If you are not living under a rock then surely you will know about the captivating E-gaming evolution in the modern times. Convenient, easy and accessible technology, with the availability of internet at every part of the globe has created more opportunities for generation Z.
E-sports is a growing and well received multiplayer and individual sports among the youngsters. And teenagers love these sports because they are convenient to follow and a comparative easy and fun way to earn money. Moreover, there are less hurdles and hardships involved compared to the conventional sports. That is why, the million-dollar question for this billion-dollar industry is, “Can we ever see E-sports outranking conventional sports”?
When we look at the current scenario at a global level, many governments still do not regard E-sports as the proper form of sports. However, it is mainly from those countries which are not technically equipped to manage this new form of sports, or commercial organizations which are not ready to invest in E-sports.
Well, let’s have a look in detail about this modern rivalry which is E-sports vs. Traditional sports:
Table of Contents
1. How E-sports popularity grew?
E-sports popularity grew from Asian countries such as South Korea and China, with China being the leading region where E-sports is played and valued. So, what exactly is E-sports about? Electronic solo and 2 player sports feature online matches and competitions where gamers compete against each other while playing different video games. These competitive games are played in a professional setting with high stakes with more commonly in multiplayer/team matches as well solo competitions. Due to the nature of the sports, with an exciting environment and less physical activity, more and more people are opting for playing E-sports as career.
As of 2023, the sports industry trends for E-sports show an estimate of around 500-600 million audience from around the world. The most commonly played E-sports genres are Battle Royale and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). Twitch is the most viewed platform for live E-sports matches and championships as well as E-sports players’ personal livestreaming where fans can engage with them. The worldwide popular tournaments for E-sports include League of Legends World Championship, The International for Dota 2, Fifae World Cup, Fortnite World Cup etc.
2. Traditional Sports
Traditional sports go back to centuries and are still played and enjoyed around the world, with active fans and high-level of revenue generated every year. Due to the physical and in-person activities, traditional sports can never go out of popularity with a wide variety of sports played with loyal, die-hard fans from around the world. While many type of traditional sports exist around the world there are some popular sports that have around billion viewers globally! The top 5 sports played and watched around the world are Soccer/Football, Cricket, Basketball, Field Hockey and Tennis. This is based on worldwide fans and audience, number of countries where it is popular and played in and how much they are talked about on the internet!
Writer’s conclusive opinion:
Without any doubt, if E-sports and traditional sports are compared side by side, E-sports can never dominate the traditional sports. This is because of the history and long-standing popularity of traditional sports which can never go out style! While it cannot be ignored that E-sports does have a promising part in the future of sports with their growing popularity and potential as one of the highest earning career options, the competition and the steady growth is truly remarkable. E-sports players and matches, in some magnitudes are being officially endorsed by several governments around the world.
