Esports is a sort of competition that makes use of video games. Esports is an abbreviation for "electronic sports." Esports, often known as competitive online gaming, typically take the shape of organised, multiplayer video game tournaments, with the participants typically consisting of professional gamers competing either alone or in teams. Although organised competitions have been a part of the culture of video games for a long time, until the late 2000s, the vast majority of participants in these events were casual gamers rather than professionals. At the same time, the number of people watching these events via live streaming experienced a significant uptick in popularity. In the 2010s, esports had become a huge force in the video game business, to the point that many game creators were actively creating and giving financing for tournaments and other events in the industry.
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), combat, card, battle royale, and real-time strategy (RTS) games are the kind of video games most often linked with esports. League of Legends, Dota, Counter-Strike, Valorant, Overwatch, Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros., and StarCraft are just some of the popular video game titles that have been adapted into competitive esports. The most well-known competitions in the realm of electronic sports are the World Championship for League of Legends, the International for Dota 2, the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), and the Intel Extreme Masters. The Overwatch League is only one example of the many different types of contests that involve a series of league play with sponsored teams. Esports have been showcased alongside traditional sports at some multinational events held in Asia. The International Olympic Committee has also discussed the possibility of including esports in future Olympic competitions. This is despite the fact that the legitimacy of esports as a genuine sporting competition is still up for debate.
It was anticipated that by the end of the 2010s, the overall viewership for esports would increase to 454 million people, with income growing to more than one billion United States dollars, and China will contribute for 35 percent of the global esports revenue in the year 2020. Esports tournaments are becoming more popular as a result of the proliferation of online streaming media platforms like YouTube and Twitch, which have assumed a pivotal role in the industry's expansion and development. In spite of the fact that about 85 percent of viewers are male and 15 percent are female and that the majority of viewers are between the ages of 18 and 34, there are female gamers who have played professionally. E-sports originally gained widespread attention and appeal in Asia, particularly in China and South Korea, the latter of which has had officially sanctioned professional competitions from the year 2000. China has also been a leader in the development of the industry. In spite of the size of its video game industry, Japan's esports scene is still in its early stages of development. This may primarily be ascribed to the country's stringent anti-gambling regulations, which make it illegal to host paid professional gaming competitions. Esports are not only popular in Asia, but also in Europe and the Americas; in fact, competitions at both the regional and international levels take place in those parts of the world.