Multiplay’s clients include some of the biggest names in the games industry, including Minecraft maker Mojang, EA Sports, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Jagex Studios.

^{Last year’s Call of Duty championships}

The scene has also been propelled into the mainstream by technological advances that allow live streaming of games.

Game makers are also attracting heavyweight Hollywood names to appear in games, for example the latest Call of Duty features Kevin Spacey as a lead character. That franchise just passed £10bn in total revenue.

^{Kevin Spacey was nominated for a BAFTA for his role as Jonthan Irons in Call ofDuty: Advanced Warfare}

Meanwhile, Amazon recently made the biggest acquisition of its history with the $1bn takeover of Twitch, a live-streaming gaming network, as a bet on the future of the eSports.

While eSports is a huge business in the US and Korea, with games achieving celebrity status and £25m prize pots, it is just beginning to generate more interest in the UK.

Last month, London’s Royal Opera House was taken over by the Call of Duty European Championships, which saw teams battling for £10,000 prize money. Last year, the tournament was held at Twickenham Stadium.

In addition, Gfinity, a rival start-up eSports tournament organiser, became the first of its kind to list on London’s junior market, valued at £13.2m.

^{The Royal Opera House became an unlikely venue for eSports tournaments in February}

“The acquisition of Multiplay is an exciting and strategically important step for Game. The world of live events, eSports and multiplayer gaming is growing rapidly and one we have been looking to enter for some time,” said Martyn Gibbs, chief executive of Game Digital.

“By acquiring Multiplay we are benefitting from nearly two decades of experience, during which time Multiplay has built an exceptional reputation and leading position in its markets. Multiplay has a great management team and a fantastic culture – their passion and enthusiasm for games is infectious.”

^{Call of Duty: Ghosts includes multiplayer action}

Analysts at Canaccord said they thought the deal was an “an astute strategic move from Game on several fronts”. “It is tapping into a significant growth market, with a significant existing market for eSports events… boosted by underlying growth in hardcore gaming and the evolution of gaming YouTube channels, Twitch and celebrity gamers.

“It improves Game’s position in the PC gaming market. And importantly, it fits with Game’s strategy of being the leading specialist gaming retailer in the UK and Spain and becoming a core part of the gaming community.”

Craig Fletcher, founder and chief executive of Multiplay, said: “Being part of Game means that together we can offer our communities so much more than we ever could have independently and can more rapidly realise our growth aspirations.”

Mr Fletcher will continue as chief executive of Multiplay, which will remain a separate brand under the Game umbrella.

Game Digital was the best performing stock market listing last year despite a record number of company flotations. The business collapsed into administration three years ago after a debt-fuelled acquisition spree. The company’s owners at Elliott shut 600 stores across Europe and listed on the stock market with just the UK and French operations.

Game’s shares have risen by more than 30pc since the listing but edged 0.2p lower to 262.80p yesterday.