City Hall is hoping to make London the "global capital" of esports, a move that Deputy Mayor for Culture Justine Simons insists does not conflict with concerns about young people spending too much time on screens. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, last week announced his goal for the city to lead the world in organised video gaming, also known as esports, aiming to capitalise on the industry's growing economic value.
Esports as a community builder
Simons told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that social isolation is the real issue, not screen time. "What people might be less aware of - if you're not in that world - is what a kind of powerful sense of community there is in gaming," she said. "The atmosphere was fantastic at the Copper Box [last week] - and it was all in real life. You have things like Artist Alley, where gamers come to create their own artwork, you have FanFest sites where people can watch for free - it's like a micro-economy in itself."
London recently hosted the VALORANT Masters Tour at the Copper Box Arena, which Simons described as having "the same kind of energy and dynamism" as a Harry Styles concert. A report commissioned by City Hall, titled 'London's Esports Opportunity', details how the capital can build on recent successes. It suggests that while London has a strong foundation, the focus must shift "towards strategic coordination, sustained growth, and long-term sustainability."
Free gaming in every borough
Last week's announcement included a commitment to provide free access to gaming at every Youth Lates club in London. Khan stated: "Many children across the capital do not have access to consoles or only have one gaming controller, so they can’t play together with friends or siblings at home. That’s why I’m committed to providing youth clubs with the funding to purchase equipment or improve their internet connection where they need it, so more people can play with friends throughout the year."
This initiative aims to bring young people together, addressing the issue of social isolation. Simons emphasised the value of physical gatherings: "All of us in society, not just gamers, operate in a digital world. There is value in getting everyone together into one physical space. It brings you together."
Economic opportunity
The esports industry is booming, with a global audience of 640 million and projected worth of $10 billion by 2033, according to Simons. "We see it as a huge opportunity for London and we've been building it for the last decade. It's a no-brainer for us, and we couldn't be better placed. We are the biggest games capital in Europe - Londoners love games, and all the ingredients are there."
However, the report notes concerns over the "high cost of operating and hosting esports activity in London," which "remains a challenge for parts of the sector, particularly when competing with other national and international destinations." Simons acknowledged this, saying the report asks "what more we can do to shoot from the stars - from investment, to the talent pipeline."
Balancing screen time concerns
Khan has previously warned about the dangers of young Londoners being glued to screens, especially regarding social media risks like disinformation and harmful content. But Simons differentiated between social media and gaming, stating that gaming fosters community and creativity. "Culture and creativity have an extraordinary ability to bring us together and create those human connections - those are more valuable today than ever before," she said.
