Esports
Esports encompass leagues, tournaments, and similar events where individuals or teams compete in a video game, often before an audience—either online or in person. This sector has become a significant part of the video games industry and represents innovative economic opportunities rooted in the licensing of the intellectual property (IP) of video games.
Esports also provide a platform for individuals to thrive in different spheres. Players forge communities, share diverse cultural experiences, and develop strategic thinking, teamwork, and other skills that can frequently be used in a professional setting. Ultimately, esports in themselves can become a professional career: professional players, content creators, commentators, coaches, and other specialists are increasingly harnessing the sector’s growth for not just entertainment, but as a legitimate career path.
Are esports a sport?
Esports operate within a different legal and societal framework than sports. Legally, they fall under various laws like IP, consumer and minor protection, e-commerce, company laws and more at both European and national levels.
Principles of esports
As members of the global video games and esports community, we have created these guiding principles of engagement to promote esports that are fun, fair, and enjoyed by players worldwide in an open and inclusive environment.
The european esports market
Esports awareness across European countries increased enormously since 2020, with a large majority of people in the European sample knowing the term and more than 40% being able to define ‘esports’ correctly in 2022.
Guide to esports
Video game associations and companies have created the Guide to Esports, outlining the state of esports play for all stakeholders, including publishers, developers, tournament organisers, teams, players and fans.
