Boasting over 45 million players and the Twitch record for most live viewers on a stream, third-person shooter Fortnite Battle Royale has taken the gaming world by storm. But given that it uses a free-to-play model, how is it avoiding the controversy that often surrounds in-game microtransactions?

Tablet-based Nintendo Switch console allows players to switch from playing on their TV or monitor to taking the game on the road. By blending high-definition console gaming with the portability of mobile games, Nintendo caters to people who want sophisticated and social mobile gameplay.

Now touted as a multi-billion dollar industry, e-sports has brands queuing up to tap into a highly engaged audience and the players that are capturing their hearts and minds. What transformed a relatively niche entertainment model into a sporting leader?

Not long ago, it was inconceivable that video games would be anything more than a niche pastime, let alone a path to a lucrative career. Yet e-sports now attract millions of fans and major brand sponsorships. How did they come to rival to traditional sports? And can they achieve mainstream success?