The Evolution of eSports: From Hobby to Global Industry

In recent years, eSports has evolved from a niche activity into a dynamic and rapidly expanding global industry, characterized by the convergence of technological innovation, digital culture, business models, and academic inquiry. Competitive video gaming now engages millions of viewers worldwide, alongside professional teams, sponsors, and streaming platforms, while its economic and cultural significance is increasingly positioned alongside that of traditional sports.

An increasing number of young people are engaging with eSports not merely as a form of leisure, but as a potential field of academic study and professional development. Career pathways within this domain extend beyond players and coaches to include analysts, event organizers, and communication specialists. Such growth underscores the need for critical and systematic scholarly examination of the phenomenon: which psychological and physiological factors influence player performance? How are sustainable business models within eSports constructed and maintained? What role does eSports occupy within university environments and the broader contemporary media ecosystem?

Readers are invited to approach eSports as a complex and inherently interdisciplinary phenomenon, situated at the intersection of engineering, data analytics, management, communication, and the social sciences. The recommended literature offers a structured basis for analyzing the competitive gaming landscape, encompassing topics ranging from reaction time and team dynamics to strategic management and global market development.

Engagement with academic literature enables readers not only to deepen their understanding of the structural and developmental aspects of eSports, but also to critically evaluate its future trajectories and its position within the contemporary landscape of technology and innovation.

Books can be borrowed for home use through the VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library.

Once you receive a notification that your request is ready, please collect the items at the designated location: the Central Library (1st floor hall) or the faculty reading room.