Esports is a growing part of the gaming industry that more people are paying attention to Its growth is only just beginning according to this new report.
The global 2017 esports industry grows to US$1.5 billion
The US$1.5 billion figure includes investments, sponsorships, prize pools, merchandise as well as betting and amateur tournaments. Also, 50% of the final figure is attributable to investments alone. In total, ads and investments contributed to 85% of the global esports market this year.
Dota 2’s US$25 million prize pool broke esports records
Dota 2’s finals tournament called The International offered a prize pool of US$25 million. The factor behind this large prize pool was Dota 2’s crowdfunding campaign. As a result, this year’s prize pool was US$3 million higher than 2016.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds attracted millions of viewers
PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) was just released in April of this year so it’s a young game. However, despite this, it has attracted 202 million unique viewers. Also, its large viewership to player ratio (15:1) proves its popularity as a spectator game, paving the way for the Battle Royale genre.
Want to learn more about the gaming and esports market as well as how to get involved?
- Livestreaming is more powerful than you think. Learn more about reviews and live stream marketing.
- Gaming video content (including streaming services like Twitch) is more popular than you think. Learn more about gaming video content here.
- Like the rest of the technology market, gaming is also moving into the mobile market. Learn more about the mobile games market.