A third (32%) of people in the UK would now rather become an esports pro gamer than a sports star, a figure that rises to roughly half (49%) of those aged under 35.
The findings document the rise of pro gaming in the UK. They show that half of us have now watched some form of esports, rising to almost two-thirds (62%) of men and nearly three-quarters (72%) of 18 to 24-year-olds.
For those who would rather find esports stardom than within sports, the lure ranges from the reduced physical strain (37%) to the perceived requirements for more mental skill in competitive gaming (20%).
For some (28%), the prize money on offer is the main draw, with the majority (59%) believing esports prize purses will outweigh many sports winnings within a decade.
Two-fifths of those surveyed can now name at least one pro gaming competitor, with one in 10 recognising five or more.
The study was carried out online between August 31st and September 1st 2022 by Mortar Research among 2,010 adults living in the UK.
The survey has been released ahead of the IWC Schaffhausen iRacing Esports Sim Challenge, which will see two teams racing virtually on the Silverstone racetrack on November 17th 2022 at IWC’s new boutique at Battersea Power Station.
“I always try to focus on the task at hand and not the pressure. Then, if you make mistakes, it’s a chance to recognise what went wrong and not do it again.”
Jarno Opmeer, Mercedes
One team will be led by British Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One driver George Russell, the other by Dutch Mercedes-AMG Petronas esports team driver and two-time F1 Esports Pro Series Drivers’ Champion Jarno Opmeer.
UK gamers can register for the event and will have the chance to be selected to race for one of the teams. The challenge will also be broadcast globally on Twitch.
The news comes after F1 announced plans to open an F1 Arcade in London with its own ‘digital ecosystem’.
To mark the official launch of the challenge, George Russell and Jarno Opmeer got behind the wheel of the team’s simulator at its headquarters in Brackley to test their driving skills on the iconic Silverstone racetrack.
George Russell said: “Marginal gains in a race are everything. Suppose you can gain 50 milliseconds at every corner, equating to a whole second in a lap. So, if you think you are way back or off-pace, break it down corner by corner, and psychologically, it makes things slightly easier. Whilst I won’t be able to make it to the challenge in person as I’ll be in Abu Dhabi ahead of the race weekend, I can’t wait to cheer on my team from the sidelines.”
Jarno Opmeer added: “Staying focused for the full duration of the race is very hard; think about your strategy and your time over your competitors. I always try to focus on the task at hand and not the pressure. Then, if you make mistakes, it’s a chance to recognise what went wrong and not do it again.”
More information about the IWC Schaffhausen iRacing Esports Sim Challenge can be found here.
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
