An Esports Center Is Opening Exclusively for Seniors in Japan

An electronic sports (esports) center catering exclusively to seniors will open in the Japanese city of Kobe on July 2, reports DOT Esports . ISR Esports will only accept people 60 and older, including those who have never played a video game. Participants will first be introduced to basic gaming experiences, and then play what ISR Esports described as "full-blown esports titles." The center said it will comply with protection and prevention guidelines regarding the coronavirus, as those 65 years and older are at higher risk of infection. Game Centers have become quite popular among Japan's older population, with arcades becoming a gathering place for seniors who felt lonely and isolated. Meanwhile, an AARP study estimated that there were almost 51 million American gamers older than 50 last year, playing an average of five hours a week.