Evolution of eSportsHow a Niche Past Time Is Taking the World By Storm

Foundation of eSports

eSports’ growing popularity is mirroring the rise of poker; 20 years ago few imagined Poker would become a spectator sport, but it did because of the following elements reflected in eSports’ current trajectory: 1. Poker had a massive base of players already

enjoying it online2. Invention of the hole cam enabled viewers to

see player’s hands; eSports use the spectator mode

3. Commentators narrating on-screen action to educate novices and to add a dramatic narrative

4. Distribution in the form of ESPN; Twitch is the ESPN of eSports

eSports Now

• 170 Million gamers in the US• 100’s of events around the world with prize

pools in the millions of dollars• Gaming is YouTube’s #2 category reaching

150 million UVPM; 3x growth since 2011• Number two “sport” in South Korea

$65 billion spent on gaming in 2011; expected to reach $115 billion by 2015

Further expansion of eSports popularity from Asia and Europe to N. America

Future of the Movement