Let’s be honest. For many of us in the videogames ‘industry’ – the developers, the studios, the publishers – esports can often feel like a different world. It’s a scene we associate with elite professional players, massive prize pools, and competitive, multiplayer-only titles. Unless you’re making the next Valorant or League of Legends, it’s easy to dismiss it as a niche, albeit a large one, that has little relevance to your own work.
I will admit, I have largely shared that perspective. But my experience at the PHASE 25 conference, held last Friday at Murrayfield Stadium, has fundamentally challenged that view. The event, expertly organised by our friends at eRena, was a powerful reminder that the real value of esports may not be in the final tournament, but in the incredible ecosystem that surrounds, nurtures and supports it.
The revelation, for me, was that the professional, competitive play element is almost the least interesting part of the story. It’s the gateway – the Trojan horse – for a vast and diverse range of high-value skills and career pathways that are not only relevant but absolutely essential to the future of our entire creative economy.
What unfolded throughout the day was a compelling case for scholastic and grassroots esports as a practical, engaging, and powerful engine for education, skills and inclusion.
It’s all about the players – and it values games in a way which should make game developers very happy – even those not actively working on esports titles.
Crucially, this is not just about enhancing the curriculum for the students who are already engaged. For many young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds or who struggle with the formal structure of traditional education, the esports club or team can be a lifeline. It’s a space where their passion is validated, where they can re-engage with learning on their own terms, and find a sense of belonging and achievement that may be missing elsewhere in their lives.
Day one of PHASE25 was packed with insights from a host of international experts. Hearing from insiders including: Shoubna Naika-Taylor, Bubba Gaeddert, Nik Turner, Alex Hirbe, and Gavin Ferry – all of whom have extensive experience using esports to reach children and young people, was inspiring.
Together, they demonstrated a clear message: for every aspiring pro player, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of other young people learning vital skills, becoming part of a community, or finding a new way to learn in the background.
I had fallen into the trap of thinking that unless it leads directly into hands-on game development, esports doesn’t offer career outcomes that can compare with ‘the industry’. That’s incredibly short-sighted. I left the event with an entirely new appreciation of the value of games across a far broader range of outcomes.
- For the Technologists: It’s a hands-on introduction to IT, network management, and PC building. It’s applied mathematics and data analysis in understanding game metrics and team performance.
- For the Creatives: It’s live event management, broadcast production, and video editing. It’s shoutcasting and hosting, which are just another form of journalism and public speaking. It’s graphic design for team branding and social media marketing.
- For the Community Builders: It’s team management, leadership, and strategic planning. It’s the marketing and fan engagement work demonstrated by organisations like the Newcastle United Foundation, whose Gavin Ferry spoke compellingly about using esports to connect with their community in new ways.
- For Everyone: It’s communication, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, and learning from the games themselves.
(And for those with an interest and a passion, it can lead to a desire to learn how to make games.)
This, right here, is the More Than Games philosophy in action. It’s the perfect, real-world example of how the culture and technology (and a love) of games can be a catalyst for skills development that is directly transferable to almost any industry.
There’s another, more fundamental lesson here, too. The games development industry is, by its nature, focused on the act of creation. But esports is a powerful celebration of something just as important: the act of play. It puts the player(s), their skill, their dedication, and their passion firmly at the centre of the experience. It’s a valuable reminder for all of us who build these worlds that the people who inhabit them are the reason they exist.
So, what’s the takeaway for the Scottish games industry? It’s time to look again at esports. It’s time to see it not as a separate, siloed community, but as a vital part of our shared ecosystem. It is a talent pipeline that is producing the next generation of adults, with an appreciation of games and play firmly embedded in whatever career they pursue.
For too long, many of us have seen esports as something that happens ‘over there’. After PHASE 25, it’s clear that it’s happening right here, and it’s a powerful force for good that we cannot afford to ignore.