Esports hasn’t always been booming around the globe as it is today. Although electronic sports have been around since the late 1900s, It wasn’t until the 1990s that this industry picked up the pace. Video games were first introduced for entertainment purposes through computer and laptop setups.
However, as technology evolved, great human minds made it more convenient for everyone to access games without having a PC. Introducing video games through mobile applications has been a true turning point for the eSports industry.
Over the past few decades, eSports have seen unprecedented global growth, claiming the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. In this article, we’ll discover the evolution of eSports from a source of entertainment in leisure time to a profession.
Earlier Stages of eSports
As we have already discussed, the era of eSports saw a rise in the late 20th century when a larger audience got familiar with video games. The legendary names ‘Space Invaders’ and ‘Pong tournaments’ only appeared in the late 1970s.
However, the real turning point came after 20 years, in the 1990s, which served as a growth spurt for the video gaming industry owing to the development of networked multiplayer games. So, It is not a surprise that 1990 marks the true birth of eSports. This is also the era when PC games began to enjoy mass acceptance.
Back then, video games were only considered entertainment for children and teens. The concept of them taking charge of the world would never have crossed a single mind.
To the surprise of many, games like ‘StarCraft’ and ‘Quake’ managed to attract many eyes and became the basis for the growth of esports competitions. In 1997, the first official cybersports tournament, ‘Red Annihilation Quake Tournament,’ was held. This event set a path for the long-awaited trend for the development of the esports industry.
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The Appeal of eSports Today
Esports today have found a space beyond the closed walls of living rooms and PC hubs. In the 2010s, esports attracted mainstream attention due to the rise of digital platforms and gaming apps. The League of Legends Championship was set up in 2013, quickly becoming one of the largest esports events worldwide, offering winning prizes of thousands of dollars.
The East Asian countries played a big hand in making these competitions renowned throughout the globe. In 2016, Rio de Janeiro served as a place for the debut of eSports in the Olympic games. While the debut event was only limited to demonstration, we can’t deny that it was the most significant moment in the history of esports.
In recent years, eSports has grown beyond surprise to become a billion-dollar industry. Owing to the worldwide impact, behemoths like Nike, Intel and Coca-Cola invested in esports. Therefore, today, large arenas are set up for excitement-filled competitions.
The grand prizes are one of the main reasons for the seasoned players to take their gaming hobby to the next level of profession. Today, a lot of teams have debuted for various types of eSports championships and are earning their way toward success.
Besides that, the adoption of eSports as a profession bloomed among youth even further, owing to opportunities provided by YouTube. YouTube content creators and enthusiastic players are creating content for each type of game, whether it be online casino games or battle royal games. In this way, many people live their lives by enjoying and earning from their favorite games and championships.
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Final Thoughts
The hype of eSports is real, and unlike a few years ago, no one can deny this fact today. Experts also believe that eSports will see a rise in the coming years as well, however, with a few changes here and there.
One of the biggest changes expected will be the rise of VR and AR-integrated games. The world of 3D is already gaining wide popularity, and it is not far that companies will start holding tournaments for VR and AR games. We all can buckle up and get ready for a thrilling 3D ride.