Just in case you hadn’t heard, Esports has arrived. If you’re not already familiar with the term, Esports refers to organized video gaming competitions. You can find plenty of background information on the Esports wikipedia page.
So, how big of a thing is Esports? Well, you know something has entered popular consciousness when SNL and Chance the Rapper poke fun at it.
Esports exists on various levels from amateur to college to pro. Professional Esports players earn on average $300,000/year, not too bad for playing video games, but far less than the average salaries for major league sports.
Among colleges and universities in the region, Colorado College in Colorado Springs has a well-established program. Last spring they won first place at the SCAC Esports Showdown where they competed in Overwatch, League of Legends, Smash Bros Ultimate, and Fortnite.
This year the Summer Olympic Games will be held in Tokyo, Japan, and while Esports will not be an official game of the 2020 Olympics, it will be featured in the days preceding the official games. According to engadget, “Players will compete in Street Fighter V and Rocket League for a price of $250,000 for each game.”
And for those who like to watch, VENN is launching this year and promises to be a new 24/7 post-cable network aimed at gaming, esports and entertainment audiences.
Maybe my next post should explore the idea of a “post-cable network.”
