Valued at 1.67 billion USD in 2021 and set to almost quintuple to 9.35 billion by 2030, the E-Sports industry is brimming with potential. It is no surprise that dozens of companies have sprung up hoping to hop on the bandwagon, especially in this digitalised world where video games have become the go-to for entertainment, or even as a possible career path. The audience of E-Sports tournaments do not necessarily consist of young people, however, in recent years, the popularity of competitive video gaming has reached a new high! It is even in the Olympics as an event. There is no doubt that E-Sports will continue to grow more prominent in the future. To not feel walled off from the vast world behind the curtains of this industry, let’s dive deeper into this topic to gain a better understanding about it.
Just like anywhere else in the world, the E-Sports frenzy has washed over Singaporeans. Be it playing for leisure or professionally, mobile or PC, video games have become a part and parcel of our lives. As for the ranking of video games based on popularity in Singapore, Brawl Stars, Valorant and Mobile Legends take up the top 4, with Dota 2 surprisingly claiming the throne. The fanbase behind the professional aspect of these games are not minuscule either. The recent Masters tournament for the game Valorant held in Madrid, Spain, amassed a peak viewership of 1.6 million. 8 prominent teams participated in this event, with the American team, Sentinels, winning the championship title. On a more local note, a Singaporean based E-Sports team, Paper Rex, competed in this event, barely missing its grasp on the coveted title by a thread and losing to Sentinels in the finals. :(
Paper Rex, a gaming organisation formed right here in Singapore, consists of 6 players from around the globe. Although it was founded in 2020, Paper Rex boasts a prolific portfolio; mainly, 2nd place in the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour Los Angeles. Known for their eccentric playstyles, any game which PRX plays in leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.
In Singapore, there have been over 1100 professional players, collectively awarded almost a whopping 7.3 billion USD in prize money. The highest paid player among them, Daryl “iceiceice” Pei, a professional Dota 2 player, earned almost 1.8 million US dollars. With the accessibility of video games and most games already having an in-built ranking system, it is no surprise that “professional ESports player” radiates like a neon sign as a viable career choice among youths. As glamorous as it may seem; earning money by playing video games, there are countless blindsides that youths do not consider before setting their sights on going pro. Firstly, an esports gamer earns an average salary of $1,000 to $5,000 monthly. It is not a stable job. A player’s success does not only stem from their pure skill in that game, but also building a reputation, joining a well-known team, having a social media presence. Players need to juggle all of these if they wish to find success. After all, the fans make the celebrity. Thus, youths need to consider that becoming a professional E-Sports player tosses them into the public eye as well. Not to be a killjoy, but it might not seem like a wise choice to pursue this career as it falls heavily on luck more than anything else.
In conclusion, the E-Sports industry is skyrocketing and will soon be as popular as any other sports. This might drive more people towards being an E-Sports player as a career option. However, they must consider the risks and potential to fail, just like any other career. An uncertain but promising industry, it is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Thanks for reading
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Written by: Cayden
Edited by: Samuel Naing Yee Sheng
Designed by: Cayden
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