The esports industry is a bit of a beast that never stops growing. Each year, it’s becoming increasingly impressive, valuable, and populated with fans and competitors. There are hundreds of millions of esports enthusiasts globally, and it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry that’s turning skilled gamers into rockstar personalities.
But the growth of esports is hiding something that’s not often talked about but always lurks in the background. As the industry becomes increasingly expansive and takes on a more international visage, those representing their countries on the biggest stages in gaming are finding themselves placed under immense stress, and it’s taking a toll.
In a recent world-first study, the notion of performance under pressure was explored at length.
The Growth of National Esports
In the last few years, we’ve seen some large-scale tournaments surface with a more traditional approach to global competition. For instance, the Asian Games, the Esports Olympics, the Esports Nations Cup, and even game-specific tournaments like the PUBG Nations Cup.
Of course, not all of them pan out, and we’ve seen some of them fall short of delivering anything at all, but the concept is becoming stronger every year.
In a new study by the University of Stirling, a keen and increasingly important topic was explored, focusing on the mental stress accrued by competing on a stage and representing not just an organization, but a country.
RELATED: Inside Adamas, The Team Taking the CDL to the Next Level
By sitting down with South Korean esports players, all of whom participated in the 2022 Asian Games in China, experts were able to identify and analyze key themes centered around ’emotional distress.’
Dr Hee Jung Hong, an associate professor at the University of Stirling, explained the concept:
Esports is entering a defining period in its history. As it becomes increasingly recognised within the international sporting system, players are no longer simply competing for themselves or their teams – they are representing their countries on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.
Our research shows that while this brings enormous pride and recognition, it also creates significant psychological demands. If esports is to continue its rapid growth as an international sport, governance, player welfare and mental health support must evolve alongside it.
It’s an extremely apt observation. We’ve seen, particularly in recent years, esports organizations onboarding development coaches, physical trainers, sports therapists, and yes, psychiatrists, to help players keep their emotions and bodies in check. The age-old stigma of gamers being overweight, unhealthy shut-ins has died, and these athletes are (mostly) required to keep themselves in peak condition.
- Fancy yourself an esports expert? Place your predictions with a $20 deposit at Polymarket and receive a $50 bonus!
At the largest tournaments in the business, you’ll see psychological support being offered, along with healthcare services, media coaching, and performance analysis. Quite simply, esports athletes are becoming increasingly aligned with traditional sports athletes.
The result of the study was a comprehensive evidence pack that governments, event organizers, and policymakers can lean on to ensure they’re providing a sustainable and athlete-centered future for esports, helping these young competitors on their journey to stardom.
Do you think more needs to be done to safeguard the minds of young esports competitors? Let us know your thoughts on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming Esports, check out the latest on Sergio Aguero’s drug trafficking allegations, and for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
More from Grant Taylor-Hill
Comments