Short for electronic sports, esports is the competitive arena where professional gamers play video games for spectators. This unique ecosystem fosters a level of engagement that traditional sports are only just starting to catch up on, and the industry is growing fast. The global gaming market generated over $43B in revenues in 2018, making it one of the most valuable industries in the world. Source: https://www.santarosacatholic.org/
Esports and Beyond: Exploring the Fusion of Virtual and Reality
While the term “gaming” is often used interchangeably with esports, there are important differences between the two. Gaming is a recreational activity, and can be as social or serious as tennis or football. However, esports is all about competitive video game play with real money on the line. The biggest esports tournaments draw tens of thousands of fans to stadiums and online streaming events.
A large part of the reason for this rapid growth is the cultural shift that is occurring. As we enter the digital age, young people are looking for new ways to connect and be entertained. Esports are an ideal solution as they offer a platform for digital literacy and bring together people from all walks of life in an environment that encourages community building.
While esports is the fastest growing sector of gaming, it is still very much its own thing. It is not a subset of gaming; the word “esports” equally describes NFL players in stadiums and 10-year-olds playing backyard baseball. The difference is that esports has a professional and structured component with organized leagues, tournaments and teams. Game creators, known as publishers, own the intellectual property and have the power to regulate how, when and where the game is played.
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