Esports, which are practised by professional players, today have millions of followers; but this is just the beginning, research indicates that this sector will continue to grow.
Over the past decade, electronic sports, known as Esports, have experienced exponential growth in popularity and recognition. But what exactly are they and why are they gaining so much ground in popular culture?
Esports are video game competitions that take place in an organized environment, usually with spectators and significant prizes. These competitions can range from local tournaments to international events that attract millions of viewers online.
On the other hand, several technological innovations have given a greater boost to Esports. A clear example of this is the advances that have allowed the user experience to resemble real life, while the most current Internet services solve connectivity problems and allow the user and the spectator to immerse themselves in the game without interruptions.
Games used in esports span a wide range of genres, including real-time strategy (RTS) games, first-person shooters (FPS), fighting games, and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games, among others. Some of the most popular titles include League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Fortnite.
Each esports game has its own rules and can be accessed on different devices and platforms online or offline.
The birth of e-sports
Many people think that Esports or electronic sports emerged in the 21st century, but their origin dates back to 1972. The arrival of consoles made it possible to hold competitive events, with the first contest being Space Invaders in 1980. At that time, 10,000 players signed up and the first winner in the history of Esports was William Salvador Heineman.
Almost a decade later, in 1981, a Donkey Kong tournament was held that had a huge number of attendees. But that would only be the beginning of Esports. At that time, “clans” or “crews” began to emerge, which were a group of players in which there were defined roles such as administrators, captains and founders; but they were not professionals and did not receive money for playing.
It is true that for many this sport started as a hobby, but then it became a profession. In addition, today it is supported by a global professional industry.
It was in the 90s when video games gained greater momentum, thanks to the arrival of Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat, giving rise to the so-called Fighting Games. At the beginning of this decade, the first serious Esports tournament also took place. It was organized by Nintendo in 1990 and was called Nintendo World Championships. There were three categories divided by the age of the gamers and the games played were: Super Mario Bros, Rad Racer and Tetris.
But many experts say that the real beginning of Esports came in the mid-90s with the Quake, Doom, Unreal Tournament and StarCraft tournaments. They were so successful that at the end of the 90s, the Electronic Sports League was created, where players could compete against other players from around the world in a league and also play one-on-one games, among other game modes.
Shortly after, other popular video games arrived that further encouraged electronic sports, such as Counter-Strike, World of Warcraft, Halo and League of Legends.
The most popular video games
There are a large number of games that are used when playing eSports. Among the most famous we can mention Call of Duty, League of Legends and FIFA (now EA Sports FC). Tournaments are divided for each type of game and some e-sportsmen or online players specialize in one of them. This gaming industry has become extremely competitive and has experienced rapid growth in recent years. This popularity is due to the fact that it is a global phenomenon, which only requires a good Internet connection and a device to participate.
The rise of esports
In 2021 alone, these e-sports generated more than a billion dollars in revenue, according to the consultancy Newzoo.
In 2023, the League of Legends World Championship became the most-watched esports tournament in history. The match between T1 and Weibo Gaming surpassed six million viewers, breaking a new record in esports history, surpassing the tournament held the previous year by more than one million.
The growth of Esports can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, the advancement of technology has enabled live streaming of Esports matches, which has increased their accessibility and visibility. Secondly, platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming have made it easier for viewers around the world to watch and participate in these events.
Furthermore, the growing legitimization of esports has contributed to its popularity. Traditional sports organizations, universities, and governments around the world are beginning to recognize esports as a legitimate form of sporting competition.