Modes of Esports Engagement in Overwatch

This Open Access book examines Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment 2016) through three central themes and a variety of research methods, providing a comprehensive review of the rapidly developing esport phenomenon. With more than 40 million individual players, an annual international World Cup, and a franchised professional league, Overwatch offers a multifaceted perspective on the cultural, social, and economic topics associated with esports development.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 229 pages
Publication date: 10 March 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This Open Access book offers a comprehensive exploration of the rapidly evolving esport phenomenon by examining one of its contemporary flagship titles, Overwatch (Blizzard Entertainment, 2016), through three central themes and a diverse range of research methodologies and perspectives. With over 40 million individual players, an annual international World Cup, and a franchised professional league featuring teams from Canada, China, Europe, South Korea, and the US, Overwatch provides a multifaceted perspective on the cultural, social, and economic topics associated with the development of esports, which has begun to garner attention from both commercial and academic audiences. The book begins with an introduction chapter to Overwatch and esports engagement in general, co-authored by the editors. This is followed by 15 unique chapters from scholars within the field of game cultures and esports, representing ten different nationalities. The contributions construct thematic sections that divide the book into three parts: Players, Diverse Audiences?, and Fan & Fiction Work. As such, the parts provide a comprehensive overview of esport engagement, thus revealing the phenomenons cross-cultural, transmedial, and interconnected relations that have not been probed earlier in a single anthology.

Weight: 329g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030827694
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022