The Formation Logic, Practical Constraints and Governance Pathways of China’s Esports Development Boom

Abstract

Abstract: Esports has become an officially recognized sports competition event in China. Driven by the development of digital technology, the transformation of the sports industry, and changes in mass entertainment consumption, esports has shown a development trend characterized by the simultaneous advancement of professionalization, industrialization, and sportization. Using the methods of literature review, logical analysis, and case analysis, this study examines the formation logic of China’s esports development boom from the perspectives of government policy support, network platform communication, corporate capital involvement, and the expansion of esports users, and further analyzes the practical constraints behind this development. The study finds that the current boom in China’s esports development has a solid practical foundation, mainly reflected in the enhancement of industrial value, the expansion of professional events, and the growth of the user base. However, several problems remain, including uneven capital investment, an incomplete governance system, unstable project life cycles, slowing user growth, and divided social perceptions. Accordingly, esports governance should be promoted by improving event supervision and industry regulations, strengthening the training of interdisciplinary talent, enhancing independent research and development capabilities, and reinforcing youth protection and social guidance. Only by integrating industrial development with standardized governance can China’s esports move from scale expansion toward high-quality development.