You’ve probably heard the phrase because mainstream media is increasingly covering the realm of video games these days. However, if you’re unsure what eSports is, we’ve got you covered.

In essence, eSports is a phrase that refers to competitive gaming at a professional level, with elite eSports players frequently being the best in the world at their games. Competitive gaming isn’t a new notion by any means, but having professional video game players similarly compete for a living to traditional sports is, at least in the Western world. If you’re new to the world of eSports, we’re here to assist you and answer the question: What is eSports?

What exactly is eSports?

Simply put, eSports is competitive gaming at a high level. It consists of professional teams of people competing in games against each other and winning large sums of money as rewards regularly. Like football or basketball players, ESports athletes are contracted to play for a range of different organisations. These teams practise and compete in their respective sports in the same way that a footballer or other athlete would. Depending on the game they play – from shooters like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive eSports and Call of Duty eSports to a wide range of different genres like sports games and battle royale games – there will be a number of tournaments and events each year with prize pools ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, sites like bet365 Sportsbook nj even offer betting on such tournaments.

Almost every participating eSports organisation will have a number of teams playing in several games. Fanatic, for example, was created in 2004 and currently has teams competing in ten different games, including Fortnite eSports, League of Legends eSports, and PUBG Mobile eSports. G2 eSports, Team SoloMid, Team Liquid, and many more are examples of great organisations.

What steps does a game take to become an esport?

Any multiplayer game can be turned into an eSport, albeit almost all of the most popular games right now, such as Dota 2 eSports and Overwatch eSports, are designed to be fun to play first and foremost. With the help of both game developers and the community, a competitive scene develops over time.

Enjoyability and balance are two factors that contribute to a game’s success as an esport. The first is simple: if a game isn’t enjoyable to play, it won’t be enjoyable to watch, and players will quickly lose interest. On the other hand, balance is crucial since otherwise the game would become dull. In Counter-Strike, for example, if one gun was clearly superior to all others, no one would use the others, and each battle would become terribly repetitious. Rocket League eSports is an example of a nearly-perfect experience in terms of balance. Apart from the automobile, which has no influence on gameplay anyway, everyone is on an equal playing field, resulting in a high skill ceiling and a concept that is approachable to newbies because it is simply football with flying cars.

What is the best way to get started watching eSports?

There is no universal way to watch eSports events, however the vast majority will be broadcast on Twitch. The website ESports Calendar is a useful resource for finding specific events that are going place for the larger games in the eSports sector. Whether it’s the biggest annual tournament or a regional qualification for a league, almost every eSports event will be televised live.

The “watch” option on the right-hand side of each listed event allows you to access most streams, although the calendar only shows the top games. For other games, simply google the title followed by “eSports” and you’ll be directed to the appropriate page. Fighting games like Street Fighter eSports and Tekken eSports, as well as Apex Legends eSports, PUBG eSports, Rocket League eSports, Rainbow Six Siege eSports, and FIFA 20 eSports, are among the prominent games not covered by ESports Calendar.

How to Get Started in ESports

Most games feature rated modes and playlists that you can access directly from the game. You’ll be matched with other players online, and this mode will often – but not always – have slightly different regulations than the ordinary game, such as limits or various timers. But, for the most part, it’ll be the game you’re already familiar with.

If you’ve gotten to the point where you’re consistently winning in rated play, you’re probably ready to move forward. This is where each game differs, because titles with first-party eSports support from the developer, such as Fortnite’s in-game tournament system, will have a simple way to compete.

Other games, such as Call of Duty and Rocket League, will rely on third-party platforms to deliver eSports services, such as Gamebattles, ESL, or FACEIT. All three work in the same way, by allowing players to compete in leagues and tournaments. Each one has its own quirks, but the gist is that you can attach your online ID, whether it’s PSN, Xbox Live, or one of the various PC sites. You can then sign up for leagues and look for a competitive match. Don’t worry about feeling obligated; most free-to-enter leagues operate on a “play whenever you like” basis rather than having planned match-ups. Cash prizes are frequently offered, and if your ultimate objective is to participate at LAN tournaments in person, you must first prove yourself in these online battles.

After that, once you’ve established yourself as a lone player or formed a team, you’ll be able to compete in open qualifiers – which will have set match times and be more organised – to determine if you have what it takes to make it as a full-fledged pro. Usually, these will be online as well, although each game is different, and there may be local events, such as Call of Duty’s City Circuit, where anyone can represent one of the franchised teams. However, it cannot be overstated that the intricacies of each game will vary, so be sure to do your homework. There’s a chance you’ll be signed to an organisation if you’re skilled enough and perform well when it matters, and then the sky’s the limit!