The rapid innovation of technology and software is creating a new online space where fresh seeds of opportunity in the workplace are rapidly being planted. It also makes for a faster moving world and the online evolution is taking us to new realms of interest and changing the way humans behave. The physical is slowly moving to the digital, with the online world thriving in many domains, including shopping, communication, and entertainment. Esports is a form of entertainment that is gaining interest not just from users and players, but from academics, who are keen to be part of this latest movement.

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A New Career Path Emerging?

Traditionally, subjects such as medicine, linguistics, law, and history have been popular degrees offered by universities worldwide. However, we could be about to witness a new wave of subjects appearing in university brochures. Such is the popularity of Esports, more and more educational institutions are scrambling to get the necessary infrastructure in place to offer Esports as a degree program. What started out as pure gaming entertainment has exploded into an industry where live events are hosted in vast arenas around the world and millions tune in to watch their favorite athlete. Overall, more people want some of the action.

Which Avenue to Follow?

The arrival of Esports on the entertainment scene prompted a commercial rat race, with many reputable companies looking to get involved in the movement. You can get an overview of just how many Esports are being played on a competitive level at Cloudbet, which will perhaps give greater perspective to why these companies want to be a part of the action. For students, the benefit is that companies such as Microsoft, EA Sports, Red Bull, and Amazon offer more vacancies in many different departments. This has been recognized and reciprocated by universities around the world in the number of degree programs opening in departments that support the running of Esports. Here are some titles that are available:

• Broadcasting

• Media

• Marketing

• Event Management

• Computer Science

• Sports Psychology

• Software Engineering

As you can see from the list above, there is a variety of career paths to pursue depending on your passions and interests. 

What Next for Esports?

Despite the fact gaming has been around for decades, Esports is still a relatively young movement, and the potential is huge. There is a long way to go before it can be considered a mainstream alternative to live sports such as American Football, soccer, and basketball, but Esports is certainly creating its own space in the entertainment market. And the number of people looking to study Esports at universities worldwide could accelerate its popularity.