The UK has established a new eSports governing body to provide representation and support to players at all levels, and help build-out the region’s eSports scene.
Christened the British eSports Association, the regulator will be based at Pinewood Studios and will work in tandem with with the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Through assisting players and developing the UK’s grassroots talent, the Association hopes to provide the infrastructure needed to create future British global champions.
The not-for-profit organization will be chaired by former UKIE chairman, Andy Payne, while veteran businessman Chester King will serve as CEO.
“I am very confident that if we welcome and embrace all parties in the UK eSports scene, we can deliver a range of benefits to all players, from professional to amateur in the UK over time,” said Payne.
“These are exciting times in eSports and the time is right to build this organization from the grassroots up.”
Over the next three months British eSports will look to gather feedback from the UK’s competitive gaming sector to ensure it represents the interests of individual players, teams, game publishers, and broadcasters from the get-go.
This isn’t the first time a regulatory body has attempted to provide some level of control over one of the fastest growing sports in the world.
Earlier this year leading eSports league, ESL, helped found the World Esports Association (WESA); a governing body that hoped to professionalize the sport through standardization.
The formation of WESA raised more than a few eyebrows, however, with some questioning the legitimacy of a group that implements new tournament rules and transfer regulations based on the input of a self-elected, pro-team player council.
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