Performance-Influencing Factors in Esports: A Review

Abstract

With the development of the video game industry during the last decade, esports has rapidly grown in global culture and industry. Fundamentally different from traditional physical sports, esports heavily relies on digital technology and is facilitated by human-computer interaction. While players' performance has been a central topic in esports research, there still lacks a comprehensive synthesis of the factors contributing to better esports performance in formal matches and training sessions. Therefore, this study systematically reviews the extant literature related to factors influencing esports players’ performance.Seven themes are identified from 21 reviewed quantitative articles including equipment-related, nutritional supplements, individual attributes, training, team-related, environmental, and geopolitical factors. The effects of these esports performance-influencing factors are further synthesized and discussed based on empirical evidence. Furthermore, we propose theoretical, thematic, and methodological agendas for future esports studies. The findings of this study contribute to building a foundation for a systematic understanding of esports performance.