Electric sports, or eSports as it is popularly known, has grown from a niche hobby into a multi-billion euro global industry. The history of the professional eSports in the United Kingdom has been fascinating. It has evolved from modest grassroots matches in the 90s to a large-scale international event many anticipate by 2024. Many factors have influenced these changes over time. Let’s trace the history of professional eSports in the UK and highlight some key contributors.
The 1990s
These were the early days of competitive gaming in the United Kingdom. At this time, the term, eSports was not much used. People preferred to play games in arcades and compete for scores on then-famous games like Street Fighter II, Mortal Kombat, and Tekken. During this time, the home console and PC gaming market also gained traction, especially through first-person shooters (FPS) and real-time strategy (RTS) games like Quake (1996) and StarCraft (1998).
These games launched the first UK communities centred on competitive gaming. However, this is not to say that players in this country hadn’t experienced game competitions prior. They often participated in international matches, but had few formalized tournaments within the country. A notable first major eSports event was the Red Annihilation tournament in 1998. Although it was held in the United States, this event signalled the beginning of these games as a legitimate form of competition.
The early 2000s
This period saw the rise of LAN (local area network) parties and online gaming in the UK. It offered players the chance to connect their PCs and compete together in the same room. LAN events like iSeries (Insomnia Gaming Festival), which began in 1999, became major in the UK cybersports scene. Thereby become a forerunner for competitions in games like Counter-Strike, Unreal Tournament, and Call of Duty.
During this time, professional cybersports emerged. As platforms like Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) and ClanBase became famous in the UK, online competitions in games like Quake III Arena and Warcraft III got huge participation. At this time, British players also began to make names for themselves in the international stage. Craig “Tosspot” Baty, one of the UK’s first professional eSports commentators, and UK-based teams like 4Kings and Dignitas became known in international competitions, marking the UK’s entry into the global eSports scene.
Mid-2000s to Early 2010s
During this era, growth and personalization were achieved as the UK scene became more organized. The availability of platforms like Twitch reshaped the way British leveraged eSports and offered both players and teams a chance to showcase their skills to a wider reach. Online streaming brought cybersports to the limelight as the masses could now easily access their favourite teams and players. Games like Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Dota 2 experienced remarkable growth and became more professionalized.
Fnatic (a UK-based organization) became one of the world’s premier eSports organizations and won the inaugural League of Legends World Championship in 2011. On the other hand, Ryan Hart (a UK-based professional in fighting games) won variousinternational championships in Street Fighter and became one of the greatest fighting game players of all time.
2010s
This decade brought tons of amazing changes to the UK cybersports landscape. With its book, stakeholders began to see the potential for growth. The realization birthed the establishment of the British Esports Association in 2016 to promote and support players, teams, and organizations at all levels in the UK. In no time, cities like London and Birmingham became hubs for cybersports, with spaces like the Copper Box Arena and the NEC to hold international tournaments.
The Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2 majors were also hosted by the Excel Centre in London. This brought much tractions of spectators, online and offline. The younger generation of British gamers also became attracted to battle royale games like Fortnite and Apex Legends, giving the country more popularity. A good example was when Kyle “Mongraal” Jackson became one of the top Fortnite players in 2019.
2020s
While the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 disrupted some aspects of the global economy, it serves as a significant accelerant for the eSports industry. UK-based broadcasters and media outlets began to report cybersports events like the F1 Series extensively. During this time, major football clubs like Manchester City and West Ham United expanded their eSports divisions, fusing gaming into their wider brand strategies. In 2023, the London Esports Hub was founded to support the industry with facilities, partnerships, and resources and ensure they had all they needed to compete globally.
By 2024, eSports in the United Kingdom has already been fairly solidified as a legitimate industry. What’s more? Universities now offer eSports degrees and scholarships. All of which further reflects the growing acceptance of Cybersports as a career. Players and establishments like Fnatic and Excel Esports in the UK have continued to compete at the highest level globally.
A Well-Positioned Key Player in the Global Esports Industry
The UK eSports industry has experienced gradual but steady growth. It evolved dramatically from its unpopular days into this widely acknowledged and accepted era. However, this is not the end, as the UK scene transforms with every investment, infrastructure, and talent developed. With these, we can say the future of the UK eSports scene looks brighter than ever.