Abby Jovanovic
Audiences, Analysis, eSports
July 17, 2023
Video games aren’t just for pre-teens and teenage boys anymore! Now, professional “gamers” are competing in “eSports” events and expected to attract over 540 million viewers globally in 2023. By 2025, the global viewership for eSports is predicted to reach 640 million with revenue of $1.8 billion.[1]
There are 34 million active users on Twitch, the interactive, livestreaming service for gaming content.[2] The popularity of gaming events has prompted major corporations such as ESPN, Activision Blizzard and Electronic Ats to establish eSports divisions.
The idea of playing video games competitively is not new. The earliest recorded video game competition took place on October 19, 1972, for the coveted prize of a year’s subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.
Nowadays, many video games have both official and unofficial tournaments and league gaming, with viewership increasing exponentially. Winning eSports teams can receive a prize of nearly $490,000. In fact, eSports attract global sponsors and partners, including Amazon Prime Gaming, MasterCard, KIA, Nestle’s KitKat, McDonald’s and more.
You may be wondering, why are eSports so popular? According to Lee and Schoenstedt, players’ interests in eSports gaming stem from competition, peer pressure, and skill-building.
Currently, there are over 160 eSports programs in the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE). With more than 5,000 students participating, the NACE programs have awarded $16 million in scholarships and aid. More than 8,600 high schools across the country have created eSports teams compared to the 16,000 football teams.
Popularity among eSports can also be attributed to the diversity and quality of video games as well as access. A person does not need a lot of money to get into eSports. To participate in eSports, a player is not required to have the physical abilities of a traditional athlete to be successful. This sport is for everyone.
Why revenue of course! eSports is a growing industry. The first Olympics eSports Week was June 22-25 in Singapore.[3] Sponsorships and partnerships are expected to reach $1.2 billion in 2023.[4]
It’s not an overstatement to say the eSports audience size is exploding! Contact us to learn how you can connect with eSports enthusiasts.
[1]: “44+ eSports Statistics for 2023,” Demand Sage
[2]: “Number of Twitch users in the United States from 2021 to 2025," Statista
[3]: "Olympic eSports Week," Olympic Games
[4]: "eSports Are Opening New Ad Inventory for Brands," Media Radar
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