Diving into the exciting realm of e-sports its reputation as something that takes place in the basements of unemployed twentysomethings, the esports industry is real, growing globally, and investable. In 2016 alone, more people watched the world finals of League of Legends than watched the NBA Finals that same year. The key to investing in this industry is understanding who it’s targeting and what communication channels they use, as that will inform how you can best monetize this market.

Whether it’s an immersive 3D video game experience in event arenas in front of hundreds of fans or the leisure individual play on mobile devices, gaming is a huge part of the world’s lives, with ultra-skilled players able to captivate audiences like never before. This has led to a growing esports industry, which is attracting investment from traditional sports organizations and brands looking for a way to reach this captive audience.

From Pixels to Glory: Journeying into the Captivating World of E-Sports

Many gamers consider esports their career. Sacriel, for example, plays and streams eight hours a day six days a week and is on a salary comparable to that of other professional athletes. However, many players also find they can’t do this for long, with injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow becoming commonplace.

This has led to some schools and colleges creating esports teams and spaces, with the University of California, Irvine, constructing a dedicated esports room and Robert Morris University Illinois offering athletic scholarships to its eSports players. There’s also a growing stigma that gaming is a solitary activity, but events like the EGX show this perception is fading. Gamers are sociable and come together in a community, streaming their gameplay online, talking to each other over headsets, and even coming out to big events!