Sir Sadiq Khan has laid out his ambitions for London to become the global esports capital, as City Hall looks to take advantage of the rapidly expanding competitive gaming industry.
The Mayor of London outlined the vision during a trade mission to Tokyo, where he visited the Red Bull Gaming Sphere alongside London-based esports organisation Fnatic and its partner Sony.
The visit formed part of wider efforts to strengthen cultural and technology ties between London and Japan, a major hub for the global gaming industry.
It came as City Hall published a commissioned report, London’s Esports Opportunity, examining how the capital can build on recent growth in competitive gaming.
This includes hosting the Valorant Masters London tournament, which ran from June 6 to 21 and brought international players and audiences to the city.
The report said London already has a strong foundation in gaming and esports, supported by its creative industries, universities, and established technology sector.
However, it added that future growth will depend on moving “towards strategic coordination, sustained growth, and long-term sustainability”.
It also pointed to structural challenges facing the sector in the capital, including the “high cost of operating and hosting esports activity in London”, which it said “remains a challenge for parts of the sector, particularly when competing with other national and international destinations”.
Esports has grown into a global entertainment industry with large-scale tournaments, professional teams, and significant commercial investment.
According to figures cited by City Hall, it now attracts an audience of around 640 million people worldwide and is forecast to be worth $10bn by 2033.
Sir Sadiq has previously highlighted concerns about excessive screen time among young Londoners, including exposure to harmful online content such as disinformation and misogyny.
However, deputy mayor for culture Justine Simons said the growth of esports should be viewed separately from these risks, describing it as “a huge opportunity” for the capital.
She said: “What people might be less aware of, if you’re not in that world, is what a kind of powerful sense of community there is in gaming.”
She added that London was well-positioned to expand its role in the sector, saying:
“We want London to be the destination of choice for esports.”
“It’s a phenomenon that’s growing so fast. It’s got an audience of 640 million worldwide, and it’s predicted to be worth $10bn by 2033.
“It’s a no-brainer for us, and we couldn’t be better placed. We are the biggest games capital in Europe. Londoners love games, and all the ingredients are there.
“This report is asking what more we can do, from investment to the talent pipeline.”
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