By: Eamon Hilferty-McMahon
Sports are a hallmark of American social institutions. The sheer entertainment value and solidarity formed by athletics has given rise to a multibillion dollar industry which continues to rake in windfall profits annually. Perhaps because of the innate appeal of physical activity, or the decorated history of the institution, sports are inextricable to our national identity.
It came as a shock to many when eSports abruptly began to gain prominence during the 2010s. Many people were diametrically opposed to such a phenomenon, as they saw eSports as nothing more than a coalition of couch potatoes who were intent on tarnishing the legacy of athletics. Playing a video game, they posited, isn’t even remotely comparable to partaking in the rigorous exercise and devotion of professional athletes. Despite these dissenting voices, the fledgling institution began to grow at an exponential rate, garnering the attention of major game development companies like Activision, Nintendo, and Riot Games. Like their prospective investors, these companies saw the potential embedded in such an institution, as the bloc of competitive players surged.
*Image from the 2023 LoL Worlds
Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Thus, the eSports dynasty began, with the participants receiving the lion’s share of the profit and publicity. Tournaments of games such as League of Legends and Fortnite accrued millions of dollars in cash rewards for the winning teams. Such a profit incentive was exclusive to the players, however, as the companies’ investments yielded a deficit.
Despite this format being a recipe for success, attaining the profitable status of professional athletic institutions proved to be onerous. In particular, the lack of networking and brand deals to other media conglomerates causes a drought in the potential revenue brought in by such deals. Instead, many eSports tournaments are broadcast on free streaming platforms accessible to anyone, which causes a discrepancy between viewership and profit.
Additionally, eSports is at a comparative disadvantage with regards to geography. Where many athletic teams become municipal fixtures, the decentralized nature of eSports teams inhibits any local solidarity from forming. Thus, the competitive market between states is lost, and in its place is a nebulous assortment of players with no local ties. After all, more Bostonians can identify the likes of David Ortiz than that of a professional League player.
However, the potential for exponential growth isn’t entirely intangible. In order to maximize profits and longevity, game developers must studiously analyze the facets of their real-life counterparts. By emphasizing the local identities of players, developers can cultivate meaningful relationships between players and spectators, eliminating the digitized divide between them. In addition, companies can start incorporating brand deals more prominently into their models.
As with each industry, the prospects for eSports are unclear. However, they’ve proven to become a formidable force in the virtual ecosystem that can offer a viable alternative to the world of professional sports.
Browning, Kellen. “The Excitement Around E-Sports is Growing. But Where are the Profits?”. The New York Times, November 26, 2022.
Journalism 2.0 