EsportsNext Magazine Spring Edition
Who's Missing: Esports Belongs to Everyone - So Why Isn't Everyone Here?
Welcome to the frontlines of esports’ most important evolution. In this issue, we examine how diversity isn’t just changing who plays—it’s revolutionizing the entire business of competitive gaming. From HBCU campuses to women’s leagues, the industry’s next growth markets aren’t just emerging—they’re already delivering results.
Featured Articles
Pressing Start: The HBCU Revolution
How HBCUs Transformed from Gaming Outsiders to Industry Innovators
Explore how HBCUs are revolutionizing the esports landscape, transforming from gaming outsiders to industry innovators with over 35 programs, significant scholarships, and groundbreaking educational integration.
The Equalizers
Women Transforming Esports From The Inside
Discover how women are leading the charge in transforming the esports industry, making significant strides as CEOs, competitors, and innovators. This feature explores the evolution of women’s roles in esports, shedding light on their impact and the strategies that amplify their success in the gaming world.
Esports Reimagined
A Parent’s Doubt, A Gamer’s Rise,
and a New Career Playbook
Discover the inspiring journey of a mother and son in esports, transforming gaming into a pathway for career innovation and leadership. Their story highlights inclusivity and diversity, showcasing how they’re developing programs that merge esports, mental wellness, and professional growth. Learn about their mission to empower a diverse generation of gamers.
EsportsNext Magazine
Welcome to the cutting edge of competitive gaming—your arena is set, and the spotlight is on you. We're thrilled to invite you inside the latest edition of EsportsNext Magazine, designed to propel both the champions of today and the rising stars of tomorrow in our vibrant community.
EsportsNext 2024 Esports Guide
Insight Into The Industry
Diving into the past and present to provide a glimpse into the future of esports.
FEATURED ESPORTS ARTICLES
Esports Reimagined A Parent’s Doubt, A Gamer’s Rise, and a New Career Playbook Discover the inspiring journey of a mother and son in esports, transforming gaming into a pathway for career innovation and leadership. Their story highlights inclusivity and diversity, showcasing how they’re developing programs that merge esports, mental wellness, and professional growth. Learn about…
The Equalizers Women Transforming Esports From The Inside Meet the executives and innovators breaking the industry’s longest-running bug—and building a more profitable futureBy Greg SmithMarch 21, 2025Forget everything you thought you knew about esports leadership. The industry that grew from LAN parties to billion-dollar valuations is experiencing its most significant evolution yet—and women are at…
PRESSING START THE HBCU REVOLUTION How HBCUs Transformed from Gaming Outsiders to Industry Innovators Explore how HBCUs are revolutionizing the esports landscape, transforming from gaming outsiders to industry innovators with over 35 programs, significant scholarships, and groundbreaking educational integration.By Greg SmithMarch 21, 2025When Johnson C. Smith University became the first HBCU to offer an undergraduate…
How 5G Is Reshaping Esports A New Era of Connectivity and Competition A New Era of Connectivity and Competition From ultra-low latency to cloud gaming and enhanced streaming, 5G is transforming the gaming landscape and revolutionizing competitive play.By Greg SmithDecember 2, 2024A professional VALORANT player’s finger twitches. Milliseconds after they pull the trigger, 5G technology…
Reality Check The Future of Esports in the Age of VR and AR As virtual and augmented reality technologies rapidly advance, the esports industry stands on the precipice of a revolution that will redefine how games are played, watched, and experienced.By Greg SmithDecember 2, 2024Esports lives behind screens. In arenas across the world, thousands of…
The AI PlaybookHow Machine Learning is Rewriting the Rules of EsportsInside the data-driven revolution transforming professional gaming, where AI is turning split-second decisions into strategic gold—and creating a technological arms race that could reshape the industry’s future. By Greg SmithDecember 2, 2024Jesse Hart has 96 hours to crack the code. As Team Liquid’s Senior Director…
HOW A CALL OF DUTY WORLD CHAMPION CONQUERED SIM RACING AND IS NOW TAKING THE MOTORSPORTS WORLD BY STORM Ian Porter is no stranger to the thrill of competition. Known for his dominance in the esports realm as a three-time Call of Duty world champion under his handle Crimsix, Porter has always pushed boundaries and…
THREE MAJOR PLAYERS TEAM UP TO BRING THE BEST TO THE ESPORTS TABLE NASCAR, iRacing and the Esports Trade Association (ESTA) are interconnected through their shared interests in the virtual motorsports and broader esports industry. With esports on the rise and the 2024 EsportsNext conference taking place in Chicago right after the Chicago Street Race,…
TECHNOLOGY IS REVOLUTIONIZING EVENT HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS The esports arena, once the province of intimate gatherings, has exploded into massive spectacles that draw comparisons to the Super Bowl, fueled by a passionate gaming community and the streaming powerhouses of Twitch and YouTube Gaming. As these in-person esports events scale up, with attendance figures soaring to unprecedented…
COMPETITORS PITCH THEIR UNIQUE IDEAS TO BECOME THE NEXT BIG NAME IN ESPORTS The EsportsNext Elevator Pitch Competition represents a pioneering initiative designed to expand and build the ever-growing esports industry. The competition offers a unique platform for aspiring entrepreneurs to present their groundbreaking ideas to a panel of seasoned industry experts, potential investors, and…
ESTA AND EXTRA LIFE’S MISSION FOR LURIE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL In a world where the power of play can transform lives, the Esports Trade Association (ESTA) stands as a beacon of hope and joy for children facing health challenges. Since 2022, ESTA has partnered with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, bringing…
PERSPECTIVES ON ESPORTS FROM THE MOST-FAMOUS SPORTS AGENT IN THE WORLD Renowned for being the most successful sports agent in history, Leigh Steinberg has represented over 300 athletes from sports like baseball, basketball, boxing and of course NFL football where a record eight No. 1 draft picks have been under his wing. Steinberg’s success as…
Download The Latest Issue of EsportsNext Magazine
