ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we describe and provide an historical account of the emergence of ‘e-sports.’ While not often acknowledged as a ‘traditional sport,’ e-sports have in recent years become a culturally and economically significant feature of the global sporting landscape. We track this historical ascent and the commercial, technological, and ludic factors that contribute to the current multi-billion dollar global industry. We then discuss how various aspects of the e-sports industry – from gender politics to commercialization – uniquely position spectatorial video gaming within the broader pantheon of global sports. We begin by defining and describing exactly what constitutes e-sports. The ‘e’ in the name stands for ‘electronic,’ denoting that the games are played through electronic, digital platforms such as gaming consoles and computers. A newcomer to the sports landscape, e-sports sits on the margins of the traditional sport landscape. However, the impressive growth in participation and commercial value of the sport has helped e-sport earn a place amongst the emerging sports of the 21st century.
