Fogame Platform: Esports is a Profession

In honor of Esports Day, celebrated in Russia on July 7, the gaming platform Fogame conducted a survey among users to find out how gamers perceive esports, whether they follow tournaments, and if they see it as a career.

Most respondents belong to a mature, financially capable audience: 86% are men, 81% of whom are aged between 25 and 45 years. One in three surveyed works in an office, while one in five works remotely. 72% play every day, primarily on PCs, as well as on smartphones (27%) and laptops (24%).

The results show that esports, in the eyes of gamers, is primarily an intellectual competition: the main reason for their interest in matches is strategy and game mechanics (59%), rather than the show or star players. Only 16% of respondents regularly watch tournaments, while 53% do not follow them at all. However, nearly 80% of respondents recognize esports as a profession comparable in demands to traditional sports.

Despite high gaming activity, only 5% consider themselves part of the esports community. 37% of respondents have participated in tournaments (mainly at the amateur level), and another 23% would like to try competitive formats. This indicates potential engagement in the world of esports, especially with accessible platforms for participation.

The greatest interest among players is shown in the esports disciplines [Dota 2](/games?search=Dota 2) and [League of Legends](/games?search=League of Legends) — they lead in mentions. Among others, [Point Blank](/games?search=Point Blank), Fortnite, and Apex Legends are mentioned. Overall, gaming preferences are fragmented.

As for viewing platforms, Twitch and YouTube remain the leaders in streaming, while VKontakte maintains its position among local users. New platforms like Trovo and FaceIt are currently less in demand.

The survey was conducted in June 2025 using an online questionnaire. A total of 1000 users of the Fogame gaming platform from all regions of Russia participated in the survey.