The gaming industry, in all its glory, has no end in sight, and with new developments and technologies being created every day, it will continue to grow and develop as long as there are gamers to play games. One branch of this massive industry that is rapidly growing is esports (electronic sports).
Esports are becoming so popular that some games, such as League of Legends, have leagues that rival traditional sports with millions of dollars in prize money and corporate sponsorships.
According to studies, esports offer many of the same advantages as traditional sports without physical strain. Through taking part in organized esports, one can learn about cooperation, communication, strategy, and sportsmanship.
If you want to be part of the esports world, here are some of the top 10 benefits you can expect from the industry!
Let’s dive in!
Top 10 Esports Benefits
1. Social Development
2. Better Health
3. Critical thinking
4. Problem-Solving skills
5. Academic Excellence
6. Increased memory capacity
7. Scholarships
8. High school esports
9. Pathway for industry jobs
10. Job skills
1. Social Development
Esports and social behavior are positively correlated. Playing video games online is another way to communicate with others on a social level. Additionally, it was shown that playing online games can boost one’s psychological well-being when done moderately.
The COVID-19 epidemic made esports especially advantageous because they offer many of the same advantages as conventional athletics, such as sportsmanship, leadership, communication, and cooperation, without the drawbacks of travel for practices, games, tournaments, or the chance of injury.
You have the chance to become a leader in esports, which calls for more effective teamwork and social networking techniques to maintain the satisfaction of other participants. These abilities are crucial for establishing and sustaining friendships in the outside world, especially in institutions like schools and workplaces.
2. Better Health
There are numerous benefits of esports related to health. The research found that esports competitors engage in far more regular physical activity.
Esports boost mood and heart rhythm, which suggests that they also help people manage stress. Video games have been used in treatment for more than ten years due to the connection—not a causative relationship—that numerous unrelated studies have found between them and anxiety.
The entertainment value of video games is high. You feel good after playing games because dopamine is released. You are given a challenge in video games, and you get rewarded for succeeding, which makes you feel competent. A flow state, akin to meditation, can be induced by playing video games.
3. Critical thinking
In esports, competitors face challenging issues that require them to come up with answers and implement them. Players are frequently provided with various options, forcing them to make decisions quickly. Crucial critical thinking skills are sharpened during this process.
You might not be aware of esports potential to enhance critical thinking. Players participating in competitive gaming and esports must continuously process and analyze vast amounts of information to make split-second decisions.
4. Problem-Solving skills
Those who actively participate in video games have a far higher probability of overcoming complicated psychological problems than kids who do not.
Have you heard the phrase “practice makes perfect” before? So practicing problem-solving will improve your skills, and gaming is a terrific, quick approach to tackling many difficulties.
Thinking ahead is another part of problem-solving. By planning, you can avoid running into issues similar to resolving problems that could arise in the future.
5. Academic Excellence
Esports participants have been proven to have solid average GPAs and more substantial interest in STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math) courses. Esports enables kids to interact with their schools and fellow students.
According to research that appeared in the New York Journal of Psychology, FactorReactor pupils exhibited a mindset that was very receptive to learning.
The researchers also discovered that individuals who played cooperatively showed an enhanced motivation to learn, which supports the findings of the first study we described above.
6. Increased memory capacity
Esports can enhance your cognitive abilities and memory. Playing video games forces you to make snap judgments, improving your decision-making abilities. Playing video games is supposed to enhance memory and aid in academic performance.
It is a type of mental workout that encourages increased concentration and focus. According to studies, playing games frequently helps people’s memories.
7. Scholarships
Today, there are Esports scholarship programs at institutions. Similar to specific programs, these occasionally run out of the college’s athletic departments.
Due to the restricted number of grass soccer scholarships available, many players may have a better chance of receiving significant college scholarships by focusing on Esports.
To aid in their discovery, all players who take part in our leagues will be included in a national database for esports scholarships.
8. High school esports
High schools are already beginning to recognize the possibilities in esports as varsity esports in colleges continue to rise. Players now compete in high school esports leagues because esports in high schools have evolved from casual gaming groups to intense competition.
The advantages for high school esports players are comparable to those of any other sport or extracurricular activity: discipline, commitment, goal setting, and socializing.
Communication is crucial in team-based esports games and mastering these abilities in high school will benefit players for the rest of their lives.
9. Pathway for industry jobs
It’s okay to strive to become a professional player if you have a passion for competitive gaming and esports. Esports is a business that needs many hands working behind the scenes. The following is a list of prospective careers in esports:
- Shout caster
- Graphic Designer
- Streamer
- Video Editor
- Production Manager
- Social Media Manager
- Esports Coach
- Event Coordinator
- Esports photographer
Read More: 9 Best Esports Careers
You’ll have an advantage when looking into additional esports opportunities if you have experience playing competitive video games.
Employers will value your insider perspective because it will show that you have networked with others in the industry and have also learned what it takes to be part of the esports industry rather than just watching it from the outside.
10. Job skills
Playing video games can help you develop decision-making and creative thinking skills that will help you in the workplace when you hunt for a job and rise in your company and industry. These skills include experimentation and scenario planning. Experimentation and scenario preparation are some of these abilities.