Worldwide Esports Viewership Will Grow to 519 Million by 2024

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
Global esports viewership is projected to reach 519 million by 2024, growing from 300 million in 2020. The US and Europe are expected to see significant growth, with US viewership increasing by 129% to 48 million and France, Germany, and the UK collectively rising by 78% to 32 million.
02
Esports fans, defined as those who attend live events or compete, are expected to more than double from 121 million in 2020 to 266 million in 2024.
03
Esports fans generally spend more on gaming than core gamers; in the US and South Korea, esports fans spent 84% more in the past 12 months. The UK, China, and Brazil also showed higher spending from esports fans, with Germany being the only exception where core gamers spent 6% more.
04
Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 will feature 20 pavilions from 12 markets, including new additions from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and the US, bringing the total number of participating countries and regions to 29.
05
Fishlabs announced layoffs due to "changing project requirements," affecting development and support teams.
06
Sega and Creative Assembly removed Total War: Shogun 2 remaster from sale, stating it "falls short of both your expectations and our own standards."
07
Epic Games claims its new "vibe coded" launcher runs 46% faster than Steam from a cold start to the store page.

Summary

The global esports industry is projected to experience significant growth in both viewership and fan engagement through 2024. According to research conducted by the Consumer Technology Association and the research firm Interpret, the worldwide esports audience—defined as individuals who watch tournaments via television or livestreaming—is expected to reach 519 million by 2024, up from 300 million in 2020. Furthermore, the population of dedicated esports fans, categorized as those who actively compete in or attend live events, is forecasted to more than double, rising from 121 million to 266 million over the same period.

Geographically, the United States and Europe are identified as the primary drivers of this expansion. The United States is anticipated to see a 129% increase in viewership, reaching 48 million, while a collective grouping of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom is expected to grow by 78% to 32 million viewers. The research suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for this trend, as shelter-in-place mandates encouraged consumers to explore new forms of digital entertainment, establishing a long-term audience base for the sector.

The findings also highlight a distinct economic profile for esports enthusiasts compared to the broader core gaming population. A 15-market survey conducted in mid-2021 revealed that esports fans generally exhibit higher spending habits on gaming-related products. In the United States and South Korea, esports fans reported spending 84% more on gaming than their core gamer counterparts. While this spending gap varies by region, the data indicates that esports fans represent a highly valuable demographic for the industry, with Germany serving as the only surveyed market where core gamers reported higher average spending than esports fans.