The Future of Esports Event

The Symposium brought together early career researchers, professional players and industry experts interested in the social, cultural and economic dimensions of esports.

Esports in an emerging entertainment market worth 1.5 billion, and is now compared in size to many traditional sports.  

With the sport growing every year, the symposium set out to tackle key issue’s for the future of its players and to create a solid infrastructure as a sport.

These issues tend to reflect those of ‘The gig economy’ temporary contracts and exploitative pay practices that characterise professional computer gaming. Similarly, early research into women and esports suggests that these competitive gaming environments tend to reproduce ‘hegemonic masculinities’ which can leave women isolated and a structural disadvantage in terms of employment opportunities.

Dr Brock, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, said: “We had some very open and engaging debates about the future of esports, and what changes are needed if players’ lives, and long-term career prospects, are to improve. We discussed issues related to better working conditions, player contracts, and gendered representation. We also reflected on the many positive experiences that young people derive from playing computer games at a competitive level."

“The next step is to support esports organisers to implement what was discussed during the day to arrange a special issue of academic papers that elaborate on the themes and issues covered.”