Competitive entertainment has always been an essential part of human culture. Traditionally, sports have been the preferred form of competition, however, in a modern age of mass globalization through connection, a new form of entertainment has taken the stage: esports.

With online communities of millions spread across the world, esports has been rapidly expanding and encourages a volatile competitive environment. With a great familiarity with traditional sports, it’s easy to wonder, “just how real are esports?” We speak with Jake Kelton from XLNC whose work in media production centers around esports.