How Many Esports Fans Are There?
A new report from Newzoo estimates that there are now close to 150 million esports fans worldwide.
Introduction
With the recent surge in popularity of esports, you may be wondering how many fans there actually are. While the exact number is difficult to pinpoint, estimates range from tens of millions to over 600 million globally.
The majority of esports fans are located in Asia, with China and South Korea being particularly large markets. North America and Europe also have significant numbers of fans, and the popularity of esports is growing rapidly in these regions as well.
Whether you’re a casual fan or a hardcore player, there’s a good chance you know someone who is into esports. With such a large and passionate fan base, it’s no wonder that esports is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world.
The Growth of Esports
Esports has been growing rapidly in recent years, with more fans tuning in to watch professional gamers compete. According to a report by Newzoo, there arenow over 380 million esports fans worldwide. This is a 36% increase from 2018, when there were 275 million fans. The report also predicts that the number of esports fans will reach nearly 600 million by 2023.
The rise in popularity of streaming services
The last few years have seen a tremendous growth in the popularity of esports, with more and more people tuning in to watch their favorite gamers compete. This rise in popularity has coincided with the growth of streaming services like Twitch and YouTube Gaming, which make it easy for fans to watch their favorite players and teams.
There are now an estimated 300 million people around the world who regularly watch esports, with the vast majority of them being young adults. This is a huge opportunity for brands and businesses, as this demographic is typically very difficult to reach through traditional channels.
With more people than ever before tuning in to watch esports, it’s no wonder that the industry is expected to continue to grow at a rapid pace. If you’re not already involved in esports, now is the time to start paying attention!
The increasing prize pools for tournaments
In recent years, the prize pools for esports tournaments have increased dramatically. This is due to a combination of factors, including the growing popularity of esports, the increasing amount of sponsorship money pouring into the scene, and the exploding size of the online viewerships for these events.
The largest prize pool in esports history is currently The International 2018, which had a prize pool of over $25 million. This is more than double the prize pool of the previous largest tournament, The International 2017. And The International 2018 still has not concluded; its final prize pool will be even larger.
What is driving this growth? Part of it is simply that there are more people interested in esports than ever before. But another big factor is that sponsors are willing to pay more money to have their brands associated with these events. And as the sponsorships grow, so too do the prize pools.
This growth is likely to continue in the years to come, as esports becomes an increasingly mainstream form of entertainment. The prize pools for these tournaments will continue to increase, and more and more people will be tuning in to watch them.
The growth of esports organizations
Organizations that field esports teams have seen meteoric growth in recent years. Immortals, an esports organization founded in 2015, recently raised $30 million in Series C funding, and aXiomatic, the parent company of Team Liquid, an esports organization with one of the largest fanbases in the world, closed a $25 million Series B funding round in September 2018. These investments underscore the incredible potential for organizations within the esports industry.
Many traditional sports organizations have begun to invest in the space as well. In July 2018, the NBA launched its own esports league, and earlier this year, ESPN began airing collegiate esports matches on its digital platforms.
What’s more, a number of high-profile celebrities have invested in organizations or started their own. In October 2018, film star Jennifer Lopez announced her investment in ReKTGlobal, an esports organization that owns Rogue Nation and London Royal Ravens. rapper Drake is also an investor in 100 Thieves, an organization that competes in games like Fortnite and Call of Duty.
The Size of the Esports Industry
The number of esports fans
The global esports audience will reach 454 million this year, up from 435 million in 2019, according to a report from Activate, an marketing and consulting firm.
About three-quarters of the audience is male, and the average fan is in his early 30s. The most popular games are “League of Legends,” “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” and “Overwatch.”
Activate expects the esports audience to grow to 646 million by 2023.
The amount of money generated by esports
esports is a form of sport competition using video games. Esports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players. Although organized online and offline competitions have long been a part of video game culture, these were largely between amateurs until the late 2000s, when participation by professional gamers and spectatorship in these events began to swell. By the 2010s, esports was a significant factor in the video game industry, with many game developers actively designing and providing funding for tournaments and other events.
The global esports market generated revenue of around US$196 million in 2014, up from US$47 million in 2010 This figure includes revenue from eSports betting websites which amount to $27 million alone. In 2015 it is estimated that the global esports market will grow 43% to $463 million USD. Within the next five years it is estimated to grow over $1 billion USD with a 29% CAGR . Global esports revenues will reach $1.9 billion by 2022 according to new research released today
With prize money pools paying out millions of dollars to successful teams as well as Salaries for professional gamers now reaching seven figures in some cases, The size of the Esports Industry is only getting bigger.
The Future of Esports
The continued growth of the industry
It’s no secret that esports has been on the rise in recent years. With the industry now estimated to be worth over $1 billion, it’s no surprise that more and more people are taking notice. But just how big is the esports industry? And how much bigger can it get?
One of the best ways to measure the size of an industry is by looking at the number of fans it has. And when it comes to esports, there are plenty of fans to be found. In fact, a recent report from Newzoo estimates that there are now over 300 million esports fans around the world.
This figure includes both hardcore and casual fans, with hardcore fans making up approximately 22% of the total. That means that there are now around 66 million hardcore esports fans globally. Compare this to 2017, when there were just shy of 60 million hardcore fans, and it’s clear that the industry is continuing to grow at a rapid pace.
What’s more, this growth is set to continue in the years ahead. Newzoo estimates that the number of esports fans will increase to nearly 450 million by 2022, with the number of hardcore fans growing to almost 100 million. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%.
So what’s driving this continued growth? There are a few factors at play. Firstly, as awareness of esports continues to increase, more people are becoming interested in watching competitions and following teams and players. Secondly, as prize pools and spectator numbers continue to rise, so too does the appeal of playing professionally. And lastly, as more brands and advertisers enter the space, they are helping to drive up investment levels and push eSports into the mainstream consciousness.
The increasing number of tournaments
Over the past few years, the esports industry has seen a significant increase in the number of tournaments being held. In 2013, there were only 131 tournaments. This number had more than tripled by 2016, reaching 437 tournaments. And it is estimated that there will be over 1,000 tournaments in 2019.
The prize pools for these tournaments have also seen a sharp increase. In 2013, the total prize pool for all esports tournaments was $26 million. By 2016, this number had grown to $60 million. And it is expected to reach $140 million by 2019.
This rapid growth in the number of tournaments and prize money is attracting more and more participants. The number of unique players who competed in esports tournaments increased from 1,886 in 2013 to 5,102 in 2016. And this number is expected to almost double again by 2019, reaching 9,688 unique players.
The increasing number of tournaments is also attracting more viewers. In 2013, the total viewership for all esports tournaments was 36 million. This number had grown to 160 million by 2016. And it is expected to reach 300 million by 2019
The rise of new esports organizations
With the recent explosive growth in popularity of esports, a natural byproduct has been the rise of new esports organizations. Some are large, global companies that have long been involved in traditional sports like basketball, football, and baseball. Others are startups created specifically to capitalize on the burgeoning esports industry.last year alone, we saw the formation of several new professional esports leagues, including the Overwatch League, the NBA 2K League, and theCall of Duty World League.
We’ve also seen traditional sports organizations get involved in esports. For example, the NFL has created an exclusive partnership with EA Sports to develop Madden NFL esports tournaments. The NBA has partnered with Take-Two Interactive to create the NBA 2K League. And Major League Baseball has invested in multiple esportstournaments and leagues, including the recently launched MLBPA-backed Ballpark stream.
With so many new organizations getting involved in esports, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of them all. So we’ve compiled a list of the most notable new entrants into the space.
1) Immortals: One of the most well-funded new esports organizations, Immortals was founded in 2015 by a group of industry veterans with experience at Riot Games, Twitch, and elsewhere. The organization fields teams in a variety of games, including CS:GO, Overwatch, Halo 5, and Vainglory.
2) NRG Esports: Another well-funded organization founded in 2015, NRG Esports is backed by a number of high-profile investors, including Shaquille O’Neal and Alex Rodriguez. The organization fields teams in CS:GO, Overwatch, Smite, and Vainglory.
3) Echo Fox: Founded by former NBA player Rick Fox in 2015, Echo Fox is one of the most prominent esport organizations with a focus on North American teams and players. The organization fields teams in LoL, CS:GO, Smite
4) CLG: Counter Logic Gaming is one of the oldest and most successful North American esports organizations. Founded in 2010