(Esports news) They say age is just a number and you’re never too old to pursue your dreams, which is exactly what the eight person team of Matagi Snipers believe in, being Japan’s first esports professional team consisting entirely of elderly citizens. For a profession largely associated with younger participants and audiences, the Matagi Snipers have players ranging from the age of 66 to 73 and their presence in the industry is doing wonders to make the sport more inclusive to all.
Based in Akita Prefecture, the Matagi Snipers consist of eight players plus two additional spots for ‘juniors’ aged 65 or younger. Named after the local “matagi” hunting group, the team focuses primarily on shooting games and sets their sights high to make a mark in the esports industry. In a press conference, 72 year old Mr. Kita of Matagi Snipers said “I'm doing my best and having fun every day. I'll try hard to become the very best as a professional player.” The team has also kept gender balance in mind and currently have three female players in their team who will participate in events and tournaments representing the Matagi Snipers from April next year.
The establishment of the team was to highlight the benefits of esports in senior citizens with a secondary aim for them to impress their grandkids. The selection process was surprisingly challenging as aspiring team members were tested for their gaming aptitude and only eight made the cut out of the twenty one people who applied. The concept of elderly people playing esports might be the first of its kind in Japan but back in 2017, a Counter-Strike team known as Silver Snipers which was sponsored by Lenovo consisted of players over the age of 60.
Japan has taken steps to make the esports industry more inclusive to all and launched an esports facility last year for senior citizens called ISR Esports in Kobe. The aim of this facility has been to introduce esports to complete beginners and one such individual, an 88 year old who has been visiting the facility since last year admitted that they have played a big part in him enjoying games that he previously did not. In an interview with Japan’s ABC TV, he said “That’s because there are lots of different types.”
The concept of senior citizens being involved in esports is breathing new life in the second chapter of many of their lives. Gaming has been a preventative measure against cognitive impairment, hand and eye coordination combined with discussing strategy with teammates is helping many elderly individuals keep their mind sharp and active, which is not only beneficial in the esports domain but also daily life. The Matagi Snipers practice three times a week, which by professional esports standards is admittedly not a lot but there are also limitations that come with age. They plan to start streaming content on Youtube and Twitch from October and their popularity might make esports for the elderly a mainstream prospect. For many young esports players, the possibility of having no retirement age for their careers might be a relief and they should actively promote the idea of more esports teams and leagues for the elderly.
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