Are Esports set to take over traditional sports?

You might have heard about Esports before now. You might have even watched a tournament or two. As this online event gathers momentum, many are asking if it will outplay the traditional sporting events that we’ve followed for generations. 

So, where do we stand? And what sets esports apart?  

What are Esports? 

According to British Esports, the national body that promotes esports in the UK, esports (or electronic sports) is ‘a term used to describe competitive video gaming.’ In this world, the Andy Murrays and Jack Grealishes are swapped out for Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, a Fornite-playing Twitch-streaming Esports megastar. 

As competitive video gaming continues to gather momentum, it’s becoming big business both for these famous players and investors. In fact, revenue in the Esports market is projected to reach $50.13 million in 2023, so it’s a lucrative venture and one that’s popular among its fans. 

How did Esports become so popular?

Esports might appear to have come from nowhere, but it dates back to 1972 in the US. However, as gaming has become increasingly advanced and accessible, with both professional and non-professional players getting into tournaments, it’s soared in popularity. Now, we have mega streaming platforms and games such as League of Legends and the aforementioned Fortnite to get lost in. 

With remote access to these tournaments possible, many fans of traditional sports are moving towards these online events.  

Where does football come into it?

One traditional sport that’s tapped into this move towards gaming is football. Some of the biggest clubs in the world have formed Esports teams. While we’re wearing shirts emblazoned with our favourite players’ names, the chances are they’re involved in Esports just as much as they’re playing on the physical pitch. 

FIFA tapped into this trend a while ago, however. FIFA tournaments have been played since the early 2000s, with the FIFAe World Cup launched in 2004. Here, the has players competing in games of the latest incarnation of the FIFA video game series. 

What’s in store?

While football remains the main sport to cross over into the world of Esports, there are others that are likely to follow. And s this crossover continues, it’s predicted that there will be a similar structure to that of traditional sports, with governing bodies set up and investors operating as they do with sports like football and basketball. 

Being able to stream from pretty much anywhere is another major draw, moving audiences away from physical locations and cheering from their armchairs.

As the future of online gaming continues to develop, time will tell where we go from here.