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eSports has the potential to become even greater than physical athletic sport as it is gaining an insane amount of substantial media coverage, athletes can now start their careers earlier and the potential to earn a living is forming in front of our eyes. https://twitter.com/twoscooters/status/1323767006961782785
And with that growth comes new money and folks who want to invest in this multi billion dollar industry.
Unfortunately, we are already seeing exploitation:
> TFUE lawsuit with FaZe clan over lost & undue wages)
> Lack of standardization in player contracts (more on this)
Unfortunately, we are already seeing exploitation:
> TFUE lawsuit with FaZe clan over lost & undue wages)
> Lack of standardization in player contracts (more on this)
With the lawsuit, it was unprecedented because we hadn’t seen a trial escalate between two entities of fame within the esports space—thankfully it started a conversation around exploitation and who benefits vs who doesn’t.
With the lack of a player’s union (something the esports bar association has discussed the economics of), wages aren’t standardized and many players who want to play and compete only, have to resort to other means to make a living wage.
As result, player contracts are not always equitable and your earnings from tournaments and other events gets diluted and worse, if you aren’t a high caliber player, you’re most likely working as an independent with a shit contract.
And that’s surface. Not to mention the entire ecosystem from coaches, to analysts, broadcasters, team staff to the actual game developers and their publishers—the gaming industry overall has the same issues of greed, exploitative labor, lack of diversity like regular sports.
How does it get fixed?
A players and esports staff unions would be a great start to build an equitable relationship between team owners, league owners, game developers and publishers.
A players and esports staff unions would be a great start to build an equitable relationship between team owners, league owners, game developers and publishers.
The sense of security will allow players to really sink deep into their craft and improve with their team—may even prevent the massive amount of player churn teams already face because of the pressures to win.
Winning is great and defines good from great, but if a player is being exploited, asked to perform their best every day even though they can be replaced with a snap? That can take a toll on the mental.
Publishers and developers who earn massive amounts (re Riot Games grossing $1.5billion from League of Legends and had more viewership than the Super Bowl) should cut executive salaries and pay workers in their competitive scene a living wage.
So to answer your question, we are already seeing player exploitation although the space is rapidly growing and new structures are forming, it’s been a challenge for the industry to find methods of standardization to ensure fairness and a players union, workers union would help.
