eSports & Streaming·Updated Apr 8, 2026 by Newzoo
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive led 2022 viewership with the PGL Major Antwerp recording 10.5 million hours watched and an average concurrent viewership of 96.7k.
Riot Games is shifting its Valorant esports strategy from high-cost franchising to a partnership model that eliminates franchise fees in favor of financial stipends.
Major esports titles including Dota 2 and League of Legends events generated over 20 million hours of combined viewership in 2022.
Wild Rift’s global championship in Singapore featured a $2 million prize pool across 24 teams, while the PUBG Mobile Nations Cup in Bangkok offered a $500k prize pool.
Valorant’s regional tours and the upcoming Champions Tour in Japan contributed nearly 3 million hours of viewership to the global landscape.
Publishers are increasingly prioritizing inclusivity and grassroots growth through initiatives like Riot’s Game Changers for women’s tournaments and by encouraging third-party off-season events.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive led 2022 viewership with the PGL Major Antwerp recording 10.5 million hours watched and an average concurrent viewership of 96.7k.
Riot Games is shifting its Valorant esports strategy from high-cost franchising to a partnership model that eliminates franchise fees in favor of financial stipends.
Major esports titles including Dota 2 and League of Legends events generated over 20 million hours of combined viewership in 2022.
Wild Rift’s global championship in Singapore featured a $2 million prize pool across 24 teams, while the PUBG Mobile Nations Cup in Bangkok offered a $500k prize pool.
Valorant’s regional tours and the upcoming Champions Tour in Japan contributed nearly 3 million hours of viewership to the global landscape.
Publishers are increasingly prioritizing inclusivity and grassroots growth through initiatives like Riot’s Game Changers for women’s tournaments and by encouraging third-party off-season events.