Where Can Esports Take You?

When people hear the word “Esports”, they often focus on the game-playing aspect of the activity, and don’t realised what other skills are being developed.  

Sure, some young players will turn pro and play in big tournaments, and many gamers and game enthusiasts go on to work inside game development companies, and computer hardware makers.  But the skills young people are building in esports are starting to show patterns of leading to unexpected (and interesting!) careers. 

For young people growing up with games, Esports can be the beginning of something much bigger: A pathway into technology, entertainment, business, media, design, and entrepreneurship.

In fact, some of the most interesting careers connected to gaming have nothing to do with becoming a professional player.

From Minecraft to Filmmaking

Minecraft is a great example.

For millions of young people, Minecraft isn't simply a game. It is a creative platform where they build worlds, tell stories, make videos and collaborate with other people.

There is an emerging path where YouTube content creators going on from creating Minecraft and other game content, to directing Hollywood blockbusters.  This past summer's #4 and #7 films were both directed by YouTubers, with the #4 film, Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons.  Minecraft clearly had a direct impact on his visual style and the set design of his film as well as his earlier online content.  Film studios are currently looking to YouTube for more creators who can replicate this success, like Mark Fischbach who made a film that grossed $51 million on a $3 million budget.

The important lesson isn't that playing Minecraft automatically leads to Hollywood.

It's that creating something in a game can develop the same kinds of skills used in the film industry: Storytelling, visual composition, editing, directing, teamwork and understanding an audience.

The Skills Matter

Perhaps the most interesting part is what young people learn along the way.

Competitive gaming can involve communication, strategic thinking, problem-solving, leadership, resilience, teamwork and decision-making under pressure.

Running a team or tournament adds organisation, project management, marketing and business skills.

And building in games such as Minecraft can encourage creativity, design and spatial thinking.  Minecraft also helps young people develop early architectural and engineering skills, leading to careers in those areas.

These are not “gaming skills” that disappear when someone closes the laptop. They are skills that can travel with a person into other careers.

So, where can esports lead?

Almost anywhere.

Professional player and Coach, of course. Game designer and Software Developer are also obvious pathways. But now we’re seeing Filmmaker, Entrepreneur, Air Traffic Controller, Talent Manager, Event Producer, Marketing Executive, Sports Psychologist, Stock Analyst.

And perhaps a career that doesn't even exist yet.

That is why at JUMP League, we don't see esports simply as playing games.

We see it as a place where young people can discover what they are good at, develop real-world skills and start imagining where those skills might take them next.

The game might be the starting point. Where it leads is up to them.