Interest in e-sports is growing avalanche.

Estimates show that there are about 2.5 billion players worldwide.

Nevertheless, research in this area is sparse.

But a worldwide research network with members, including at Jönköping University, has recently emerged.

Brian McCauley, researcher at Jönköping International Business School, is one of the founders.

- The research has recently started, but has made a head start.

There is so much we can learn from e-sports in several areas such as technology, sociology, health, economics and more.

If the whole society in general for that is where people hang out today.

"Jönköping has a head start"

The fact that one of the world's largest computer festivals has been arranged in Jönköping for several years has clearly shaped the city and its surroundings, says Brian McCauley.

- A grassroots culture has been built here that carries further important values.

Here, Jönköping has gained a head start with Dreamhack.

He says that his research shows that e-sports players locally in Jönköping have played an important role in shaping the e-sports market both online but also offline with personal meetings and meeting points.

Dreamhack has in turn contributed to authorities and decision-makers here being more inclined to, for example, finance various e-sports projects.

In the clip above, you hear Brian McCauley talk about how e-sports can shape practitioners and contribute important skills in society.