Esports has become one of the major online entertainment activities around the globe. Different from the previously dominant massively multiplayer online role-playing games, esports gaming has its unique structural characteristics, which substantially reshape the motivations, experiences, and behaviors of game users while raising new questions for research on Internet gaming disorder. In addition to identifying four structural characteristics of esports, the present study analyzed their implications from both theoretical and practical perspectives and conducted a cross-cultural examination by utilizing accurate and objective match history data of esports gamers in five different geographic regions (countries). Several findings of interest were obtained in this study. First, having in-game friend(s) in a premade team significantly increased gamers’ propensity to play consecutive matches. Second, whereas Nordic and Eastern European gamers tended to play additional matches following wins, Japanese gamers were inclined to do so after experiencing losses. Third, low and high-skilled gamers were more likely to engage in consecutive play than their middle-skilled counterparts. With a focus on the competitive nature of esports, this study demonstrated that the presence of friend(s), the outcome of the previous match, and the level of gaming skill can significantly influence esports gamers’ involvement.

电子竞技已成为全球主要的在线娱乐活动之一。与以往占主导地位的大型多人在线角色扮演游戏不同，电竞游戏具有其独特的结构特征，它极大地重塑了游戏用户的动机、体验和行为，同时也为网络游戏障碍的研究提出了新的问题。除了确定电子竞技的四个结构特征外，本研究还从理论和实践的角度分析了它们的含义，并利用五个不同地理区域（国家）的电子竞技玩家准确客观的比赛历史数据进行了跨文化检验。在这项研究中获得了几个有趣的发现。第一的，在预制团队中拥有游戏中的朋友显着增加了游戏玩家连续玩游戏的倾向。其次，北欧和东欧玩家往往在获胜后进行额外的比赛，而日本玩家则倾向于在输掉比赛后进行额外比赛。第三，低技能和高技能玩家比中等技能玩家更有可能参与连续游戏。本研究关注电子竞技的竞争性质，表明朋友的存在、前一场比赛的结果以及游戏技能水平可以显着影响电子竞技玩家的参与度。低技能和高技能玩家比中等技能玩家更有可能参与连续游戏。本研究关注电子竞技的竞争性质，表明朋友的存在、前一场比赛的结果以及游戏技能水平可以显着影响电子竞技玩家的参与度。低技能和高技能玩家比中等技能玩家更有可能参与连续游戏。本研究关注电子竞技的竞争性质，表明朋友的存在、前一场比赛的结果以及游戏技能水平可以显着影响电子竞技玩家的参与度。