ZETA DIVISION is researching ways to extend esports pros’ careers, a challenge that has plagued the industry since its inception.

On March 13th, ZETA DIVISION announced a joint research project with Nakazawa Laboratory at the University of Tokyo’s Department of Life and Environmental Sciences. This research focuses on improving esports pros’ performance and extending their careers.

The first step will be to conduct a study on “expanding the limits” of players’ reflexes, cognitive function, motor control, and other skills needed to compete at a top level. These are the skills that often decline as players age, leading to benching or retirement. This research will analyze neurological and motor function data to identify effective training methods and environments to maintain these skills.

For Esports Pros, 30 Years Old Is Retirement Age

Age has always been a massive issue for esports, with players gassing out in just a few years. And it’s not just a decline in hand-eye coordination or anything like that. It’s often mental burnout. During the Overwatch League, players often retired after just a few seasons, exhausted and unable to keep up with the intense practice and tournament schedules. This has continued to plague other esports scenes over the years.

When Gabriel “FalleN” Sguario won a Counter-Strike 2 Major at 34, it made the news and went viral. That’s because 34 is considered old for an esports pro. FalleN noted that he was proud to achieve something with FURIA at such a “late stage” of his career.

There are a few other “older” esports pros that are not just thriving but dominating. Juan “Hungrybox” DeBiedma is a 32-year-old who is currently considered Top 3 in the Super Smash Bros. Melee scene. Then there’s Finn “Karrigan” Andersen, FaZe Clan’s IGL for CS2, 40-year-old Bae “Knee” Jae-min, a multi-time Evo champion, and Shane “Rapha” Hendrixson, the best Quake player of all time at 34.

Interestingly enough, one of the esports scenes that features tons of “old” guys is the FGC, despite being a more mentally challenging one-on-one esport that requires rapid reaction times and fast-paced mind games. However, the FGC is also full of new blood, like the Capcom Cup 12 featuring a ton of qualified players in their teens.

ZETA DIVISION’s test will actually include its two Street Fighter 6 players, Momochi and Higuchi. I think this is a great starting point, allowing the study to capture just how sharp and fast esports pros have to be. And is that level of speed and accuracy truly sustainable into a player’s 30s? And more importantly, can they handle the pressure?