Just like a passion for academics, sports, or any other hobby, a passion for esports could result in career opportunities.
Technology has drastically changed the world. With the rapid expansion of the video game industry, in particular, we've seen an accelerated culture shift. The increasing accessibility of the internet and at-home gaming has advanced a sub-culture to the mainstream. As the industry continues to grow, so does the opportunity for the workers of tomorrow to find success in it!
Esports: An Unanticipated Multibillion-Dollar Industry
The growth of the esports industry in recent years is almost incomprehensible. Once a niche market, esports has now made its way into the mainstream: pulling massive audiences, making headlines, and gaining a colossal amount of revenue.
Already, the revenue from the gaming industry is greater than both the movie and the music industry combined! It has become a money-making behemoth, and trends suggest that it will continue to grow for years to come.
National esports viewership has become comparable to other sports industries, drawing in audiences exceeding those of the MLB, NBA, and NHL! With a combined 84 million viewers in 2019, esports is second only to the NFL on an audience scale.
These trends bring a massive amount of opportunities for students looking towards entering the working world. The demand for workers to support this infrastructure has created a robust workforce need - and the public sphere is taking notice.
Scholarships
As esports grow in both size and popularity, colleges all across the country are adopting programs to accommodate this new type of student-athlete. With this adoption, esports emerges as an excellent pathway to both college acceptance and funding for prospective students! Student gamers can now be recruited, admitted, and even receive scholarships for their skill in competitive video games.
As of 2021, there are already over 150 universities that are a part of the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Considering that this association is only five years old, this rate of country-wide adoption is unprecedented. And the list continues to expand as a growing number of colleges and universities realize the value of adding these programs to their roster.
Program adoption translates to additional funding - and more scholarships for gamers! In the 2018-2019 academic year, esports athletes received an average of nearly $5,000 yearly per competitor. It's not just colleges that are offering scholarships, either. Video game publishers and esports organizations are hopping on the bandwagon too! Because of this, student-athletes can cut out swathes of their loan debt, making college more accessible for these gaming enthusiasts.
It's not just scholarships and admission, either. Many colleges have recently created varsity teams for esports gamers! Attending university can now be a great way to get recruited into a professional team. On top of that, many colleges are even creating esports classes and esports degrees! Colleges and universities recognize the high potential for income with this career and are rushing to add it to their repertoires.
Careers in Esports
When income potential is high, careers follow. And the esports industry is certainly not an exception to this. Career opportunities have skyrocketed - and not just for those who play the games. Here's just a sample of potential jobs your student could obtain:
Esports Athlete
If your gamer is already climbing in the ranks of their favorite competitive game, look into what it takes to go pro. This job pays a surprisingly large amount! A lot of tournaments offer cash prizes, with top tournaments awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars. Besides that, top teams often offer their players salaries up to $5,000 a month! And, once a player becomes famous enough, sponsorships from large companies follow suit.
Content Creators
With the rise of competitive games, video game companies are racing to create the next big esport. The need for game developers is increasing! Currently, there are more software jobs available than there are qualified workers, making it an opportune time to enter the programming field.
This field has a growing need for digital artists as well. Creating 3D models, 2D sprites, and UV maps is already a lucrative field - and that trend is set to increase!
It would be remiss to not mention the streamer career here as well. Many people have found fabulous success broadcasting their games, especially professional players! Gamers interested in the social side of competitive gaming are a great fit for this path. Many streamers make sustainable revenue off of their videos and streams!
Executive Strategists
Esports teams need management. Once in the limelight, athletes need training, coaching, and tournament logistics. The bigger a team gets, the more time they need to focus on the game, and more jobs are created. Just like with traditional sports, a whole slurry of workers is required to support a successful team.
Strategists can work apart from teams, too! Creating content that helps anyone and everyone improve their game is becoming increasingly valuable. YouTube videos, online articles, and gaming websites continually need creators to update their websites with the newest tips and meta strategies.
Event Organizers
As with other sports events, esports tournaments need a robust infrastructure to keep them running. People interested in marketing, commentating, and multimedia production can all find well-paying jobs here.
Also, the field needs an inordinate amount of IT support! To ensure that both the games and the tournaments run smoothly on modern platforms, esports organizers have a massive need for technically savvy workers.
If your child loves organizing, creating events, or working with computers, this field has a plethora of opportunities for them.
Business Development
Tournaments need funding! A slew of individuals are needed to find corporate partnerships, advertise, and find sponsors for tournaments. Any charismatic future worker could find themselves on this career track. Your future business major could have great success if they focus their efforts on gaming and esports.
Plus, any big event needs lawyers. Law-inclined individuals might see a boon of game-law jobs in their future! Both sports law and corporate law can be applied to this field, granting your future lawyer a great pathway too!
No matter what your child is interested in, esports is an opportunity for them! Even if they don't end up entering the field, gaming can give them amazing advantages in college and in finding their passions.
If you find that your child is glued to Fortnite, Overwatch, or any other competitive game, it isn't necessarily a waste of their time. That passion, just like a passion for academics, sports, or any hobby, could result in massive success in their future.
Esports has drastically changed the world; there's no telling how much we'll continue to see it shift our culture towards the future.
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