The term esports, which stands for “electronic sports,” refers to computer and video game-based matches played as a competitive sport. In recent years, the field of esports has developed at a remarkable rate. It is estimated that at the end of 2019, worldwide esports viewership had reached 450 million *1, and moves to integrate esports with the Olympics have been ongoing. Around 75% of esports audiences are reportedly aged under 35 *2, with recognition rising particularly among digitally-minded generations. In Japan, hopes have been placed in esports as a regional development measure. Esports were adopted as part of the cultural programs for the National Sports Festival, beginning from the event at Ibaraki in 2019, and a number of esports tournaments and events solicited and organized by local governments and regional financial institutions have been held.
SBI e-Sports has begun in June 2020 to take part in the such new industry. In addition to collaborating with the Financial Services of the SBI Group by utilizing the points of contact with the digitally-minded generations, SBI e-Sports will contribute to the revitalization of regional economies by helping local governments and regional financial institutions attract esports events. In anticipation of sustained growth in the esports field, the company will also explore coordination with partner companies and other groups in Japan and overseas as part of its global initiatives.
*1 Based on the Global Esports Market Report 2019 published by Newzoo
*2 Based on Esports TRENDS REPORT 2018 published by GlobalWebIndex
