Various top German players have made a name for themselves in recent years and play in prestigious teams or demonstrate their skills in individual competitions. In doing so, they represent the country in the global eSports environment and measure themselves against the best players in the world.

Among the best-known German eSports players are KuroKy in Dota 2 and many other players from a wide variety of games and genres. Due to the growing importance of eSports in Germany and the world, many new talents will surely emerge in the future and represent Germany in the eSports scene.

History of Esports in Germany

The beginnings of Esports in Germany can be traced back to the late 20th century. During this time, competitions in computer games became increasingly popular, and local and national tournaments emerged. However, the professionalization and recognition of Esports in Germany did not begin until the beginning of the 21st century.

In 2003, the German eSport Association (DeSpV) was founded, followed by the German eSport Association (DeSV) in 2004. In December 2004, both organizations merged to form the German eSport Federation (ESB). This merger was an important step towards better organizing and representing esports in Germany.

Another significant milestone in the history of German Esports was the foundation of the ESBD - eSport-Bund Deutschland e.V. in November 2017. The ESBD represents the interests of athletes in organized Esports on a nationwide level and advocates for the recognition of Esports as a sport.

In recent years, Esport has seen considerable growth in Germany. Revenues have increased steadily from 2013 to 2021, and forecasts predict that this trend will continue until 2026. The increase in esports events, tournaments and leagues reflects the growing social acceptance of this new sport.

Today, there are many well-known esports players in Germany who are successful on an international level. German companies and media have also recognized the potential of Esports and are increasingly investing in this growing market.

Top esport players in Germany

Germany has produced many talented esport players in various games. Some of the best German Esports players include Kuro "KuroKy" Salehi Takhasomi, known for his success in Dota 2, and ranked the sixth top earner in Esports worldwide, with over five million US dollars in prize money.

Another standout in the German esports scene is the "Team Sauber Esports" team, which is made up of the best German VALORANT players. According to the search results of "Esports Earnings", German Esports players have earned a total of 41,332,066.33 USD in prize money in 8,832 tournaments, with Dota 2 being the highest paying game for them.

The following list features some of the best Esport players in Germany:

• Kuro "KuroKy" Salehi Takhasomi (Dota 2)
• Adrian "FATA" Drinks (Dota 2)
• Mohammed "Mo Auba" Harkous from Team Werder Bremen (FIFA)
• Maximilian "qojqva" Bröcker (Dota 2)
• Raphael "BunnyHopper" Peltzer from Team Liquid (Hearthstone)
• Marius "Pro Gamer" Franz from Team GamerLegion (FIFA)
• Elias "Upset" Lipp from Team FC Schalke (League of Legends)

The German Esports scene is very diverse, with traditional sports such as the soccer game FIFA also making up a large part of the audience base. It is interesting to note that according to statistics, 20 he Germans have already watched an esports game, with most of them following FIFA games.

Popular Esport Games in Germany

In Germany, various esport games are extremely popular. One of the most popular games is Dota 2, a multiplayer game that attracts numerous tournaments and a huge number of participants and spectators. Valve has already announced the venues for three Dota 2 Majors in 2023.

FIFA also enjoys great popularity in Esports in Germany. Almost 20 he Germans have already watched a FIFA Esports game and it has more viewers in Germany than other international successful games like League of Legends. This success can possibly be attributed to the fact that soccer is considered a national sport in Germany.

Another popular esport game is League of Legends (LoL). Although it has less viewers than FIFA, it is still a very successful game and attracts many players and fans. There are also German teams and players successful in the international scene of League of Legends.

Some other esport games that are popularly followed by gamers in Germany are:

• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
• Overwatch
• Call of Duty
• Fornite

German Esport Organizations and Teams

Germany has a growing number of Esports organizations and teams that are successful in various games on a national and international level. Some of the most well-known German esports teams are SK Gaming, FC Schalke 04 Esports and BIG (Berlin International Gaming).

SK Gaming was founded in 1997 and is the oldest active German eSports association. They are very successful in games like League of Legends, FIFA, Brawl Stars and Clash Royale. The soccer club Schalke04 has even hired eSports players for LoL, in addition to several FIFA teams. With these teams, they are quite successful and openly show their ambitions in the esport field.

Berlin International Gaming, or BIG for short, is another well-known German esports team that was founded in 2017. It is particularly successful in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) and has achieved several top placements in major tournaments.

The Esports industry in Germany is experiencing continuous growth, both in terms of fan interest and financially. According to statistics, esports revenue in Germany increased from 8.3 million euros in 2013 to 77 million euros in 2019.

There is also a national organization, the eSport-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ESBD), which works to represent and promote organized esports and its athletes in Germany. The ESBD was founded in 2017 and now represents numerous teams, clubs, organizers and eSports organizations.

• SK Gaming: League of Legends, FIFA, Brawl Stars, Clash Royale.
• FC Schalke 04 Esports: FIFA, League of Legends
• BIG: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Education and career in Esports

Esports education in Germany offers various opportunities for those interested in pursuing a career in the gaming industry. Depending on individual preferences and skills, different educational paths can be chosen.

There are degree programs such as Game Design, Game Programming and Computational Visualistics, which extend over 6 to 7 semesters. These degree programs impart comprehensive knowledge in the field of gaming and optimally prepare prospective e-sportsmen for their careers. Practical experience in one's free time, especially playing the respective game in all its facets, is also helpful for advancing in this field.

In addition to the courses of study, there are also specific further education and training courses offered by institutions such as the Academy of Sports and the German Sports Academy. These offerings are aimed at anyone who is enthusiastic about e-sports and wants to acquire indispensable, exciting knowledge from this sector of the future. The target group includes active e-sportsmen as well as employees from clubs, associations, companies and event and sponsoring agencies.

The eSport-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ESBD) organizes its coach training and advanced training courses via the ESBD Academy. A decentralized advanced training concept is pursued, which focuses on classroom training throughout Germany and supplements it with online courses. Experts from the association, from e-sports and from science guarantee high-quality training.

There are also part-time degree courses in the field of e-sports management, which are aimed at people who want to pursue a career in the organizational area of e-sports. These degree programs provide valuable management knowledge and develop the skills to succeed in the responsible environment of clubs, associations and sponsors.

Legislation and regulation of esports

The legislation and regulation of Esports in Germany is a growing topic that has already been discussed in coalition agreements between CDU/CSU and SPD since March 2018. In this context, the eSport-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ESBD) plays an important role as a representative for organized eSports and its athletes.

The recognition of eSports as a sport is still controversial. Nevertheless, the decision mainly falls on national legislation. ESBD President Hans Jagnow calls on politicians to create clear framework conditions for eSports and to adapt the relevant laws.

Some essential aspects that should be considered in legislation and regulation are:

• Promotion of popular and competitive sports
• Supporting and integrating club structures
• Ensuring the protection of minors and player safety
• Recognition and regulation of eSports betting
• Tax regulations for eSports organizations and events

The number of eSports clubs in Germany is growing steadily, with the ESBD reporting a mid-three-digit total number of eSports clubs and multi-discipline clubs offering eSports. This development should be supported and driven by politics in order to establish digital sports in the middle of society.

Ultimately, it is important that legislators and regulators work hand in hand to promote and further expand eSports in Germany. This can be achieved through clear legal frameworks and the recognition of eSports as an official sport.

Future of Esports in Germany

Esports has experienced rapid growth in recent years and is now firmly established in Germany. The forecast for revenue in the eSports market in Germany covers various segments and extends to 2026, indicating that the market will continue to expand.

The eSport-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ESBD) represents organized esports and its athletes* nationwide in Germany. The foundation of the association in 2017 shows the growing recognition of Esports as a serious sport and the need for an organized structure on a national level.

In order to further advance the development of Esports in Germany, various aspects need to be taken into account. One key issue is political and social acceptance. Esports is still struggling for broad recognition as a sport in order to get public funding on the one hand and people's respect and attention on the other.

The future of esports in Germany also depends on the quality of the infrastructure and educational opportunities for esport players. Clubs, organizers and organizations are working on creating professional training conditions for eSports players, which are necessary for international competition.

The health of esports players is also an important topic for the future of esports in Germany. Studies such as the eSport Study 2021 have focused on the nutrition of over 800 eSports amateurs and professionals. This shows the need to continue to improve the health and training conditions of esport players.