Competitive esports, specifically MOBA and Battle Royale titles, drive over 50% of total viewership in the East Asian streaming market.

According to "Peak Play: Trends in East Asian Videogame Streaming H1 2023": Competitive esports, specifically MOBA and Battle Royale titles, drive over 50% of total viewership in the East Asian streaming market.

Honor of Kings remains the dominant force in China with 5.67 billion views, while VALORANT and Apex Legends lead in Japan and Korea with over 100 million hours watched each.

According to "Peak Play: Trends in East Asian Videogame Streaming H1 2023": Honor of Kings remains the dominant force in China with 5.67 billion views, while VALORANT and Apex Legends lead in Japan and Korea with over 100 million hours watched each.

Key Opinion Leaders and VTubers are significant market drivers, contributing up to 15% of total viewership for major titles and successfully revitalizing older games.

According to "Peak Play: Trends in East Asian Videogame Streaming H1 2023": Key Opinion Leaders and VTubers are significant market drivers, contributing up to 15% of total viewership for major titles and successfully revitalizing older games.

New title launches face high barriers to entry, with only Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, and Street Fighter 6 breaking into regional top-ten rankings during H1 2023.

According to "Peak Play: Trends in East Asian Videogame Streaming H1 2023": New title launches face high barriers to entry, with only Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, and Street Fighter 6 breaking into regional top-ten rankings during H1 2023.

Audience cannibalization is a measurable risk, as evidenced by Honkai: Star Rail’s growth contributing to a 31% decline in Genshin Impact viewership.

According to "Peak Play: Trends in East Asian Videogame Streaming H1 2023": Audience cannibalization is a measurable risk, as evidenced by Honkai: Star Rail’s growth contributing to a 31% decline in Genshin Impact viewership.

Market volatility is high, highlighted by a 68.5% drop in Splatoon 3 viewership following its initial launch period.

According to "Peak Play: Trends in East Asian Videogame Streaming H1 2023": Market volatility is high, highlighted by a 68.5% drop in Splatoon 3 viewership following its initial launch period.

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Key Insights

Peak Play: Trends in East Asian Videogame Streaming H1 2023

Niko Partners~26 min full read

01
Competitive esports, specifically MOBA and Battle Royale titles, drive over 50% of total viewership in the East Asian streaming market.
02
Honor of Kings remains the dominant force in China with 5.67 billion views, while VALORANT and Apex Legends lead in Japan and Korea with over 100 million hours watched each.
03
Key Opinion Leaders and VTubers are significant market drivers, contributing up to 15% of total viewership for major titles and successfully revitalizing older games.
04
New title launches face high barriers to entry, with only Diablo IV, Honkai: Star Rail, and Street Fighter 6 breaking into regional top-ten rankings during H1 2023.
05
Audience cannibalization is a measurable risk, as evidenced by Honkai: Star Rail’s growth contributing to a 31% decline in Genshin Impact viewership.
06
Market volatility is high, highlighted by a 68.5% drop in Splatoon 3 viewership following its initial launch period.

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