Brace yourselves: esports is coming

BACKGROUND: Competitive gaming (or esports) is an emerging phenomenon with a field of over 454 million fans globally. Despite its tremendous popularity and commercial support, esports is not widely understood. It is also disregarded as a reputable or credible form of competition. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) contends that esports may be considered a sporting activity, but this is limited to the basis of its sedentary nature and poor governance. DISCUSSION: These authors present evidence to inform and clarify misconceptions surrounding esports among the broader scientific community. They also encourage researchers to engage in further work into the phenomenon of competitive gaming with regard to health and performance, resulting in a better understanding of esports and guiding its development as a credible, competitive entity.