How Gen Z Puts Esports Center Stage in U.K. Entertainment
As video gaming disrupts the entertainment industry — from stage to screen to stream — Gen Z is leading the charge, seeing esports as far more than a hobby. For this generation, it’s a viable career path as well as a passion.
Tencent UK, British Esports and Ukie conducted research among U.K. Gen Zers interested in the creative and entertainment industry, and found:
-Over 40% are exploring video game-related fields
-22% are drawn to esports careers
-75% would like esports in their school curricula
For esports to thrive sustainably in the U.K., we need more partnerships, talent development and increased career awareness. Together we can unlock the full potential of this dynamic sector.
🎥 Watch our video to learn more!
#Esports#GenZ#EsportsCareers#TencentUK#TencentGames
As video game is disrupting the entertainment industry from stage to screen to stream, Gen. Z is the first generation to see E sport as a viable career path. From players to streamers and tournament organizers, they are turning a hobby into a passion and profession. How study found out that 22% of Gen. Z as prior to carrying sports and 75% wanting esports in their school curricula. But major hurdle remain. Such as financial challenges or unclear career pathways. So there are huge number of young people studying esports based programs now either at further education, college or university. Over 13 1/2 thousand young people have studied the level 3B techs and E sports over the last five years and there are now pushing 25 different universities offering degree programs linked to esports. I think the most important steps that can be taken to sort of grow in the industry and also make it more accessible has to be. Creating a talent pipeline, whether that be from universities, colleges. I think the biggest thing is there needs to be a creation of academies, organizations that have their top one teams. I think the UK is an absolutely amazing platform for the growth of esports. We've got an extraordinarily rich legacy of culture, creativity, innovation and the ties into education that mean that East Sports isn't just about entertainment, it's about genuine inspiration and thinking about the long term. And So what we need to be able to do is invest in education, infrastructure, innovation that's not only going to celebrate where we are today, but it's going to fuel that growth for generations to come. The entertainment industry has long been defined by iconic stages. Captivating screens and world renowned talents, HE Sports is emerging as the next frontier, redefining what it means to have a job in the entertainment industry. With the right initiatives, it can drive value and create jobs for the generations to come. We need to create a sustainable ecosystem in esports, building pathways both for professional players from grassroots through to the pro scene, but also sustainable ecosystem for employment. Also, there's a huge amount of transferable skills linked to the digital, creative and STEM industries that need to be recognized. The UK is one of the top five gaming markets in the world and it has the potential to become one of the global hub for his sports. By working together, we are unlocking. Watching this one, right?
Gen Z’s embrace of esports as both a passion and career path is reshaping the entertainment landscape. The demand for esports in education highlights its potential as a sustainable industry. It’s inspiring to see initiatives focusing on talent development and partnerships to unlock this dynamic sector’s full potential in the UK.
California Community College Campus Gaming Workforce Consultant | Global Connector | Instructional Design | Professor | Esports Coordinator | NASEF Superfan
Vice President | British Esports Federation
1dExciting opportunities ahead! British Esports look forward to continuing our work with Tencent into 2025 and beyond!