Ever since there video games were made they were seen as just that, games. However due to the rising popularity of video games, are been seen as something more. These games have not only made careers for the people who make them but also the people who professionally play them.  Other careers were built from videogames such as coaches for each team. However, all credit cannot be given to the game creators themselves, supporters of the events, advertisers, and the fans who travel across the globe to support their favorite team must also receive credit.

The professional play of video games has been huge in Asia for a while now, specifically in South Korea and China. Their professional video game players are called superstars and are seen on the same level of popular bands and even other athletes such as football superstars. The trend has slowly made its way across the globe, and one monolith video game company called Valve saw this and took interest in it. In 2011, Valve started a tournament called “The International” that broke countless records and attracted players across the globe. Although the largest gaming event to date, The International 2015 occurred from August 3 August 8, 2015. When the tickets for this event were first sold, they were all gone in only five minutes. This event was and currently is the largest gaming event to date totaling over twenty plus million viewers both online and in person with a prize pool of over $18 million.  

This may possibly be the next generation of sports, and companies like Youtube, Skype and even sports bars such as Buffalo Wild Wings are taking notice. There are more professional and well known companies then there ever was that are hiring the best of the best to compete for millions of dollars. Due to this there has also been dramatic rise in entertainment in the form of streaming websites such as Twitch.tv that not only gives the professional player an audience to play with and talk to their fans but also receives donations and subscriptions to help support them.

In my opinion, with the dramatic increase of popularity it is no surprise that eSports are and will be the future of sports.