The origins of airsoft go back to the 1970’s when the sport was invented in Japan. Guns were outlawed there, and airsoft provided sport and mimicked real guns. A movement in the US also took off around this time, with guns like Daisy Air Guns. Models like this led to pellet guns, and the combination of these models and the Japanese market launched the airsoft industry.

1911 UHC Airsoft Pistol
The airsoft industry has since advanced with two ideas in mind. First, is sport. Airsoft is a sport with multiple variations. It can be used for team vs. team play, much like paintball. It also comes with scenarios like capture the flag, etc. Interestingly, airsoft is also used for military reenactments. This gives airsoft some potential that paintball and other such sports have not realized. The second element of the industry is its gun models. Airsoft guns are not just functional. Instead they serve as replicas of real gun models.

Thompson M1A1 AEG Airsoft Gun
Soon after this time, paintball also became a popular sport. Many found that paintball was physical, adrenaline-rushing, and good exercise. The sport gained popularity quickly and was becoming a worldwide hobby. Another hobby was taking off too. This was model building and included model cars, planes, toys, and so on. As these two hobbies grew in popularity, they began to merge. People became interested in making model guns, and ideally these guns could be functional. Airsoft guns made this popular. People could model the guns in accordance with the specifications of real guns. But, of course, these guns did not fire real ammo. By merging these two hobbies in such a way, airsoft was born.
Since these times, airsoft has come a long way. Many people still value airsoft guns that are closely modeled after the real things. Make-it-yourself guns, however, do seem to have lost popularity. Instead, most people buy these gun models. From there, they are used in training or for purely recreational purposes. Like with paintball, groups can gather in woods or other private areas to play. The sport has caused some controversy in recent years. The bullets have been known to cause minor injuries, and there have been some extraordinary cases.

AccuShot Competition Shadow Ops Sniper Rifle
There is also a question about the ethical implications of airsoft. Many believe that the sport models war too closely. In fact, many players dress up in military gear, like special ops uniforms. The fact that the bullets do hurt is also said to heighten the excitement and element of danger. Lastly, airsoft has created some legal problems. States differ on what types of airsoft guns are legal, if any at all. There are also disagreements between states about age for purchasing and selling airsoft guns.