Esports have exploded in popularity as hardware, graphics, and internet availability have improved. While games like League of Legends, Pokémon Unite, Dota 2, and Overwatch drive the modern scene, the foundation for esports was laid decades ago – long before these titans emerged. With the creation of competitive video gaming teams, the race to the top among pro gamers has accelerated.
Let’s explore our journey through the history of esports and how this growing industry has evolved in the twenty-first century.
Our Esports History Timeline
We have witnessed dramatic transitions in esports over several decades, fueled by waves of technological innovation. This timeline traverses numerous decades, from the early 1950s to the mainstream status esports holds today.
Let’s delve into the journey that has shaped the landscape of esports from its humble beginnings up to the present day.
The 1950s: Dawn of the Computer Era
OXO, more commonly known as tic-tac-toe, is a classic game that still enjoys popularity today. It was first released electronically in 1952 by Alexander Shafto Douglas, making it one of the earliest computer games ever created.
Tennis for Two, developed in 1958 by William Higinbotham, is another pioneering title. Its oscilloscope screen displayed a simulated tennis match, with participants using an early joystick to control their shots and clear the net.
These two releases marked the genesis of competitive gaming – an important milestone as subsequent decades built upon their breakthrough concepts.
The 1960s: Themed Games & Tournaments Emerge
The 1960s saw the esports foundation begin to solidify.
A pivotal release came in the form of “Spacewar!”, a head-to-head spaceship battle game with a competitive multiplayer mode. As an early entrant in esports tournaments, Spacewar! blazed the trail for subsequent generations and still garners recognition today – over 40 years after its initial debut.
As the 1960s drew to a close and focus shifted to the forthcoming decade, Spacewar's success signposted even more momentous events on the horizon following its triumph.
The 1970s: Tournaments Gain Traction
Advancing video game technology brought more immersive experiences and paved the way for greater exposure. As tournaments aired globally, some corporations took notice of the burgeoning viewership and popularity.
When esports first emerged, the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics marked a major event – more than twenty competitors vied for the crown.
Early competitions were often exclusive to university students. However, the 70s also represented the golden age of consoles. Magnavox Odyssey became the first home gaming system designed for television screens – a turning point in accessibility.
Additionally, the rise of arcades expanded the reach even further. Titles like Pong, Sea Wolf, Asteroids and Starfire all debuted publicly for the first time in the 1970s. With limited multiplayer functionality, high score leaderboards became a compelling way to drive engagement and skill progression.
|
Year |
Milestone |
|
1972 |
Magnavox Odyssey console released |
|
1978 |
Atari hosts first international esports championship with Football video game |
In 1978, Atari cemented its pioneer status by hosting the inaugural international esports championship around its football game, pioneering the notion of high score charts and player rankings that still continue presently.
The 1980s: Explosive Growth & Gender Disparities Emerge
The 1980s represented a booming era for the gaming scene – iconic arcade titles like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Space Invaders enraptured gamers globally. However, it also surfaced a substantial gender imbalance within the tech and gaming realms.
Despite prominent contributions from women in the earlier years, their presence sharply declined by the mid-1980s – down to just 3% in gaming by the end of the decade. This stark underrepresentation spotlighted a pressing need for greater diversity that persists as an ongoing challenge.
In the late 1970s, Asteroids and Starfire implemented another innovation – permanent high score lists where players could enshrine their gaming mastery. With limited access to computers, these performance leaderboards offered a credible benchmark for proficiency.
In 1980, Atari continued cementing its esports ascendancy by hosting the first nationwide Space Invaders tournament – garnering nearly 10,000 participants all vying for an Asteroids cabinet. This competitive format was here to stay.
Other key events in the 1980s:
● William Heineman wins the Atari-sponsored Space Invaders Championship
● Armin Stürner establishes the Atari VC Bundesliga league in 1982
Atari’s rapid expansion afforded it significant control over the market, with other companies soon moving to emulate their successful formula. These three years clearly illustrated the sizable professional potential ready to be tapped within esports.
The 1990s: Esports Comes Of Age Alongside The Internet
The 1990s bore witness to rapidly expanding internet access and connectivity – ushering in several seminal moments for the esports industry:
● Corporations like Nintendo and Blockbuster Video spot burgeoning esports as an area ripe for tournaments and competition centered around new releases.
● Iconic gaming franchises that still endure today also emerge during this period – including Pokémon, Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Sonic and Virtual Racing.
● Hardware manufacturers Sega and Nintendo release competing next-generation consoles to power the growing scene.
● Immensely influential titles such as Doom, Quake, Unreal Tournament, StarCraft and Age of Empires set new benchmarks for multiplayer gaming.
With action heating up both on and off the virtual battlefield, the stage was set for even greater heights as esports entered a new millennium.
The 2000s: MOBAs & MMORPGs Transform the Landscape
The onset of the 2000s bore witness to seismic technological strides that vaulted esports into mainstream recognition – even igniting legislative responses seeking to regulate this burgeoning industry.
Updated classic games were released on newer hardware, while video game tournaments increased in both size and frequency. Real-time strategy (RTS) titles like Age of Empires, StarCraft and Warcraft III dominated the competitive landscape.
In a hugely disruptive move, Defense of the Ancients (DotA) then took the gaming world by storm – representing the first massively successful multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title. This ushered in a new generation of professional esports athletes vying for supremacy.
The 2010s: The Age of Streaming & League of Legends
Game-streaming heavyweight Twitch ushered in a new era of accessibility for both grassroots streamers and major tournaments alike. Before long, viewership totals spiraled to 45 million and beyond – affirming the meteoric rise of esports into the mainstream consciousness.
With the launch of League of Legends (LoL) on October 27th, 2009, DotA finally had a worthy adversary that could challenge its domination. LoL rapidly captured the attention of legions of fans worldwide, becoming one of the most acclaimed pillars of the competitive scene. Its top talent were rightfully considered professional elite gamers at the pinnacle of their craft.
Owing to these tectonic shifts, new powerhouse esports quickly took shape as well – including Call of Duty, Counter-Strike and StarCraft 2. Bolstered by improved technology and booming interest, both support and sponsorships scaled new heights in tandem.
The 2020s: Streamings, Bettings & Mobile Gaming
Inevitably, new console launches will continue expanding the total addressable market – inviting new players while rewarding veteran fans with enhanced experiences. More local and international esports tournaments will emerge as a result.
Esports have also quickly gained traction within collegiate circles. Titles like Wild Rift, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Arena of Valor, Pokémon Unite and Marvel Superwar now form the vanguard – a far cry from the humble university introductions seen back in the 1970s.
The proliferation of live streams has opened the door to another lucrative avenue – esports betting. With soaring demand from viewers, both established sportsbooks and disruptive startups have found fertile ground within this burgeoning niche.
As viewership swells and revenue streams diversify, the professionalizing esports scene will also see a corresponding surge in institutional investment and sponsorships from major brands.
Closing Thoughts
From its modest beginnings in the early 1950s, the esports industry has traversed a long and winding road to reach its current station. What once represented a niche pastime for a handful of gaming enthusiasts has since transformed into a multi-billion dollar juggernaut commanding attention from audiences worldwide.
The long and storied evolution from OXO to blockbuster franchises like DotA and League of Legends perfectly encapsulates the breakneck innovation that has become synonymous with esports. While its future remains unwritten, one truth is certain – its influence upon entertainment and culture continues reaching stratospheric new heights.
FAQ
Q: What underpins the rising prominence of esports?
With its accession into university circles and ever-increasing integration with academia, students now have access to more opportunities to study esports – potentially gleaning deeper insights to carry forth as future innovators. This interplay aptly signifies the prevailing age of technology and modernism.
Q: Why will esports continue gaining momentum moving forward?
Esports has fundamentally transformed traditional sports – changing how both fans and competitors experience gaming itself. By creating an entire new business realm flush with possibilities, its ripple effects stand ready to pay dividends for generations yet to come.
Q: Can professional gaming reasonably be considered a viable career path today?
Becoming a career gamer requires no formal education or certification – players primarily rely on skill and dedication to their craft. With many gamers managing to support themselves full-time by streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, competitive gaming now provides a legitimate livelihood for talent willing to put in the hard work and perseverance needed to thrive.
