What Esport Makes The Most Money?

What Esport Makes The Most Money? This is a question that many people ask, and there is no easy answer. However, by taking a look at the top prize pools for each esport, we can get a good idea of which games are the most lucrative.

Fortnite

Fortnite is a free-to-play battle royale game and is one of the most popular games in the world. It is estimated that Fortnite made around $1.8 billion in revenue in 2018. The game has a huge following and has become an esport with competitive tournaments.

Introduction

Fortnite has become a sensation among gamers all over the world. What started out as a fun game to play with friends has turned into a full-fledged esport with tournaments and professional players. But what makes Fortnite so successful? And how does it make so much money?

There are a few factors that have led to Fortnite’s success. Firstly, the game is free-to-play, meaning that anyone can start playing without having to spend any money. This makes it accessible to a wide range of people, which is key for any successful esport. Secondly, the game is easy to pick up and play, but also has a lot of depth for those who want to invest more time into it. This means that it appeals to casual and hardcore gamers alike. Finally, Fortnite has been supported by some of the biggest names in the gaming industry, including Epic Games, Razer, and even Drake.

All of these factors have combined to make Fortnite one of the most popular games in the world, and one of the most lucrative esport in terms of prize money. In 2018 alone, over $100 million dollars was awarded in prize money for Fortnite tournaments. And with the game only continue to grow in popularity, it’s likely that this number will only go up in the years to come.

Popularity

Fortnite is a multiplayer online battle royale game developed and published by Epic Games. It is a free-to-play game that is supported by microtransactions. The game was released as an early access title for Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in September 2017, and for iOS in April 2018. Android versions of the game were released in August 2018. Fortnite is the most popular esport in the world, making more money than any other esport in 2019.

Revenue

In 2018, the game generated $2.4 billion in revenue, up from $1.8 billion the previous year. The game’s popularity has made it a major revenue generator for its publisher, Epic Games.

The game is free-to-play, but players can purchase “V-Bucks” to spend on in-game items such as cosmetics and other enhancements.

In 2019, a report from SuperData estimated that Fortnite had earned $1.8 billion in revenue, making it the highest-grossing free-to-play game of the year.

League of Legends

League of Legends is a five-player online battle arena video game based on the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne mod Defense of the Ancients. Designed by developer Riot Games, LoL was unofficially released in October 2009. The game is a free-to-play title supported by microtransactions. LoL is one of the most popular Internet games. According to Riot Games, it is played by 650 million people.

Introduction

eSports is a form of competition that is facilitated by electronic systems, particularly video games; the input of players and teams as well as the output of the eSports system are mediated by human-computer interfaces. eSports often takes the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players. The most common video game genres associated with eSports are real-time strategy, first-person shooter (FPS), multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and battle royale. Tournaments such as The International, the League of Legends World Championship, the Evolution Championship Series and Intel Extreme Masters provide live broadcasts of eSports competitions and attract large global audiences. Streaming services like Twitch provide individual esports competitors an opportunity to monetize their popularity by permitting spectators to pay a monthly subscription fee to access exclusive content including live broadcasts of their gaming sessions, as well as replays and “highlights” videos inspired by those sessions.

Popularity

League of Legends is one of the most popular esport games with tournaments happening all over the world. The game is also one of the highest earning esport games with players taking home large payouts.

Revenue

League of Legends is a five-player online battle arena video game based on the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne mod Defense of the Ancients. Designed by developer Riot Games, it was unofficially released in October 2009. The game is a free-to-play title supported by microtransactions. It is one of the most popular Internet games. In terms of popularity, it is rivaled only by Dota 2 and Counter Strike: Global Offensive.

The game is played in two teams of three or five players, with each player controlling a “champion” with unique abilities. Players strive to defeat their opponents by using basic attacks and special abilities to destroy enemy champions and towers. In addition to these standard game modes, League of Legends also offers custom games created by players themselves.

League of Legends is one of the largest esports, with annual revenue exceeding $1 billion. The game’s competitive circuit comprises numerous tournaments around the world, including the annual World Championship, which attracts millions of viewers online and thousands more in attendance.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a game that is played by millions of people all around the world. The game has a professional scene with many tournaments being hosted each year. These tournaments have very large prize pools which attract the best teams from all over the world. The game is also very popular for betting and gambling.

Introduction

ESports is a form of competition using video games. Most commonly, eSports take the form of organized, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players. The most common video game genres associated with eSports are real-time strategy, first-person shooter (FPS), and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA). Tournaments such as The International, the League of Legends World Championship, the Battle.net World Championship Series and the Halo World Championship attract millions of dollars in prize money from sponsors and donors.

Popularity

Since it’s release in 2012, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has received continous support from it’s developer, Valve. Counter-Strike: GO is one of the most popular esport titles in the world with a large pro scene and regular tournaments. The game is also popular among casual gamers thanks to it’s simple yet addictive gameplay.

Revenue

The revenue streams for esports are quite diverse and differ from those of traditional sports. While ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorship make up the largest sources of revenue for traditional sports, broadcasting rights and advertising make up the bulk of esports revenues. In 2019, the global esports market generated $906 million in revenue, a year-over-year growth of 26.7%. By 2022, the global esports market is expected to reach $1.65 billion.

Broadcasting Rights
Broadcasting rights generate the largest share of revenues for any given esport. In 2019, Twitch generated $1.54 billion in advertising revenues and another $300 million in subscription revenues. The majority of these subscription revenues come from Twitch Prime, a service that is included with an Amazon Prime membership. Other streaming platforms such as YouTube Gaming and Mixer also generate significant advertising and subscription revenues.

Advertising
Advertising spending on esports is expected to reach $696 million in 2020, an increase of 27% from 2019. The majority of this spending will go towards online advertising on streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming. In-game product placement is also becoming increasingly common as more brands look to reach the elusive millennial demographic.

Sponsorship
Sponsorship deals are typically structured as lump sum payments or as a percentage of total tournament prize pools. In 2019, North American companies spent $457 million on esports sponsorships, a year-over-year increase of 22%. The majority of this spending came from apparel brands (20%), energy drinks (19%), and gaming hardware companies (12%).

Ticket Sales
Ticket sales account for a relatively small share of total esports revenues but are growing at a rapid pace. In 2019, ticket sales generated $51 million in revenue, a year-over-year growth of 25%. The global pandemic has put a halt to live events but they are expected to resume later in 2020.

Overwatch

The game Overwatch, created by Blizzard, is one of the most popular esport games. It is a first-person shooter game where teams of six players compete against each other. The game is played on a variety of maps, and each map has a different objective. The most common mode is Control, where the teams compete to capture and hold a central point on the map.

Introduction

Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released in May 2016 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. The game features a handful of different game modes, principally designed around team-based combat with two opposing teams of six players each. Players choose from one of over two dozen pre-defined hero characters, each with their own unique abilities and role classes. Players can change their hero during the course of a match, as well as build up and use ultimate abilities that canoften turn the tide of battle.

Popularity

We all know that Overwatch is a popular game, but did you know that it’s one of the most popular esport games as well? With a huge player base and a constantly growing competitive scene, it’s no wonder that Overwatch is one of the top esporting games in the world.

In terms of viewership, Overwatch has had some very impressive numbers. The 2017 Overwatch World Cup had over 10 million unique viewers, and the 2018 tournament had even more. That’s not even counting the numerous other tournaments and events that take place throughout the year. Clearly, people love watching Overwatch!

But popularity isn’t everything. In order for a game to truly be successful as an esport, it needs to make money. And thankfully, Overwatch does that too. In fact, it’s one of the highest paying esport games out there. The total prize pool for the 2017 Overwatch World Cup was a whopping $4.5 million! And with more and more big money tournaments being hosted each year, that number is only going to go up.

So if you’re looking for an esport to invest your time and money in, you can’t go wrong with Overwatch. It has everything you could want: popularity, excitement, and big money prizes.

Revenue

As is the case with traditional sports, revenue for esports is generated through a combination of game publisher support, advertising, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Top-earning athletes in traditional sports leagues such as the NBA and NFL typically earn the majority of their income through endorsements and sponsorships. In contrast, the majority of revenue for professional esports athletes comes from salaries and prize money.

According to Statista, the global esports economy is expected to generate $1.1 billion in revenue in 2019. This figure is up 27% from 2018 and is expected to continue to grow in the coming years. The majority of this revenue will come from sponsorships and media rights deals.

Dota 2

Dota 2 is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Valve Corporation. The game is the stand-alone sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), which was a community-created mod for Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion pack, The Frozen Throne.

Introduction

Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game developed and published by Valve Corporation. The game is a sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), which was a community-created mod for Blizzard Entertainment’s Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion pack, The Frozen Throne. Dota 2 is played in matches between two teams of five players, with each team occupying and defending their own separate base on the map. Each of the ten players independently controls a powerful character, known as a “hero”, who all have unique abilities and differing styles of play. During a match, players collect experience points and items for their heroes in order to successfully battle the opposing team’s heroes in player versus player combat. A team wins by being the first to destroy the other team’s “Ancient”, a large structure located within their base.

Most playing sessions last between 30 and 60 minutes.

Popularity

Dota 2 is a five-player online battle arena video game based on the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne mod Defense of the Ancients. Designed by Valve Corporation, Dota 2 was released as a free-to-play game on Steam for Microsoft Windows, OS X, and Linux in July 2013, following its public beta testing phase that began in 2011. As with Defense of the Ancients, the game is decentralised and hosted by servers.

Dota 2 is one of the most popular games on Steam, with peaks of over 1 million concurrent players. According to IGN, it is “the most played game on Steam right now”. In February 2015, Dotabuff estimated that there were over 7 million unique players playing Dota 2. At The International 2013 championship event for Dota 2, held in Seattle at KeyArena, there was a $2.8 million prize pool with the first place team receiving $1.4 million –– the largest ever single event prize pool for an esports tournament at that time.

Revenue

Revenue for the Dota 2 scene has been on a steady incline since its release back in 2013. In 2014, the number reached $61 million and by 2016 it had increased to $257 million. By 2018, that number had more than tripled to $811 million. The majority of this revenue comes from tournament prize pools, with a small portion coming from direct sales of in-game items.