An article in VentureBeat defines “the spark” as to what happens when creativity runs free. It’s the lightning-fast exchange of excitement, ideas and innovation. And, there’s one virtual world that’s been creating sparks for decades: esports.
The esports industry has discovered how to keep people engaged in virtual environments better than any other industry. Today, esports are everywhere. Schools are incorporating them into their curriculum. States are competing to build the most impressive esports arenas. Even consumer tech companies such as Peloton are adding gaming as a priority to their product roadmaps. Schools, states and companies know that the future of business is virtual, and esports is the model for how to do virtual right.
Around 65% of American adults play video games on a regular basis. Even more impressive, Twitch users spend an average of 95 minutes per day watching someone else playing video games.
Many of us struggle to spend 15 to 20 minutes on a Zoom call, but will happily spend hours per day playing or watching video games. There is no problem finding the spark in virtual worlds. It’s just a matter of knowing where to look.
Esports are so engaging precisely because they ask you to do more, not less. By requiring gamers to utilize so many different skill sets, video games force players to access more of their brains, creating higher levels of engagement and immersion. This complete immersion into virtual worlds will serve as the model for the future of work.
Esports has been a catalyst for something even bigger: the metaverse. The metaverse is all about experiences, and the experience-driven economy is here to stay.
For business leaders looking to succeed in this virtual-first world, it’s time to take a lesson from esports. In many ways, esports has proven that virtual doesn’t have to be boring. To do virtual successfully, you must cultivate the spark.
