Paper Number
ECIS2026-1282
Paper Type
SP
Abstract
Professional eSports increasingly resemble high-pressure digital work, yet its implications for player well-being remain underexplored. Using eight semi-structured interviews (seven with StarCraft II professionals and one with an eSports psychologist), we employ a qualitative research approach grounded in concepts of digital work and boundary blurring theory to provide initial insights into how work and nonwork boundaries blur in professional eSports. We identify four core themes contributing to boundary blurring in professional eSports: (1) structural “always-on” expectations; (2) spatial and digital integration of work and nonwork; (3) emotional spillover and difficulty detaching; and (4) multiplex public roles (player/streamer/public figure). As a result, participants reported anxiety, disrupted sleep, exhaustion, and indications of burnout. In this research-in-progress paper, we propose an early theorization of eSports as digital work with high-performance sport characteristics that inherently intensify boundary blurring.
Recommended Citation
Reindl-Spanner, Philipp and Rivett, Anthony, "Not All Fun And Games: Boundary Blurring In Professional Esports" (2026). ECIS 2026 Proceedings. 1.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2026/esports/esports/1
Not All Fun And Games: Boundary Blurring In Professional Esports
Professional eSports increasingly resemble high-pressure digital work, yet its implications for player well-being remain underexplored. Using eight semi-structured interviews (seven with StarCraft II professionals and one with an eSports psychologist), we employ a qualitative research approach grounded in concepts of digital work and boundary blurring theory to provide initial insights into how work and nonwork boundaries blur in professional eSports. We identify four core themes contributing to boundary blurring in professional eSports: (1) structural “always-on” expectations; (2) spatial and digital integration of work and nonwork; (3) emotional spillover and difficulty detaching; and (4) multiplex public roles (player/streamer/public figure). As a result, participants reported anxiety, disrupted sleep, exhaustion, and indications of burnout. In this research-in-progress paper, we propose an early theorization of eSports as digital work with high-performance sport characteristics that inherently intensify boundary blurring.