This fascinating new book lifts the lid on the rapidly growing esports industry to examine its human dimension, exploring the career paths, performance and wellbeing of esports players, as well as the marketing, media and venue strategies that can keep fans engaged across the life course.

The book introduces the fundamentals of esports for the reader who may not have prior knowledge, including key concepts and terminology. Drawing on cutting-edge research from psychology, high performance, business and management, the book explores key issues in contemporary esports, including skill development, health and fitness, career transitions, live streaming, sponsorship, consumer behaviour, and social identity in esports, as well as looking at special populations, from parents of esports players to older people active in esports. Every chapter opens with a thought-provoking question and contains real-world case studies from around the world, as well as the voices of industry professionals.

Offering a unique set of perspectives on esports and adding depth to the reading list for any esports course, this is essential reading for any student, researcher or practitioner looking to better understand the esports industry.

Hee Jung Hong is Senior Lecturer in Sport at the University of Stirling, UK. Her research interests include career transitions in sport, dual careers of athletes, athletes’ career development and management, athletes’ welfare and wellbeing, as well as the application of sport psychology in esports.

Sungkyung Kim is Lecturer in Sport Management at the University of Stirling, UK. His expertise lies in sport marketing and sport policy. His research focuses on the innovativeness of sports fan behaviour (e.g., technology acceptance) and policy public relations in managing mega sport events (e.g., government-public relationships).