Arcade to Arenas: All You Need to Know About the History and Evolution of eSports

A few years ago, video games were looked upon as a waste of time with parents urging their children to rather spend this time on something ‘productive’ that will help them make their careers. Fast forward to the present times where the eSports or Electronic Sports industry is a multi-billion dollar industry providing livelihood and employment to an increasing number of individuals.

Such has been the meteoric rise of the competitive gaming landscape with money flowing in through diverse sources, as everyone wants a piece of the profit pie. With numerous large-scale competitions of global stature being organised on a frequent basis, the eSports industry has transformed from a niche hobby to a structured and professional industry.

Definition of eSports

By definition, eSports or Electronic Sports refers to competitive and organised video gaming with players and teams competing against each other virtually, often streamed live through various digital platforms. Through technological advancements and enhancements in video streaming, mobile phones and console development, the eSports industry has seen a progressive evolution over the years.

History and Evolution of eSports

Taking a deep dive in to the history of the Gaming industry, the first officially recognised video gaming competition was organised on October 19, 1972 when the Stanford University hosted the “Intergalatic Spacewar! Olympics”, wherein the 1962-developed game Spacewar! was featured.

However, when we look at the origin of video games, the development of the first video games can be traced back to the 1950s with the inception of games such as Spacewar! and Tennis for Two. This being said, the first game that was commercially successful was ‘Pong’ which was launched in 1972, that showcased the huge economic potential of video games.

Technological Advancements Driving Innovation in eSports during the 1990s and 2000s

The period of the 1980s and 1990s saw the rise and growing popularity of arcade games such as Space Invaders and Pac Man. However, the most significant transition in the history of eSports was the shift from 2D graphics to 3D graphics, with games like Doom and Quake being the pioneers in such immersive gameplay and interactive storytelling.

Another significant landmark in the eSports industry was the introduction and inception of mobile gaming in the 1990s and early 2000s. With the growing reach of the internet, online multiplayer games such as Ultima Online and EverQuest came into existence and were an instant hit among the masses.

Ever since the turn of the century, the eSports industry has grown manifold with global tournaments and professional players who now command significant fan following. The competitive gaming landscape which was once restricted to informal local competitions now has evolved into large-scale international events that attracts millions of viewers, solidifying the status of eSports as a blend of entertainment and sports industries.

Role of South Korea in eSports Boom

It is however important to mention the crucial role of South Korea in the development of the video gaming industry. Alongside, the United States of America and China, South Korea has been a driving force in the eSports industry with dedicated state-of-art infrastructure as well as significant investment in game development and talent management.

Furthermore, the inception of modern technologies and their continual improvement, specifically high-speed internet, growing number of streaming platforms, advanced gaming hardware as well as Virtual and Augmented reality has increased and enhanced the accessibility of the industry while also playing a key role in popularising and promoting it around the globe.

eSports in India: Growth and Potential

In a country like India, where cricket is without argument the primary sport of the nation, the video gaming industry has created an uproar with ever-increasing participation from the subcontinent. However, unlike the western world that is much focused on PC and Console gaming, India is predominantly active in terms of the mobile gaming sector.

Due to affordable smartphones and the availability of cheap and inexpensive high-speed internet, practically every youngster in the nation has atleast once in his lifetime played a particular video game. Games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI/PUBG), Clash Royale and Garena Free Fire to mention a few, have strongly established themselves in the Indian market, with their free to download business model with in-game purchase options aligning appropriately with India’s price sensitive nature.

Government Recognition and Regulation

Additionally, the Indian government is also an advocate for eSports and as a result in 2022, the Indian government officially recognised eSports as a legitimate industry. In December 2022, eSports was officially included as a part of the multi-sports event category under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS). This landmark event in Indian as well as global video gaming industry paves the way for structured investment, enhanced infrastructure and inclusion of eSports in national and international events.

Consequently, as a result of widespread acceptance and the growing popularity of eSports in India, the nation has begun to put itself on the international circuit with participation in major events and increased number of streamers and content creators.

Indian Achievements in eSports

Some of the major accomplishments of India in the eSports industry involve winning the Bronze medal in Dota 2 at the Asian Games 2022 (held in 2023) as the 2022 competitions were the first time that eSports was included as a medal event. Other significant achievements include securing a silver in Trekken 8 at the BRICS Esports Championship and a bronze in eFootball at the Asian Esports Games 2024.

Furthermore, the Indian FIFA eSports team has been consistently participating in the FIFAe Nations Series and among the top ranking FIFA eSports teams. India has also entered into the event management aspect of eSports through the introduction of the Esports Premier League, also Indian companies such as Nodwin Gaming and Skyesports have been involved in organising major eSports tournaments.

Future Trends and Potential of eSports

Thus in conclusion, it can be said that with future technological advancements which include Virtual and Augmented Reality (AR/VR) as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the eSports industry is only expected to grow further in size with reports suggesting that it might overtake traditional sports in terms of viewership and revenue generation. With such expansion estimated in the industry, it is expected to generate numerous job and employment opportunities across various laterals in the industry.

Furthermore, the increasing number of competitions has led to professional set-ups with colleges offering eSports courses as well as identifying eSports achievements as a means for obtaining substantial scholarships. Such advancements along with a surge in global and international tournaments proves and highlights the immense potential and financial opportunities of this elusive eSports industry.

Written by Chahel Chheda