Video games have taken center stage in entertainment for over 30 years. While video games come in all shapes and sizes, the most widely acclaimed tend to shift towards the competitively designed. Esports (e-sports), or competitive video gaming, have risen in popularity to the likes of traditional sports especially in the past decade. With a vast collection of famous moments, superstar teams, and fully booked arenas, it’s no wonder that esports has touched nearly every major country. This new form of entertainment is the new face of sports.

Just like traditional athletic sports, esports come with their own risks. Despite a relatively safe working condition, spinal and hand injuries may plague players into a failing career. Money is abundant, but the raw peak reflexes required for competitive gaming generally shortens careers into 10 years or less. Most dangerous of all, the constantly shifting team landscape leaves some players without an organization to call home. 

However, esports remains something for people to look up to. With big aspirations and even bigger motivations, many people found themselves watching esports growing up on the stages they looked up to. Truly, esports is a real substitute for traditional sports.