THE WORLD’S largest esports company will take part in a new teaching and research partnership with the University of York.

The unique partnership will allow York to pioneer UK-based teaching and research facilities tailored to the rapidly evolving esports industry.

Esports – the competitive playing of video games online – is projected to grow into a multi-million pound industry over the next two years. In 2016 the industry generated over £384m in revenue, and over 290m people worldwide watched or played esports in 2016.

This new collaboration includes York’s Digital Creativity Labs, an £18 million research initiative focusing on the convergence of digital games and interactive media and one of the biggest games research labs in the world; the University of York’s Department of Theatre, Film and Television; and the Department of Computer Science, one of the highest ranked in the UK.

Andrew Higson, head of York’s Department of Theatre, Film and TV, said: “Esports lies at the convergence of two of our excellent programmes, Film and TV Production and Interactive Media. Partnering with ESL is an exceptional opportunity for us to develop exciting teaching and career paths for our students in the rapidly growing esports industry.”