Perceptions of esports and esports athleticism among gamers

Abstract

Esports, both as a form of sport and a plausible, legitimate career path, face strongly polarized views, providing a unique context for investigating the sense-making and perceptions of people across a variety of cohorts in relation to this phenomenon. This study explores particularly how gamers, defined here as individuals familiar with esports but not as athletes, perceive and make sense of esports and related careers. We gathered qualitative data through an open-ended questionnaire among 156 participants (83% male), representing 33 countries. The majority of participants were primarily situated in North America and Europe. Thematic analysis revealed four major themes in the perceptions of esports: Competitive Professional Gaming, Accessible and Inclusive Entertainment, Cultural Phenomenon and Lifestyle, and Economic and Industry Dynamics. For esports athletic careers, five themes emerged: Professionalism and Skill Development, Economic Viability and Livelihood, Instability and Sacrifice, Public Perception and Legitimacy, and Diversity of Roles. Our findings, by offering insights from the amateur perspective, extend existing research on esports and esports athletic careers. We highlight that esports is not only seen as a competitive domain and a form of entertainment with great cultural impact but also as an inclusive space and an industry with considerable economic potential. This study also contributes to the understanding of esports as a legitimate and viable career choice and delineates perceptions surrounding esports athletic careers. Finally, this study emphasizes the need for further research to explore more diverse perspectives on esports, aiming to delineate more clearly the distinction between professional and amateur esports athletes.