Gaming and esports can have a positive impact on your wellbeing.

There are over 3 billion gamers worldwide, and I have been one of them. However, the gaming world has changed drastically over the last 25 years, largely thanks to the internet becoming more accessible. Whether it’s mobile, console or desktop, gaming has one of the biggest user bases in the world, and a market size larger than movies and music combined! Official tournaments of the most popular games can register millions of viewers and professional esports teams can receive millions of dollars in sponsorships and prize funds for competing at the highest level. With the ever growing popularity of esports, recently, the International Olympics Committee announced Olympics Esports Week, June 22-25, 2023, creating a virtual series of physical sports for e-athletes to compete in.

What is esports?

Esports, also known as electronic sports, refers to competitive video gaming, often played at a professional level. Esports typically involves games where individuals or teams compete against each other in organized tournaments or leagues, with the goal of winning a prize or trophy. Esports can involve a wide range of games, including, real-time strategy games, racing games, sports simulations, first-person shooters, and many more. The popularity of esports has grown significantly in recent years, with many professional teams and players competing in major events around the world, and millions of fans tuning in to watch live broadcasts of the games.

There are now esports federations in nearly every country supporting and providing guidance to ensure gaming is for good and used to promote positive outcomes. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are heavily investing into gaming and creating numerous workforce and economic growth opportunities for the future, with the Middle East set to become a global leader in this exponentially growing market space.

The misconceptions and the benefits of gaming

Gaming has been a popular form of entertainment for decades, but there are still many misconceptions about its impact on wellbeing. Some people believe that gaming is a waste of time, that it promotes a sedentary lifestyle, and that it can lead to addiction and other negative outcomes. However, recent research has shown that gaming can actually have a positive impact on mental health and wellbeing, especially when there is a focus on purpose and outcomes, and with time management involved. In this article, we will explore the ways in which gaming can benefit wellbeing, and provide some evidence-based insights into the positive effects of gaming.