Ever heard of Dota 2, Overwatch, or Counter-strike?
For people not steeped in the gaming culture, these popular eSports might not be familiar but they are packing in tens of thousands of fans at big arenas.
And it's big money. Newzoo.com reports that eSports are likely to generate $1.5 billion dollars by 2020.
The big draw might seem odd since eSports are just video games played for a crowd.
How real is the popularity?
According to ESPN, eSports have been growing rapidly over the recent years, and as early as 2013 a tournament for the popular game League of Legends sold out the Staples Center. A year later, the same tournament sold out the 40,000-seat World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea.
Humble Beginnings
Fifteen to 20 years ago, eSports only existed in basements and the occasional hotel ballroom. In an interview with CNN, early eSports entrepreneurs found their passion to be more a labor of love and seldom found much in the way of financial rewards. In fact, most players tended to lose more money to travel costs than they were able to win in the early tournaments.
Technological breakthroughs coupled with a more mainstream adoption of their hobby has allowed those same pioneers to flourish in the new gaming economy.
Twitch: The YouTube for eSports
One of the biggest catalysts for the growth of eSports has been the birth of Twitch.tv. This gaming-focused streaming service, which was recently purchased by Amazon, has allowed anyone from average-joe gamers to professionals stream their gaming sessions. What's more, their partnership services allow those players to make real money through ad plays, subscribers, and tips. In fact, CNBC recently reported that some of the biggest streamers might be making as much as $300,000 per year just playing video games.
