From Hobby to Career: Exploring the Growing Popularity and Professionalization of eSports

The recent years have seen the exponential rise in popularity of Esports especially during the pandemic when the whole world was confined in their homes. It offered an escape and served as an avenue for relaxation during those hard times.

The forecast for the video game industry is bright. As things are going, it looks like it is on track to gain higher revenues. However, even with its increasing popularity, many people don't regard it as a sport. The growing numbers of competitions in this type of virtual sports continue to prove them wrong.

There is already a budding market for Esports betting. People have also started to make predictions like what we have with NFL games. You can even a search site with a smart casino guide if you want to start betting.

What people love about Esports

Let’s take a look at some reasons why it is continuously gaining popularity globally.

Accessible to all

One major reason for the rise in its popularity is accessibility. Esports is technically a competition where gamers compete against each other. Given today’s technology, there are many ways to access Esports whether as a player or simply as an audience.

Its availability worldwide means that it can potentially reach audiences anywhere in the world. Also, players no longer need to travel abroad just to take part in its events.

Growing fanbase

Video games are something people are passionate about. That’s why video game streamers are a hit nowadays. Online multiplayer games have the most fans in the genre. This results to the formation of communities.

These communities are safe spaces where gamers can discuss things about the games they love. Be it sharing tips and tricks, to game walk-throughs, gamers are building loyal groups with people who share common interests.

Inclusivity

In physical sports, players need to be able-bodied to participate. On the other hand, anyone who loves gaming and has the passion and skills can participate.

There are communities composed of players with physical disabilities, health problems, and even those in their senior years. These factors can definitely exclude them from engaging in physical sports. In Esports, they are very much welcome.

Improved gaming experience

Physical sports have many requirements that players have to meet like the right venue, equipment, skills, accessories, and many more. In contrast, Esports will only require a console or PC and a good internet connection.

This gives more people an opportunity to enjoy the games they love. Also, video games nowadays have better graphics than before. Most games are even too realistic.

Problems like game lagging, delays, and internet issues are not going to be a big issue. These have plagued online games before, but thanks to tech advancements, online games now have smoother gameplay.

Esports professionalism

Many skilled players have started exploring their career paths in Esports. They eventually joined gaming teams and transitioned as professional athletes in this field.

While Esports is gaining traction, it also gathers public interest. Professional players are now public figures. They represent teams, brands, countries, and also the entire community. So, it is just proper that they carry themselves professionally.

In any kind of sport, there is always misconduct and misbehaviour projected by the players. The most common of which are the use of foul language and profanities towards rival players. This not a new scenario in Esports.

This industry and its players are relatively young, but it is no excuse for misbehaving. It is no longer a mere hobby and definitely more than just playing video games. Pro players have now committed to Esports as their job and their main source of income.

Offensive players will be held accountable for their actions in the same way that professional athletes in other sports are penalized.

Future of Esports professionalization

People still view Esports as a fractured industry because it still does not have a central governing body unlike other major sports. There were some that tried to enforce similar measures, but they are faced by different issues.

Counter Strike: Global Offensive in itself has several leagues and tournaments. These include the ESL Pro League, Intel Extreme Masters, and DreamHack. Now, each of these leagues have their own set of rules and regulations, hence, the problem.

There are already countries that have started their efforts towards standardizing Esports professionalism like South Korea. It has its own national federation, the Korean Esports Association which organizes and manages game events in the entire country.