Esports statistics and market reports
Documents
Arcade to eSports: How Your Competitive Game Influences Player Culture and Values
The evolution of competitive gaming from the arcade era to modern eSports reveals that the structural design of a game directly dictates the values and social dynamics of its player base.
- Game structural design directly dictates the values and social dynamics of a player base, meaning competitive ecosystems must be built to reflect the game's inherent culture.
- The fighting game community maintains a grassroots, open-bracket culture by prioritizing direct participation and personal mastery over the passive consumption models common in modern eSports.
- To sustain competitive ecosystems, organizers should avoid standardized, spectator-focused industry models and instead foster accessible entry points through youth and collegiate formats.
Casual Games Sector Report: 2017
The global games market is undergoing a period of rapid expansion and structural transformation, with total revenues projected to exceed $100 billion by 2017.
- The global games market is projected to grow at a 12.5% CAGR, exceeding $100 billion in revenue by 2017, with growth driven by emerging regions including Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East/Africa.
- Mobile gaming is the fastest-growing segment, with revenues expected to rise from over $17 billion in 2013 (23% of the market) to over $35 billion by 2017 (34% of the market).
- The number of mobile gamers is forecast to increase from 1.33 billion in 2013 to 1.82 billion by 2017, with significant growth occurring in both mature and emerging markets.
Mobile Games Whitebook: Q1 2017
The mobile gaming market in Southeast Asia is experiencing rapid expansion, positioning the region as a global leader in growth.
- Southeast Asia's mobile gaming revenue is projected to grow at a 45.3% compound annual growth rate between 2015 and 2019.
- The 'Big Six' markets—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam—generate 97% of the region's total mobile gaming revenue.
- The region is the world's fastest-growing esports market, with the number of enthusiasts expected to rise from 9.5 million in 2016 to 20 million by 2019.
Global Esports Market Report: 2017
The 2017 Global Esports Market Report provides a comprehensive analysis of the esports industry’s transition into a mainstream global business.
- The global esports economy reached $696 million in 2017, marking a 41.3% year-on-year growth with a projected revenue of $1.488 billion by 2020.
- Sponsorship is currently the largest revenue stream at $266.3 million, while media rights are the fastest-growing segment and are projected to reach $340 million by 2020.
- The global esports audience totaled 385.5 million viewers in 2017, split almost evenly between 191 million dedicated enthusiasts and 194 million occasional viewers.
State of the Game Industry 2017
The 2017 State of the Game Industry report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the global development landscape leading into the 31st Game Developers Conference.
- The HTC Vive has overtaken the Oculus Rift as the primary platform for VR/AR development, with 40% of developers planning to support it for their next project.
- Despite 61% of developers not currently working in VR, 75% of the industry views immersive technology as a sustainable long-term business, with AR expected to dominate within 20 years.
- For the first time in the survey's history, developer interest in Android (54%) has surpassed iOS (51%) as a primary mobile target.
How Critical Force is bringing eSports to first-person shooters on mobile
Critical Force Entertainment aims to establish the global standard for mobile first-person shooter (FPS) eSports through its flagship title, Critical Ops.
- Critical Force is positioning 'Critical Ops' as the standard for mobile FPS eSports by targeting a market where mobile devices outnumber PCs by a factor of ten to fifteen.
- The game has achieved over 8 million downloads and 200,000 daily active users through organic growth, intentionally avoiding paid user acquisition.
- The studio secured $4.5 million in funding from NHN Entertainment to support its 2017 roadmap, which includes an official feature-complete release and a push into professional eSports circuits.
Why is eSports and game streaming so popular?
The popularity of eSports and game streaming is driven by distinct psychological motivations that differ significantly from traditional media consumption.
- Escapism is the primary driver for streaming consumption, with viewers seeking distraction from daily life spending more total hours watching content than any other segment.
- Social interaction is the leading motivation for paid subscriptions, as users pay to gain community status and access exclusive features like custom emoticons.
- Desktop users are more likely to subscribe and engage in longer viewing sessions than mobile users, who prioritize quick, bite-sized entertainment.
Five key trends shaping the future of mobile games
The mobile gaming industry has reached a historic inflection point, with global consumer spending projected to hit $37 billion in 2016.
- Mobile gaming has surpassed PC and console segments in total revenue, with global consumer spending projected to reach $37 billion in 2016 and $52 billion by 2019.
- The Asia-Pacific region, specifically China, Japan, and South Korea, acts as the primary growth engine, accounting for nearly 50% of the global revenue increase.
- Traditional PC and console publishers are increasingly adapting established intellectual properties for mobile to capture market share, exemplified by Tencent’s acquisition of Supercell.
Why Sports and Brands Want to Be in Esports
This analysis explores the strategic motivations behind the increasing integration of traditional sports organizations and global consumer brands into the esports ecosystem.
- Esports revenue is projected to reach $1.1 billion by 2019, reflecting a 37% compound annual growth rate.
- Among men aged 21 to 35 in the United States, esports viewership has reached 22%, achieving parity with traditional sports like baseball and ice hockey.
- The esports audience is characterized by high digital engagement, showing a distinct preference for platforms like Twitch and Instagram and a stronger affinity for technology brands compared to traditional sports fans.
Will mobile eSports be a hit? Twitch and Super Evil Megacorp discuss
This discussion from the 2016 Pocket Gamer Connects conference explores the emergence and rapid professionalization of mobile esports, specifically focusing on the partnership between the streaming platform Twitch and Super Evil Megacorp, the developer of the mobile MOBA Vainglory.
- The massive disparity between the 3 billion mobile device install base and the 800 million PC install base makes the expansion of mobile esports an inevitable industry trajectory.
- Mobile content viewership is a significant driver for Twitch, accounting for 38% of total traffic and reaching 64 million unique users.
- In 2015, the mobile MOBA Vainglory generated 155 million minutes of watched content on Twitch, with major seasonal championships drawing 1.5 million unique viewers per weekend.
How to capitalize on the eSports revolution
Mobile eSports represents a significant, under-monetized frontier within the global gaming industry, currently valued at approximately $10 to $11 billion.
- The mobile eSports sector is currently valued at $10 to $11 billion and holds a potential audience of over two billion smartphone users.
- Long-term growth requires shifting from artificial, prize-driven incentives toward the cultivation of organic, community-led competitive ecosystems.
- Developers must prioritize equitable, skill-based gameplay over pay-to-win mechanics to ensure competitive integrity remains the foundation of the player experience.
What's the future for mobile eSports?
The mobile eSports sector is experiencing rapid growth, driven by the increasing sophistication of mobile hardware and the widespread accessibility of smartphone gaming.
- Mobile eSports is shifting from casual play to high-quality, synchronous PvP experiences, with growth in North America and Europe projected to outpace the established Asian market.
- The industry is moving away from pay-to-win mechanics toward skill-based competitive integrity to ensure long-term viability.
- Sustainable growth is built on four pillars: gameplay balance, active community engagement, spectator appeal, and a consistent tournament cadence.