Esports needs more than gamers to continue thriving

The watershed moment for esports arguably came in 2014 when the fourth edition of The International, a tournament organized by game developer Valve, garnered mainstream attention for its eye-watering US$10.5 million prize pool and massive audience, both live and online.

Bolstered by the rise of live streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, esports has evolved into a professional sporting industry, which is set to generate US$175.8 billion in revenue in 2021. Viewership, too, is on a steady ascent – in 2020, the League of Legends World Championship became the biggest tournament by live viewership hours, with audiences tuning in to the event for a collective 91.9 million hours.

With the growing popularity of competitive esports, some gamers are now regarded as celebrities in their own right, commanding significant salaries and endorsement deals. Last year alone, as much as US$623.9 million in endorsements flowed into the esports industry from brands like Intel, Razer, Coca-Cola and Nike.

Photo credit: Garena

However, the gaming ecosystem isn’t just about esports athletes, who usually steal the limelight. In fact, there is probably much more going on behind the scenes.

“The scope and breadth of jobs that support the success of esports is very wide,” says Nick Savage, head of school at the University of Portsmouth (UOP). “This includes the analysis of games, tactics, and strategy, ensuring the security of the games and of the data, and the actual building of the games.”

Gaming education

The education industry is taking notice of the gaming scene and is looking to lend support to its future. Global organizations such as the Generation Esports, Play Ventures and the Riot Scholastic Association of America are actively working with students and teachers to impart skills and knowledge related to the field. Even traditional academia is following suit: Esports-related curriculum has begun cropping up in schools and universities around the world.

That said, many of the skills that the industry needs are already a part of traditional STEM (science, technology, mathematics, engineering) subjects. In 2009, a South Korean principal, Bang Seung Ho, pioneered a gaming department at his high school. Today, many more schools around the world have followed in his footsteps to offer software engineering classes.

Game development is impossible without software engineering and both are fundamentally about building a “robust game infrastructure,” according to Savage.

In terms of technology, video games are incredibly intricate pieces of software. Building customized engines, functions, and interfaces requires immense skill. Often, developers also have to ensure that their games have little to no lag, which is especially important for team-based games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends.

The stakes in esports are sky high and having a reliable, thoroughly-tested game is crucial. To that end, many university programs, such as UOP’s bachelor’s program in software engineering, emphasize the importance of hands-on experience. UOP’s programs, which are conducted by Kaplan Singapore, create opportunities for students to engineer games through workshops and projects, while also laying stress on cultivating knowledge around cutting edge technology such as the internet of things and artificial intelligence.

Upskilling the industry

Beyond game development, top-level esports also requires several other professional skills.

As in traditional sports, professional teams and gamers are supported by a huge cast of coaches, analysts, and managers who help analyze and improve performance. Access to specialized support helps squeeze out every possible advantage in the competitive arena.

Savage says that analytical insights extracted with the help of data science will be crucial in assessing winning strategies and developing successful tactics. “[It’s] critical to ensure that your activities are as effective and efficient as you can make them.”

Nick Savage, head of school at the University of Portsmouth / Photo credit: Kaplan

He adds that UOP’s data science and analytics bachelor’s program is structured around data-related subjects such as algorithms and database principles, which aim to optimize gaming performance.

At the same time, the exponential growth of the gaming industry has unfortunately also led to a sharp uptick in cyberattacks that target gamers as well as the platforms and publishers that host them. Commercial gaming platforms like Steam or EA Origin are prime targets for cyber criminals as these digital distribution platforms facilitate transactions worth billions of dollars. In 2016, for instance, a “Steam Stealer” attack compromised 77,000 Steam accounts.

As a largely digital industry, esports is vulnerable to such threats, and a robust approach toward integrating cybersecurity at all levels of the experience is critical. Savage says that this highlights the importance of including cybersecurity skills in game development.

This is why UOP’s cybersecurity and forensics program includes modules that address the ever-evolving threats from hackers, he goes on to say. He believes that these skills will become increasingly important as the esports industry continues to get bigger and more lucrative.

Skills in demand

Gaining more and more legitimacy as time goes on, the esports industry is projected to be worth US$1.6 billion by 2024. Given the huge potential for growth in the industry, there has already been a massive spike in the number of game development studios and related jobs over the last decade. The New England Institute of Technology estimates that demand for these roles will grow by 9.3% between 2016 and 2025.

As the gaming industry develops further, it is likely to create even more jobs not only for developers but also artists, writers, engineers, and marketers, all of whom play key roles in bringing to life the games that form the foundation of the vertical.

That said, Savage adds that the skills that the gaming industry values are also applicable in other industries, suggesting that students pursuing their interests in gaming may find other opportunities elsewhere.

“Data science, cyber security, and software engineering are likely to become a core part of every business – regardless of the size of its digital footprint – as it leverages technology to ensure that it maintains a competitive edge,” he notes.

Kaplan Singapore awards a number of degrees in partnership with the University of Portsmouth (UOP), which is one of the top universities in the United Kingdom, with an excellent reputation for quality educators and high levels of student satisfaction.

Kaplan/UOP offer programs across a number of subjects, including data science, cybersecurity, software engineering, accounting and finance, which are designed to give students the skills and opportunities they need to build a strong career in the gaming industry and beyond.

To find out more about the programs offered by Kaplan/UOP, visit its website.

This content was produced by Tech in Asia Studios, which connects brands with Asia’s tech community. Learn more about partnering with Tech in Asia Studios.