Many would think that Esports is just gaming for fun – no use, just a waste of time. But it’s far away from that. There are thousands of professional video game players around the world who make a living of it.
Usually, this type of activity is trending among younger audiences (20-30 years old). Players can show off their skills in various games while fans and viewers enjoy it like any sports game.
It all began in 1972
Have you ever wondered how this million-dollar gaming industry began? Well, it all started back in 1972. This was the era of such legendary video games as Pong, Space Invaders, Asteroids, etc. It was the first time people gathered to watch someone play a video game. More than 10 000 people paid money to observe the masterminds of gaming in action.
During the 80s and 90s, Esports really began to take shape. The games no longer were so basic as the first titles of Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter took off! These competitive games attracted enormous crowds, so organizers were able to collect more money, offer bigger prizes for players, and attract even more attention worldwide. You can check recent players ernings at: esportz4u.com
And here comes the 21st century with such games as GoldenEye, Halo, Call of Duty… millions of hours are being spent each day by players who want to play with the big players, ARENA style!
One of the biggest steps forward in esports gaming history was Twitch. It was introduced in the early 2010s, building a solid platform for video game players to stream their gaming skills worldwide while anyone interested could join them. Moreover, viewers can communicate with players and support them financially.
Esports today
Gaming fans from all around the world love watching other people play video games for various reasons. They may have played the game themselves, and now they want to see how others manage to solve various riddles and get out of tight situations. Also, various Youtube and Twitch streams today are like chat rooms were in the 2000s – like-minded people hang out, communicate with each other, etc.
According to 2018 studies, esport enthusiasts spent a whopping 17 million hours watching other people playing games on Twitch and Youtube. And this number adds up in three months, not a whole year. So, imagine what the numbers were during quarantine!
The most popular video games on streaming platforms at the moment are League of Legends, CS:GO, and Dota 2.
Let’s talk numbers
More people enjoy watching others playing games than playing themselves. Twitch and Youtube streamers are thriving because of this, but how much?
Streamers get revenue from various sources: ads, subscriptions, affiliate programs, and individual donations. Thousands of streamers make a living of it, but the TOP 10 streamers easily make over $20,000,000 a year – astonishing, right?
What’s the future of it?
It seems that the interest in esports is growing wildly. For example, this year, Twitch has about 3,3 million broadcasters each month – 63% more than the last year! It seems that the fanbase is growing steadily, and big players noticed that.
By saying big players, we mean the International Olympic Committee. They aim to gain insight into esports, which may result in electronic sports being in the Olympics!
