“Got ‘em!”

“Sweet! Thanks for the cover.”

“No problem, do you have any bandages left though? I’m low on health…”

If you live with a gamer or play video games, this dialogue might sound familiar to you. Most likely, these conversations are between those playing Esports. What exactly is an Esport?

Esports (short for electronic sports) are competitive video games played both individually and in teams.  Games considered Esports range from car racing to first-person shooters. Whether it is playing the game or watching a match, individuals from all across the globe participate in this growing form of entertainment.  

Esports have already garnered a larger audience than some conventional sports, drawing in 443 million viewers worldwide in 2019, compared to the 410 million viewers of American football and rugby combined. Seeing this profitable opportunity, major entertainment companies have invested heavily in electronic sports. In 2019 alone, Esports received $1.95 billion in investment funding from companies like Comcast and SK Telecom (a Korean telecommunications firm). With Newzoo projections estimating revenue to top $1 billion this year, Esports’ growth is likely to continue.

Although Esports were already thriving pre-pandemic, Covid-19 has resulted in an exponential rise in its popularity. Esports have allowed gamers to conveniently interact with their friends online and have also entertained those stuck at home.  A study by PwC reported that more than two-thirds of young adults were playing or watching gaming content during lockdown, with more than half interested in watching esports. Analytics firm Stream Hatchet corroborates this trend, finding that “watch hours” on popular stream sites grew from 4.8 billion in early 2020 to 7.6 billion in late 2020. 

Not only has the pandemic influenced the expansion of Esports, the Asian American community is also playing a huge part in advancing electronic sports. A report by Nielsen highlights the impact that Asian American consumers have on the industry, stating, “Asian Americans are 14% more likely to own a gaming console than the total US population” and “40% of Asian American gamers spend more than five hours a week watching gaming video content.”  Essentially, this means that Asian Americans are more active on Esports platforms, making them a target audience. With Asian Americans more likely to play video games and watch Esport content, they will have an indelible impact on the future of Esports. 

There is no denying that Esports are leading in the movement of digitizing entertainment. While a complete takeover of the sports entertainment industry is a far-fetched goal, Esports will continue to serve as an alternative to those who prefer competing in the online realm versus the field. Concurrently, technology will creep ever more into our society, exposing more aspiring gamers to the opportunities offered by Esports. As a result, Esports will increasingly integrate itself into our everyday lives, whether we are ready for it or not.