This paper investigates the motivational factors and psychological consequences of eSports participation among players. eSports, or electronic sports, refers to the competitive playing of video games at a professional level, with competitors battling it out in a variety of games in front of an audience, either live or streamed over the Internet. The paper describes the meteoric rise that eSports experienced in the last few decades, its history and the current situation in Croatia, where eSports is still trying to establish itself and be recognized as a serious branch of the entertainment industry. The problematic coexistence of eSports and Internet Gaming Disorder is also described. 29 players were surveyed using an anonymous questionnaire. The findings show that intrinsic motivation prevails among eSports players, especially through the desire to compete, achieve and improve one's own skills. Among the extrinsic factors, the most powerful are those of a social nature. Engaging in eSports also positively contributes to the development of cognitive abilities and flexibility, social and communication skills, as well as mental resilience and personal development. However, due to the sedentary nature of the activity, a significant proportion of players reported health problems.