Esports has become a real phenomenon in the last few years. The industry’s explosive growth worldwide has finally made people sit up and listen. Big business has seen the wisdom in investing in Esports, and the lucrative sponsorship deals for the best teams and players come from companies such as ESPN, Redbull and Coca-Cola.
Esports is also gaining recognition as a legitimate sport, with the inclusion of competitive gaming in September’s 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games. Finland has become the latest country to recognize online gaming as a sport, and there are currently several other countries in the process of recognition. It’s come a long way from Atari’s Space Invaders tournament in 1980!
The world’s elite gamers are household names in certain countries, and even traditional athletes are becoming invested in Esports too. Brazilian soccer star Wendall Lira actually quit the physical football game to concentrate on his dream of becoming a professional FIFA gamer.
Most people won’t make it big as pro gamers, but there are other avenues to pursuing a career that’s involved with Esports. This infographic by Computer Planet shows that there are many diverse career options available in the Esports industry, from international tax manager to Esports commentator. As the infographic shows, salaries are pretty decent, and some of the jobs don’t require a great deal of experience or even Bachelor’s degrees to do.
Brands have realized that by becoming involved in the industry through advertising or sponsorship deals, they have a great platform to reach a young crowd of consumers. 61% of Esports viewers are under 35. With over 213 million fans watching competitive gaming in 2016, Esports is here to stay, and there’s never been a better time to get on the career ladder.
