‘I want to help Dutch Sport Tech Fund benefit from the growth of esports’

Koen Schobbers is the Netherlands’ most well-known esports player and the first to be granted elite athlete status as an esports competitor. He has joined the Innovation Committee of the Dutch Sport Tech Fund. In this interview, he talks about the rapid growth of esports and how he wants to help Dutch Sport Tech Fund benefit from it. “Fifteen years ago, I could never have imagined where we as an esports sector would be today.”

“Let me start by saying that esports is older than fifteen years; the first organized gaming competitions already took place in the 1980s. At that time, a Space Invaders tournament was organized in the United States, which, incidentally, was won by a female participant.”

“In 2006, I started playing the racing game TrackMania and in 2007 I was offered my first professional contract. The spirit of the times was completely different back then. Gaming and esports were seen as unhealthy, my mother received concerned questions from friends, and the media were rarely positive about gaming. Esports rarely had a place on TV, because people expected that no one would watch anyway. As a young gamer—I was fifteen years old at the time—that was quite difficult.”

“An incredible amount has changed in that time. Esports has transformed from a hobby you could be bullied for into a sport where you can become a role model and a celebrity. Kids now want to become streamers or professional gamers, and there are university scholarships for professional players in the US. Fifteen years ago, I could never have imagined that.”

“That change happened partly because, as gamers, we have explained what esports actually is. This allowed us to put an end to all the stigmas and changed the attitude of the media. In the early days, there was little to no media attention. If there was any attention, it was rarely positive. In 2014, I did my first interview with NOS, and by now I have spoken to the press 350 times. I have to explain less and less often what esports is and I rarely encounter prejudices about gaming anymore.”

“Esports generates around one and a half billion euros in revenue. More important than the current revenue is the (expected) growth of the sector. Each year, esports grew by about eight percent, and for the coming decade, a growth of twenty percent is expected. More than half a billion people follow esports, and this number is only expected to increase in the coming years.”

“The continued growth of gaming and esports in the coming years can be attributed to several factors. The gaming sector benefits from new technologies such as the Metaverse and Augmented Reality. More and more young people are growing up with esports, as they have access to a lot of technology that allows them to follow esports. This leads to many new fans. Traditional clubs and associations are also increasingly committing to esports. Formula 1, NHL, and NBA have all set up an esports division. They see the potential that esports has and do not want to miss out on this opportunity.”

“I dedicated myself for years as a professional gamer, from 2007 to 2018. I grew into a kind of ambassador for the sport and became one of the faces of esports in the media. I am still closely involved in the sector; I advise companies both within and outside of esports and give lectures that inspire C-level executives to explore the opportunities this sector offers. In this way, I contribute to the 'front end of the industry.' I am also a board member of the Global Esports Federation, through which I collaborate globally with organizations such as the WHO, UNESCO, and the Olympic Games.”

“The funny thing is: when I started as a professional gamer fifteen years ago, the prevailing sentiment made it almost impossible to talk about esports. Fifteen years later, it has become my job. By inspiring others to explore the opportunities of esports, I involve them in the industry and help esports grow even further.”

“Many traditional sports, from clubs to federations, are exploring the opportunities that esports offer. New innovations such as the Metaverse and VR will further drive growth in the sector. More and more children are becoming interested in gaming. Research reports indicate significant growth for esports. In other words: the sector has a lot of potential. It would be a shame to miss out on these opportunities. We are now in the early stages of an industry that is set to grow rapidly. That is why it makes perfect sense for Dutch Sport Tech Fund to take advantage of the growth opportunities in this sector.”

“As a new member of the Innovation Committee, I use my knowledge of the industry to advise Dutch Sport Tech Fund in the field of gaming and esports. I may not have the financial expertise of a tax specialist, but I am well able to assess the potential of startups and scale-ups in this sector. In this way, I help Dutch Sport Tech Fund benefit from the growth of the esports sector.”