Despite being an island, the UK is quite a force to be reckoned with in esports – British esports may not be on par with, say, South Korea, but they are still a global power. In fact, esports in the UK are finding more and more support even from official sides – some universities have even started offering esports curriculums.
A grassroots paradise
More so than in many other countries, the British esports scene is dominated by grassroots organisations. There are countless small to mid-sized organisations aiming to pave the way for talented young people into the esports industry – and they are seeing quite a bit of success.
Overseeing them is the British esports association – a not-for-profit that promotes esports in the UK while also pushing for high standards in the industry. They even have their own women in esports committee that aims to foster the often-neglected talent of female esports players.
Studying esports in the UK
Though not unique in this, not many countries offer esports as an actual educational path – the UK is definitely exceptional in that regard. Multiple universities and a number of colleges offer esports-related courses – though they usually focus on working in the industry rather than playing games as pro gamers.
In fact, working within the British esports industry is definitely a popular dream with many young people – becoming a pro-gamer on the other hand is still viewed somewhat negatively by some. However, the legitimisation from official sources is definitely helping to curb the stigma against British esports that remains.
Outlook: Positive
Already, esports in the UK have brought forth a number of talented players and even teams – the London Spitfires, for example, are a top-tier team in the Overwatch League, and one of only a few European OWL teams. Of course, esports in the UK are more than just Overwatch – skilled players can be found in games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, FIFA, and more.
There is also a plethora of smaller esports events that are taking place over the country – and they add up. British esports make for one of the top ten esports markets in the world – closely behind giants like the US and South Korea.
Read More Around the World:
- Around the World: esports in the US
- Around the World: Esports in Japan
- Around the World: Esports in South Korea
As always, keep it here with EarlyGame for more news in the world of esports, gaming and the world of geekery. Also ring that bell on YouTube for some fun videos!
