Esports
Competitive video gaming with professional players and global audiences.
Esports, short for electronic sports, is a form of competition using video games, often taking the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions between professional players, individually or as teams. By the late 2000s and early 2010s, the advent of online streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch enabled a surge in professional participation and spectatorship, making esports a major part of the video game industry by the 2010s.
- field
- Electronic sports (competitive video gaming)
- known_for
- Organized multiplayer video game competitions, professional gaming leagues, and major tournaments such as the League of Legends World Championship and Dota 2's International
- earliest_known_competition
- 1972, Stanford University, Spacewar!
- first_licensed_professional_players
- 2000, South Korea
- peak_viewership_demographics_early_2010s
- 85% male, 15% female, ages 18–34
Lore & Background
Popular esports genres include MOBA, first-person shooter, fighting, card, battle royale, and real-time strategy games. Notable franchises include League of Legends, Dota, Counter-Strike, Valorant, Overwatch, Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros., and StarCraft. Major tournaments include the League of Legends World Championship, Dota 2's International, EVO, and Intel Extreme Masters.
Reader's Guide
Its legitimacy as a true sporting competition remains in question, yet it has been featured alongside traditional sports in multinational events in Asia. The early 2010s viewership was predominantly male (85%) and young (ages 18–34). The industry's growth was propelled by online streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch, which enabled professional gamers to reach massive audiences. Esports has influenced game design, with developers creating titles specifically for competitive play and funding tournaments. However, regional disparities persist, such as Japan's anti-gambling laws limiting prize pools. The legacy of esports includes the establishment of professional player licensing in South Korea in 2000, the persistence of high-score culture from the arcade era, and the creation of enduring franchises and tournaments that continue to draw millions of viewers worldwide.
Did You Know?
- The earliest known video game competition was held on October 19, 1972, at Stanford University for the game Spacewar!
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