Just twenty years ago, esports was the niche hobby of just a few die-hard gamers who competed against one another from the comfort of their own homes for fun on their favourite video games in the evenings after a long day at work, simply because they loved it. Fast forward to today, and esports has undergone quite the transformation, having become a booming multi-billion dollar industry thanks to a raft of factors.
We asked the experts at online esports gaming platform egamersworld to shed some light on what has sparked this meteoric rise from little-known pastime to mainstream money-maker.
From humble beginnings
Esports isn’t exactly anything new – in fact, it dates back, in some form, as far as the 1970s, when popular arcade games like Space Invaders inspired some of the first video gaming competitions. But it was in the 90s that it really began to come into its own, and as the internet took off, so too did esports gaming, with the first online tournaments and local LAN parties drawing in superfan players across the globe.
It remained underground for some years, with only a select few participating around the world – but thanks to the advent of Twitch and other similar platforms, which allow viewers to tune into a live feed of players’ gameplay, the game has been entirely changed in the past few years.
Now, esports enjoys a fast-growing community of both players and fans, and with the former now able to monetise their passion through subscriptions and donations and the latter able to settle in and spectate whenever the mood strikes, it has become a global craze that gaming enthusiasts of all types simply can’t seem to get enough of.
A shift in cultural attitudes
The changes in the sphere have, of course, been symptoms of a broader cultural shift with not just a growing acceptance of gaming, but a surge in the desire to embrace it. It has long been recognised as a legitimate form of entertainment, but as time goes on, it’s also proving to be a viable career path, and in a world where there is a growing emphasis on finding ways to make money from doing what you love, for some, competitive gaming holds the key.
Major brands and traditional sports organisations have also woken up to the growing trend, and have fuelled the kinds of collaborations and sponsorships that have made esports quite the money spinner. Their backing has further cemented competitive gaming as a reasonable career choice, and today’s most successful players are inspiring a new generation of young enthusiasts who seek to follow in their footsteps.
But it’s been the support of major mainstream celebrities that has really brought the pursuit to a wider audience, with their own endorsements enhancing its appeal dramatically.
The growing global market
Esports is no longer confined to the borders of the UK or the USA, and in 2024, it has officially gone global. In Asia, it has grown a particularly sizable fanbase, with top players in South Korea seen as admired A-list celebrities and China set to rake in eye-watering amounts in esports revenue over the coming years, surpassing that of North America.
As competitive video gaming continues to gain global exposure and accumulate an ever-growing community of players and fans, we can expect to see this growing market reach new heights, with tournament prize pools becoming increasingly large and the number of participants set to continue climbing steadily.
The future looks bright for esports, and suffice it to say that this once niche hobby has come a long way since those early days, becoming a multi-billion pound industry that once could have only been dreamt of. And, as we look ahead to 2025, there are no signs of the momentum slowing down.
