One aspect of modern culture going from strength to strength is the professional sports industry, as can be seen in the explosion of ways to follow games and events. Whereas football teams would once be supported only by their local community, the more famous now have extensive followings worldwide – and international events such as the Olympics or Wimbledon can dominate social media for their duration.

And if such traditional and long-running events have seen their profile boosted, the impact has been even more dramatic for a form which was seen as a fringe activity even ten years ago. Because, in the age of the internet, when playing games online is the norm for a majority of younger gamers, it’s only logical that professional esports players should rise to rival their on-field counterparts.

Indeed, the esports sector as a whole has seen a 30% increase in viewers in just one year, with no signs of slowing down. And the fact that much of this audience is made up of younger people is a sign the market will only grow further. So what’s behind this incredible success story?

It’s easier to get involved

The first factor is obvious the first time you see an e-sports team in the flesh. Traditional athletes have to hone their physique toward elite performance (and, indeed, some sports are only open to particular body shapes – try getting anywhere in basketball if you’re not unusually tall). In comparison, e-sports are all about hand-eye coordination, reaction times, and strategy – all of which are much easier for people with average bodies to master through enough practice.

What’s more, the basic equipment to get started is relatively cheap and standardised. Pros may pay for high-performance tech, but it’s unlikely to give them the same advantage as a precision-tooled racquet might.

Diversity of game types

In trying to understand esports’ rise, one shouldn’t compare it to one sport (like tennis or formula one) in particular. The point of esports is that the term covers an immense (and ever-expanding) range of game types. From the digital versions of existing team sports to first-person shooters or real-time strategy games, the esports industry arguably offers a much wider array of experiences than physical sports ever could.

And what’s more, even amateur players can easily play against other enthusiasts online (whether friends or strangers), and this also reinforces their investment.

Increasing spectacle

The history of gaming is, in part, a story of ever-evolving graphics – but it’s only in the past decade that their visuals have really started to challenge other types of mass media. In fact, it’s pretty clear that Hollywood films are now as likely to borrow stylistically from games as the other way around.

And it’s not just detail that matters here – because these are virtual experiences, they offer much more flexible interfaces, meaning the options of how to watch are much greater than in a physical environment. Watch from above the action, alongside it – or even from the POV of a particular player. When this is combined with game experiences that are impossible in real life – like a mass gunfight on an alien planet, for example – it’s hard to beat.

Better coverage

Of course, a big factor in how e-sports is growing now is that some far-sighted media companies saw the boom before it hit, and invested in building the networks where it’s now shared so widely.

Today, it’s probably easier to see esports than any traditional team game. You’re only ever a few clicks from amateurs sharing compilations of their best moments on YouTube – to more experienced gamers streaming live on Twitch – and now, the polished coverage (including analysis) offered by ESPN and its competitors.

Games as a social activity

Perhaps most importantly, though, esports is an activity in which viewers are much more likely to also be players than fans who fill stadiums in the real world. It’s also notable that everyone who streams a game will have a similar experience to anyone else, whereas where you sit (or where you can afford to sit) in a physical venue can affect the quality of sightlines wildly.

And, when combined with an online interface which allows comments and chats – even with the players themselves, sometimes – the viewers have a much bigger impact on the event than in traditional settings. And when even the highest-ranking e-sports players are much more accessible to the fans – it all adds up.