Japan Makes Way To Legitimize, Streamline E-sports Athletes

e-Sports organizations will merge, issue licenses for five game titles

Initiatives to regulate the burgeoning world of e-sports are making headway in Japan. Three different e-sports groups are planning to merge into a single entity and issue professional licenses to players for five game titles ahead the country's next Tokaigi: Game Party Japan event on February 10 and 11.

The Japan e-Sports Association, e-Sports Promotion Organization, and Japan e-Sports Federation will integrate and then proceed to issue pro-athlete licenses for the soccer game Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 (Winning Eleven 2018), Street Fighter 5 Arcade Edition, Tekken 7, Puzzle & Dragons, and Monster Strike.

The groups came together to issue licenses as a way to comply with existing Japanese law that limited awarding large amounts of prize money. Pro licenses will be issued to players who meet the new organization's requirements or who have earned achievements in past tournaments, and the group plans to take special entry recommendations from publishers.

The Tokaigi event in an annual gaming even that first started in 2015.