The UK’s appetite for eSports is accelerating as new research reveals that 1 in 3 would look to study eSports at University if the option was available to them.

The research, of 1,000 consumers conducted by Fluendo and OnePoll, succeeds news that Staffordshire University will launch the UK’s first degree in eSports in September 2018. The institute is considered one of the largest and best universities for games in the UK and has added the course in response to the growing demand from gaming enthusiasts looking to enter the professional arena.

The survey also revealed that budding male eSports professionals expect to make over £2,000 a year less than their female counterparts, with gamers in London demanding the highest earnings at £36k. Conversely, those in the South West would only require earnings of £27k to ditch their current profession in favour of an eSports career. These expectations, however, fail to take into consideration the potential prize funds and streaming revenue available through eSports tournaments. More than 43m unique viewers tuned in to watch the 2016 League of Legends (LoL) World Championships, making it a significantly lucrative opportunity for big brand advertising and sponsorship deals, while prize funds for the tournament saw victors receive in excess of $2m (£1.5m).

Mercè Delgado, CEO of Fluendo, commented: “The eSports industry has seen a dramatic rise in popularity over the past few years. It is expected to generate more than £1bn in global revenue by 2020 and with more than 600m people tuning in annually to watch eSports tournaments across the globe, we are confident this trend will continue with the potential earnings of professional players now exceeding many of the world’s most well-known sporting championships. It’s only a matter of time before some of the world’s leading gamers start to feature among the wealthiest sportsmen in the world.”

RiftAnalyst, which was launched by Fluendo earlier this year, is a first-of-its-kind video analysis tool designed to help League of Legends players reach their potential, by performing an in-depth analysis of matches with the objective of improving either individual or team tactics.

Delgado added, “As with all sports, making it as a professional requires dedication and we’re seeing teams employ coaches and physiotherapists, even focusing on improving their diet, all to improve their game. Players who are serious about winning tournaments need to use every tool at their disposal to improve, regardless of which eSport they are playing.”

For more information or to download Fluendo’s League of Legends video analysis tool, Rift Analyst, please visit https://riftanalyst.com/en/. The software is available in both a free and premium option costing just €3.99/month.