Esports in numbers

he easy accessibility of eSports is bound to attract more and more audiences in the coming years. In 2016, the number of eSports enthusiasts and occasional viewers totaled 323 million. The number of viewers who regularly follow the industry and tune in to watch international competitions is projected to nearly double by 2020. In terms of title popularity, the League of Legends takes the lead, especially when looking at the number of registered players. As of mid-2015, the game had a player base of 67 million. That same year, 36 million individuals streamed the League of Legends World Championships online, which represented a 33% increase from 2014.

A growing number of brands are acting to capitalize on the growth of esports as the majority of professional gaming fans are millennials and open to brand sponsors. Sixty-two percent of US esports viewers are aged 18-34, according to Activate, while 58% have a positive attitude towards brand involvement in esports.

Additional data suggests Gen Zers are more receptive to nontraditional sports, like esports, than traditional sports — 56% of US Gen Z men (aged 13-21) said nontraditional sports are “relevant to my generation,” while just 44% said the same for traditional sports.