posted on 2021-12-22, 08:52authored byEoin Conroy, Magdalena Kowal, Adam J. Toth, Mark J. Campbell
Competitive video gaming, collectively known as esports, has surged in popularity over the last decade.
The rapid growth in revenue, viewership, players and exposure to date has led to the rise of impropriety in the
form of cheating. “Boosting” is a form of cheating whereby high-skilled players access lower-skilled players’
accounts for the purpose of increasing the rank of the account for monetary gain. From esports games such as
League of Legends to Overwatch, players are universally ranked based on performance and results-based metrics.
The perceived social status of these ranks, along with rank-associated rewards such as in-game cosmetics, ability
to enter tournaments and join prestigious teams are significant motivators for one to cheat. This paper reviews
and discusses the notable issue of boosting, estimates prevalence and profitability of boosting, its impact on the
esports industry and community, and how it is currently being addressed.