Esports isn’t traditional sports, and that’s a good thing.

In recent years, esports has evolved from niche hobby to global phenomenon, with professional leagues, multimillion-dollar prize pools, mainstream recognition and acceptance.

Plus a young, highly dedicated fan base almost 451 million strong, according to Newzoo research.

Esports’ power lies in its unique IP. Fans are drawn to esports because it offers something different. Because the most popular, widely played esports games aren’t those that mimic sports played offline.

They’re highly competitive, elite games like Counter-Strike 2 and Starcraft that take dedicated skill and strategy to win. ?

Esports expansive growth is an opportunity for the industry to differentiate itself from traditional sports instead of replicating them. To lean into creativity, skill and fandom ?because that’s where its power lies.

Immersive and entertaining

Esports offers viewers and players a much more interactive and immersive experience than traditional sports. You can’t actually play football with Lionel Messi.

But if you’re pretty good at Counter Strike 2, you could find yourself on the same FACEIT server as S1mple, an esports hero.

You can watch tennis at Wimbledon and only see an overview of the court. But if you’re watching an Overwatch 2 league competition, you can see the game unfold from the players’ perspective.

The unique combination of digital innovation, accessibility, tech integrations, youth and cultural appeal plus a super high level of community engagement are what set this sporting industry apart from the traditional athletic landscape. And they’re the key factors that are contributing to its rapid growth.

The esports ecosystem has been designed for the people who populate it, using state of the art gameplay mechanics, creative character and world design and near-continuous development.

The industry’s true strength lies in its ability to provide immersive and dynamic experiences to engage players, entertain existing fans and draw in new ones.

An athlete, or a player?

There is an argument to be made that the language of traditional sports, when applied to esports, whilst sometimes helpful, can also be quite limiting.

Using familiar terminology from traditional sports can make esports more accessible to mainstream audiences and help establish legitimacy in the eyes of sceptics.

However the language of traditional sports does not fully capture the unique aspects and nuance of esports, leading to misunderstandings or misrepresentations.

Esports has its own culture, history and terminology that deserves its own recognition and respect.

Whilst not often considered ‘athletes’ in the traditional sense of the world, professional, competitive esports players exhibit similar levels of dedication, discipline and drive.

They undergo rigorous training regimens to hone their reflexes, learn game mechanics and devise team strategies, and they adhere to strict schedules to build strong teamwork and maintain peak performance.

Referring to esports competitors as ‘players’ rather than ‘athletes’ acknowledges the distinct nature of competitive gaming while still reflecting the skill and dedication required to excel in this space.

Looking to the future

The evolution of gaming over the last 40 years has been exponential. In 1972, we played Pong on Atari, and now we create entirely new selves in expansive virtual worlds. Imagine where and how we’ll be playing 40 years from now.

As esports continues to grow and evolve, it will redefine the landscape of sports entertainment, attracting new audiences, generating new revenue streams, and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a sports fan.

The opportunities for esports are endless and will keep evolving alongside the technology, shaping the future of competitive play for years to come.

By Franck Guignery, SVP Middle East & Africa, ESL FACE IT Group

First published in Campaign MENA, June 07, 2024.