Over the years, eSports has been successfully gaining more following and backing. Electronic sports have been around for a long time, but it is now beginning to enjoy more of a presence in the sports scene. Large scale events all around the world take place throughout the year and individual athletes and teams are becoming global superstars due to the increased exposure.

With more traditional sports such as football, American Football and tennis stealing most of the limelight for decades, a new wave of sports is starting to spread its influence and capture the imagination of sports fans worldwide.

Accessible from anywhere

One of the main attractions of eSports is the fact fans can tune into the action from anywhere in the world. Whether it is a world-famous athlete or just someone with a high KD on Call of Duty, streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube allow fans to watch live gaming action.

These platforms, along with TikTok and Instagram, allow fans to follow the progress of their favourite player, or watch live tournaments at a few clicks of a button. Unlike major, established sports that require increasingly expensive subscription fees, the costs to follow and watch eSports are also comparatively low.

More recognised live events

The recognition of eSports and the athletes involved have led to more live events being organised around the world. Whether it is the ESL One Cologne tournament or the League of Legends World Championship, eSports enthusiasts are beginning to flock to live arena spaces to cheer on their favourites. Much akin to other sports, the physical following of an athlete or team is becoming more commonplace in eSports to compliment the online viewing aspect.

Furthermore, live events are being organised by large organisations like UEFA with their eChampions League also backed by large companies such as Heineken, PlayStation and Mastercard. With recognised faces like Ruud Gullit promoting this event, we can expect to see even larger crowds at future live events as the popularity and recognition grows.

eSports representation in other industries

As a recognised sport, eSports also extends its influence on other industries involved with sports entertainment, which highlights the impact eSports is having on the world. The multiple streaming services are not the only way to follow the action. eSports is having a greater influence on the sports betting industry. Betting on eSports has never been easier and more accessible, with betting operators starting to cover more games and events. Action on Crossfire, NBA2K, Rainbow Six, and Starcraft are becoming increasingly present on online betting platforms, which is a sign of high fast the activity is growing.

Based on how much eSports has achieved in a relatively short space of time, we can expect electronic sports to continue to flourish, with bigger prize pools, more athletes and move live events. Other sports might have to create space in the industry as eSports is ready to take centre stage.