Esports

Esports turns competitive video games into organized spectator competition. Players or teams meet under defined rules in leagues, tournaments, qualifiers, and championship events, often with coaches, broadcasters, sponsors, prize money, and live audiences. Not every ranked match is automatically esports; the term usually implies a structured competitive ecosystem around a game. Unlike traditional sports, the publisher controls the underlying software and intellectual property, so balance patches, licensing, servers, and tournament permissions can reshape the competition. Professional scenes range from global franchised leagues to community-run events.