eSports a red hot attraction at 2018 Gamescom

Gamescom 2018 in Cologne anticipates raging interest in eSports, a medal event at the 2022 Asian Games and a 2024 Olympics attraction.

Gamescom, now in its 10th year and recognized as the world’s largest trade fair for computer and video games, also anticipates welcoming a record number of computer gamers and developers in 2018. The event set an attendance record in 2017, with some 335,000 fans and 900 companies from around the world.

eSports, the name for competitive video gaming, has reached professional status. It supports teams and leagues of gamers and fills huge arenas for tournaments that award multimillion dollar prizes.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel opened Gamescom 2017, and Germany now recognizes competitive gaming as an official sport. With international eSports attracting millions of viewers and sponsorship money, according to DW, "it makes sense for the European Union’s biggest economy to jump on board." The German broadcaster notes that South Korea, China, Russia, Italy and South Africa have taken the same course.

Competitive gaming has its own global organization, the International e-Sports Federation (IeSF). Based in South Korea, it has 46 member nations and hosts an annual world championship.

The IeSF is knocking on the door of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for official recognition of eSports. The IOC has expressed guarded interest, describing eSports in its present form as "contrary to Olympic values" because of its violent content. It has agreed to feature eSports as a demonstration event at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The IOC red line poses a dilemma for the industry. Arguably, conflict and bloodshed account for much of the appeal of the top games, which include Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends. Call of Duty boasts a World League and hosts monthly events that culminate in the Call of Duty World League Championships in August. Gamers compete for a prize pool of US $1.5 million.