If you’re a citizen in the modern world, you must be aware of esports. Esports is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries, and is a form of sports and competing that revolves mainly around digital media. While most of the general population is still somehow unaware about esports’ high rising popularity, it has become something of a hope for most young people admitting into colleges.

Professional esports isn’t a new thing; it has been around for more than two decades now. It stemmed from the arcade games, pitting people against each other in a fight to victory. Eventually more genres accepted this form of multi-player gaming, and it has been on a very steady upwards trajectory to high demand and popularity!

Esports programs were honestly nonexistent despite it being a popular form of entertainment, even if you go back five years from now. However, according to NACE (National Association of College Esports), in 2021 there were reportedly 170+ U.S. colleges that offered the varsity esports programs for students. Here’s the big thing; some of them are even willing to offer up to 16 million USD in just scholarships!

The gaming industry has seen a gigantic boost from this, and esports has started to become more and more popular; while colleges keep racking up the profits from tournaments and competitions. It’s ironic if you look back to 10 years ago, video games were portrayed as a form of media with a hugely negative effect on education but now there are literally schools being made just for gaming!

Sadly, there aren’t many esports institutions within the rest of the world though. This is why most students choose to migrate to the United States for their education if they are highly interested in esports education itself.

The Benefits of Esports Education:

There are a ton of benefits that people can have from being educated about gaming.

• Many people choose to play video games, there’s a huge population that actually indulges in gaming. However, many choose to play in isolation or secrecy, with a group of online friends. There is still such a negative conversation about gaming in the majority, things like ‘gaming is for kids’ or ‘gaming is for free time’ and just the usual impression that gaming cannot be a career. If their education is helping them in finding like-minded individuals, who share the same interests then they will definitely flourish and feel much more included.
• Gamers tend to be very creative and smart, either due to puzzle solving and skill acquiring within the games they play or just their competitive nature being given an outlet. This is why most gamers are directly interested within the game development, animation, technology and engineering fields. It brings out the creativity, the mechanical and the technical thinking that some students have and gives them an outlet to display their prowess!

• Let’s be honest, it brings a brand new career opportunity to the table. Gaming as a career is a lifelong dream for many people in the modern world, and people do make it come true even now! There are so many gamers out there who use platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, Mixer, and more to stream video games, post videos and gain capital through advertisements and sponsorships.

CAREERS IN ESPORTS:

Now, while qualifications to become a professional esports player do not usually rely on education but rather your individual skill. However, esports is an industry and there are a PLETHORA more career opportunities that you can successfully find within it. Here are a list of jobs that you can find in esports:

• Professional Player
• Professional Caster
• Professional Host
• Professional Coach
• Server Admin/Professional Referee
• Spectator/Camera Operator
• Professional Analyst
• Esports Journalist
• Content Creator
• Organization Owner/Manager (You can learn this in business school too!)

With an industry so big, there are more opportunities and careers being created. However, this is just an influx of jobs within the esports world that you can study about, and begin to build a career in!

Gamers often find the confidence within themselves to pursue other gaming related prospects such as game development and other forms of technology and engineering related careers.

Conclusion:

Essentially, esports as an industry has become much more normalized now than ever before. Colleges that are using it for the growth and betterment of their students are thriving, competing in tournaments that span multiple genres of video games. There are prize pools that these students often bring back for their colleges, while other students can choose to educate themselves about a plethora of other career paths, that you can then choose to take in life.