Prime Video announced a new original series titled '1UP.' This series is meant to show the barriers to entry that women face in the competitive gaming and esports spaces, as well as the experiences of women in these spaces. The show centers around a female professional gamer who faces sexism at gaming tournaments, leading to her deciding to start an all-girls esports team.
The show is intended to be empowering, spreading messages of inclusivity, motivation, and overcoming hardship as the cast of characters reshape the public opinion on the esports industry through active change. The show stars well-known actresses such as Ruby Rose, who plays the coach for the esports team, and Paris Berelc, who plays the main protagonist Valerie Lee.
Inclusive Esports TV Shows
Prime Video's 1UP Shows the Challenges Women Face in Competitive Gaming
Trend Themes
1. Inclusive Esports - The industry needs to provide more opportunities and representational diversity for women in esports in areas like equipment design, participation rates, competitive opportunities, and representation.
2. Female-led Entertainment - Businesses can afford to capitalize on the growing demand for female-produced and directed entertainment content that is specifically catered to marginalized populations.
3. Esports as Empowerment - Companies can create platforms and resources to empower women in esports rather than just using their inclusion efforts as a public relations tactic.
Industry Implications
1. Television Shows - More television shows can address topics of diversity and inclusion in tech-adjacent spaces, creating greater representation and market opportunities for underrepresented populations.
2. Gaming and Esports - The gaming industry should prioritize strategies that grow and support female participation in esports and competitive gaming to improve financial bottom lines and competitive output.
3. Digital Entertainment - Businesses in the entertainment industry need to start paying more attention to intersectional inclusion efforts by creating content, platforms, and opportunities that deliberately include women and other marginalized populations.