近年来，电竞在国内受到热捧，电竞行业也带动了相关衍生行业的兴起。其中，依托于电竞产业的陪练新生态应运而生，发展势头日盛。在2019年人社部发布的新职业中，电子竞技员、电竞陪练师等电竞领域相关职业均被囊括在内，电竞陪练从边缘职业纳入“正规军”的行列。2020年7月31日，《中国电子竞技陪练师标准》正式发布，为陪练行业规范化发展指明了方向，从此电竞陪练可以“持证上岗”。国家政策的支持、多个核心城市都在发力构建“电竞之都”，加之产业集聚优势不断凸显，电竞陪练行业逐步走向规范化道路。In recent years, with esports gradually gaining popularity in China, the esports industry has given rise to several related industries. Among them, the job of esports companion is one of the more novel occupations that have emerged.China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security released a new policy in 2019, recognizing new professions derived from the esports industry, and on July 31, 2020, it released official training standards.小白正式踏入电竞陪练行业一年有余，作为一名Z世代青年，电竞陪练不仅是靠近梦想更近的方式，也是自力更生的重要手段。靠日常接单以及平台打赏，他的日常开支基本能够得到保障。以比心APP为例，目前平台活跃的注册陪练师已经超过500万，其中既有像小白一样的兼职陪练师，也有不少游戏技能高超的退役电竞选手和全职陪练。要想在陪练平台脱颖而出，除技术这样的“硬实力”外，还需要有口才、情商、沟通、揣摩玩家心理等“软技巧”。“可能大家都觉得陪玩是个很轻松的职业，聊聊天打打游戏就能获得不错的收入。实际上，电竞陪练需要跟不同的人去打游戏，技术和聊天技巧都得兼得，日夜颠倒更是家常便饭，一天下来身心俱疲。”凭借自己的健谈和幽默，小白往往能较快与玩家建立比较牢固的关系。在他看来，除了一些刚入门的新手电竞玩家需要寻求资深玩家的帮助，增强游戏体验感以外，其他找陪玩的用户大多是为了“图个开心和放松”，“毕竟自己一个人打游戏肯定不如大家一起打有意思”，也能排解独自生活的孤独感。Xiaobai has been a part-time esports companion for more than a year. For Gen Zers, like him, people born between 1995 and 2005, esports is not only a common hobby but also a new career choice.For him, esports practice is not only a way to get closer to his dream but also an important way to make a living. By receiving daily orders and virtual awards from his customers, his daily expenses are basically covered. For instance, the Bixin platform has more than 5 million active registered esports companions. Apart from having advanced technical skills, esports companions also need to have good communication skills to stand out.除了电竞陪练师以外，作为陪练行业的重要一环，陪练平台自萌芽以来，历经上升、扩张，也曾被推在风口浪尖。如今，更多政策的倾斜和资本的涌入，陪练平台正迎来新的风口。2017年，随着手游《王者荣耀》的引入，电竞陪练的第一波需求高峰强势来袭，相关产品争相涌现，陪练市场一时泥沙俱下。在竞争和扩张的过程中，仅有几家陪练平台坚持了下来，逐步从碎片化向平台化发展过渡，实现突围。对于电竞行业而言，2020年挑战和机遇并存，更多的人选择线上娱乐方式，必然带动了电竞产业的持续爆发，作为电竞游戏产业的新生态，游戏陪练市场进一步升级扩张，增长趋势超出预期。比心副总裁杜明江向CGTN记者介绍，仅2020年上半年，平台上电竞陪练师数量呈现爆发式增长，前两季度单季新增人数均超过百万，其中三四五线城市占比增至48%、超过95万人。游戏陪练正逐渐成为小城市年轻人的新选择。The first profitable period was in 2017 when Arena of Alor became overwhelmingly popular.The esports companions behind it reached a peak time, and related products emerged one after another. After the hot competition in this industry, only a few training platforms grew stronger. According to Du Mingjiang, Bixin’s vice president, challenges and opportunities will coexist in the esports industry in 2020 as more people will choose online entertainment, which will inevitably lead to the continued growth of the industry. 如今，比心陪练平台注册用户已经超过4千万人次。如此庞大的市场使电竞陪玩在收获了广泛关注的同时，也引来不少质疑。
事实上，陪玩服务的问题沉积已久。
陪练平台虽然为玩家和陪练“搭线”，但由于实际陪玩服务发生在平台以外，加上为提高用户粘性，陪练平台通过搭建社区等手段鼓励用户开展社交，这也让陪练深陷“言语骚扰”和“涉黄”的诟病。以比心为例，尽管深耕陪练平台六年有余，此前也因推出的“线下服务”存在色情隐患遭受质疑。此外，有媒体曝光个别陪练在平台兜售“深夜服务”的现象。2017年起，比心全面取消了线下服务。对于用户在交易中出现的违规操作，表示将对脱离平台交易的行为持续打击引导，通过加大风控系统投入和人工审核等手段，确保平台各业务场景的内容安全。With registered Bixin users exceeding 40 million, esports companions have gained more attention. But the profession has also sparked discussion and doubts. Many say the esports sector should regulate the gray areas in the industry for better development.随着电竞产业持续发展，相应上下游产业链应运而生。游戏陪玩既契合日益壮大的玩家群体的需求，又为电竞市场提供了大量的就业机会。相信未来这一领域还将是一片蓝海。