Esports Idol Fandom in China’s Media Fan Culture Community: Formation, Challenges, and Governance

Abstract

This study investigates the formation, evolution, and governance of Chinese esports “fan communities” from a cultural study perspective. With the rapid rise of esports in China—particularly through platforms such as the LPL and KPL—fan culture has undergone a transformation from loosely organized emotional affinity to highly structured digital mobilization. The paper explores how affective ties, idol construction, media dynamics, and platform capitalism converge to shape the behaviors and identities of fan participants. Drawing on cultural theory, the study critically examines the emotional economies that sustain fan loyalty, the symbolic labor of idols, and the ethical dilemmas posed by excessive fandom. Through the lens of governance, the research addresses the challenges of online misconduct, idol-fan power asymmetries, and the responsibilities of institutions in cultivating a healthier participatory culture. The findings underscore the need for a multi-stakeholder approach to regulating fan practices, one that is attentive to emotional intensity, symbolic structures, and cultural autonomy within digital public so as to realize business sustainability.