Why Are the U.S. Not The Champions of eSports?

Two decades ago, nobody would have dared admit that PC or console games qualify as a sport. However, since those early days as a niche hobby, eSports have grown not only into a booming industry but a competitive arena.

Judging by the revenue and participation numbers, it may start rivaling the World Cup. And the U.S. is equally lagging with results on the esports scene, as it's falling behind on the World Cup.

In 2021 the US market brought in 243 million dollars, nearly a quarter of the global industry share, which peaked at 1 billion dollars in 2021. Despite the continuously increasing revenues and viewership numbers, U.S. teams still need help to reach the top of the championship podium on the international scene.

The U.S. Lags Behind the Rest of the World

Gaming is no longer just a pastime; millions of players compete in esports tournaments such as League of Legends, DOTA 2, Fortnite, CS:GO, and many more. While most players irregularly participate in leagues and championships, some gamers have made eSports a career path.

And professional competitors number in the thousands, with the USA contributing 8,000 professional gamers, which makes it a leader by a wide margin, considering China comes in second place with 2,000 professional players. While the other big players in the eSports scene, such as Sweden, South Korea, Sweden, and Canada, collectively have slightly over 1,000 pro players.

Yet, despite the numerical superiority in the professional circle, USA teams are regularly outmatched by their opponents. In the decade-long history of the League of Legends World Championship, Americans have yet to manage to walk away from the most-watched esports event with a title. Pinpointing the exact reason for this discrepancy is tough. The debate is still raging about why some countries consistently produce world-class competitive players.

Varying Attitudes Towards eSports Talents

Although a global phenomenon, the power balance on the eSports scene is tilting to one side, with South Korea having a respectable success record on the international stage. The country is widely recognized as one of the superpowers among the countries active on the eSports scene.

This is not by chance, as experts think the consistent results stem from their domestic culture, especially the sense of pride as one of the birthplaces of eSports. The Korean government treats players as professional athletes, and the industry at large is willing to support their efforts with sponsorships, enabling many young enthusiasts to embark on this career. Tournaments have been regularly televised for over 20 years, and players see it as their duty to represent their country as best as possible.

Some believe that that feeling of unity of purpose is lacking among US players, where individuality is more prominent. And US players indeed have better results when competing solo. Plus, on U.S. soil, the entire eSports endeavor is still treated with any specific strategy, such as the measures implemented in South Korea and China.

In the latter case, since 2003, China has recognized eSports players as professional athletes. A step that the U.S. followed in 2013 when it recognized eSports players as professional athletes.

The Power Balance May Be Swing in US Favor

There is no doubt the potential is on the U.S. side. The core of the game developers is based in America. With nearly 66% of Americans identifying as gamers, there is a large pool of potential players to challenge Asian dominance. Viewership of eSports is also on the rise, with the latest estimates showing that there will be nearly 29.6 million monthly eSports viewers in the U.S. in 2022.

Another factor contributing to the rise of gaming is US online casinos, which are helping recruit new players, contrary to popular belief that both industries are competitors. Both iGaming and eSports are developing in parallel, making large leaps with each new technological breakthrough that facilitates playing online.

The legalization of online betting will create spillover between players of the two sectors, creating a new impetus for growth.

Final Thoughts

Although the U.S. has not claimed titles, it's not in an inferior position, despite the lack of triumphs at the World Championships. The infrastructure is in place, and the tide will definitely change in upcoming years.

As the revenue numbers spike up, companies will double down on sponsorship, and a more regulated eSports market in America will start showing results.

This is backed up by projections about the growth of revenues and the number of users. Past failures will only fuel future results, yet it's hard to expect that other countries will give up without a fight.