Stakes soar as esports like 'Madden NFL 19' go mainstream
by David Pierson and Sam Dean, Los Angeles Times
Aug 27, 2018
4 minutes
The fatal shooting Sunday at a "Madden NFL 19" tournament in Jacksonville, Fla., cast a pall over a sport that has players battling for ever-larger prizes and has ascended so rapidly that it has piqued the interest of Olympic organizers.
Competitive video gaming is expected to grow 38 percent this year into a $900 million global industry with a worldwide audience of 380 million, according to Newzoo, an Amsterdam-based market research company.
It's a pursuit that's increasingly gaining legitimacy, with fans all over the world filling arenas to cheer and watch their favorite players. Dozens of universities offer varsity collegiate esports programs. And esports are debuting
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days