#eSports are booming, and if you believe the studies, #Austria – somewhat surprisingly – occupies a leading position. The development has not gone unnoticed by politicians in our neighboring country. In Innsbruck – the capital of Tyrol – the local council made a far-reaching decision a few days ago.
The eSports scene and all related industries are to receive special support. Innsbruck wants to establish itself as a hotspot for game developers, organizers and eSport clans. Companies are to be specifically attracted to Innsbruck.
eSports in Austria
Games are played in Austria seemingly day and night. There are several studies that talk about 5.3 million Austrians having already used computer games. If you look at the population of Austria, this number seems almost impossible and can be doubted in the real estimate.
Be that as it may – the fact is that eSports have arrived in the Alpine country and in the middle of society. The eGames are no longer a phenomenon of the youth. All age groups have discovered the game. It is precisely this boom that Innsbruck wants to jump on or use for its own economic interests.
The “professional gamers” in Austria
Less doubtful, since comprehensible, is a second figure. There are 50,000 active gamers in Austria who participate in ranking tournaments, leagues and other competitions in the various disciplines. Of course, we cannot completely speak of eSports professionals at this point. However, some of the disciplines can already be compared with regular sports, for which the associations would be happy to have a nationwide membership of 50,000 athletes.
The added value of the industry
The eSports or gaming industry had a total economic value added of 51.1 euros in our neighboring country in 2019. The official figures for 2020 and 2021 are currently not yet available, but are likely to be significantly higher.
The goals in Innsbruck
On the one hand, the politicians in Innsbruck want to directly address eSports organizers and game developers. The settlement of young, up-and-coming eGaming companies is the primary goal, whereby the path should of course be accompanied by appropriate, high-profile events. The prerequisites for offline tournaments in Tyrol are undoubtedly in place.
In a second step, it is even being considered to establish a degree course in the field of game development at the University of Innsbruck. The entire, political project in Tyrol is in any case scientifically accompanied by researchers at the university.
The cross-party motion in the Innsbruck
The motion in parliament was introduced by members of the Green Party, the FPÖ, Für Innsbruck, the ÖVP, the Tyrolean Seniors' Association and the SPÖ. It fundamentally states that eSports should be recognized as a forward-looking economic, tourism and educational sector. Former mayor and now city councilor for economic affairs Christine Oppitz-Plörer commented on the project as follows:
“The development of the digital games/events industry is incredibly dynamic, has international potential and is not always on the radar of classic business enterprises. With this application, we want to gain specialist expertise in Innsbruck on the one hand and set noticeable accents on the other.”
The initiative is intended to bring video games and eSports out of the “dirty corner” in which they are still partly found. In the first half of 2022, a round table of politicians, researchers and digital companies is planned in Innsbruck, where the concrete next steps will be determined.
