Naturally, most of the games that participate in these competitions involve a multiplier element, since the objective of eSports is to interact with other players. There are so many options available now that players can play in many different tournaments and competitions. The key is to play the type of game that you enjoy the most or are the best at.

Almost all types of games are included in eSports and we found that the most popular types were first person shooter (FPS) games, sports, and MMORPGs. We hope that much more will be added to this list in the near future.

Currently, eSports are mainly consumed and enjoyed by men, with 85% of men participating in the events. Industry leaders are actively trying to encourage female participation and we think we will see some progress on this as we move into 2017. Additionally, the eSports market generated £ 258 million in 2015 and we expect it to be around £ 391 by 2016 , which is pretty crazy!

Where can I watch esports?

It all sounds very exciting, doesn’t it? The industry is projected to continue its exponential growth in 2017 and engagement is at an all-time high due to available media platforms. You can watch esports on so many different platforms and websites. Twitch and YouTube are the most obvious, and ESPN and Yahoo also have their own dedicated eSports sections. Additional sites that you may not have heard of are similar to Twitch and offer great content. These are Azubu and MLG, so check them out for some quality esports broadcasts.

Such is the growth of esports that traditional sports websites (we used ESPN above as an example) are beginning to offer their content to esports fans. This is very good and it really emphasizes to us how seriously sports broadcasters are taking the esports industry. We can honestly see that other media giants like BBC and Sky will get involved in the future and launch their own eSports brands and content. We really hope to see great developments in 2017.

In general, consumers will consume the eSports product in a way that they are comfortable with. This could be for spectators only or if you have a game that you are particularly adept at, then you may want to take part in competitions! Check out the sites we listed above and these will give you a better idea of ​​how you can get involved.

Happy game!