces is that of inclusion and diversity. Whereas much progress has been realized, there is concern as regards representation in the e-sporting fraternity. There have been efforts made in trying to promote diversity among players and within the industry itself.

That would be a bright future for electronic sports as technology keeps on changing. The rise in VR and AR gaming will most likely see new competitive formats, while further development in streaming technology will increase the viewability of events.
Moreover, with the infusion of more e-sports at schools and professional sports teams, competitive gaming will continue to be legitimized.

E-sporting within the next successive years is surely going to continue to rise, but it is of essence that challenges in store, along with a positive environment, be given much consideration by both players and audience alike. Indeed, growth in electronic sports speaks to the change in attitude towards competition and entertainment.
This means that competitive gaming will be celebrated in the future all over the world.

E-sports have grown to become an international phenomenon, blowing past the walls of traditional entertainment.
During a time when its popularity, investment, and cultural relevance keep on growing, e-sports are going to be indelibly in the sporting world. And during all that time in development, it will have to work out its growing pains while continuing to applaud such passion and commitment to the players and their fans of the sport.
E-sporting does have a great future ahead of it and is bound to leave its footprints in the world of sport for times to come.