With so many to choose from, esports enthusiasts certainly have plenty of choice when it comes to picking a tournament or event to stream and watch.
Everyone knows that the likes of “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive”, “Dota 2”, “League of Legends”, and “Valorant” are among the most popular. They have been for an extensive period of time and their reputation within the industry has been one that has become extremely established as they are titles which are synonymous with the sector.
Indeed, these games are often the go-to choice for those who have sought to enhance the entertainment value they get from the activity by including betting opportunities with them. Sportsbooks around the world have allowed punters to place bets on the games that are played, much in the same way that a traditional bet would be placed on physical sporting activities like soccer, American football, or horse racing.
The esports betting market is extremely lucrative and has proven to be a huge success. It is a market that is projected to grow by 7.27% over the next few years, potentially reaching a market volume of over $3.3 billion in the coming years. You can find out about esports here, as it is possible to gain valuable information about wagering on DFS sites.
However, while it is always good and well stating that some titles are synonymous with the industry and their popularity, does that always translate into what is being watched by the most viewers?
Mobile Legends leads the way in 2024
According to the data collected by Esports Charts, the usual suspects do appear high up the leaderboard in terms of their peak viewership, but none of those mentioned earlier take the top spot. This has been reserved for “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang”.
The mobile game comprehensively beat the rest of the competition in terms of its peak viewership numbers, as it amassed a total of 1.77 million on March 16, 2024. It was one of three mobile games to appear in the top 10 of the list. It would not be a surprise if we saw an upturn in the number of people hunting for the latest available codes for this game.
“League of Legends” was ranked second in terms of its peak viewership, having amassed a figure just short of 1.2 million (1.19) on January 17, while “Valorant” was the only other title to have broken the 1 million audience peak number (1.06) on March 21, 2024.
Rounding out the top five were “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” and Fortnite with 972,312 (February 11) and 739,575 (February 25), respectively. Interestingly, “Minecraft”, “PUGB Mobile” and “Rocket League” - all games to have done well in terms of their popularity as esports titles - have either only just broken the 500,000 mark for peak viewership or still remain a slight way under.
What factors impact the peak viewership of esports?
Admittedly, it is still very early into the year and there have arguably only been a few notable tournaments to have taken place. Some games are yet to have had their major events be contested, which is why the peak viewership numbers are perhaps not as high as one would expect them to be.
Indeed, there are various factors that can have a significant influence on the numbers that are recorded. While the title of the game and the player base that it has managed to create can often be enough to boost the numbers, there are other aspects that need to be taken into consideration.
The level of competition and player quality can have a telling impact on the number of viewers. If the best players are not competing or the event appears to be rather one-sided on paper, there may be a lack of interest from viewers, making the event appear predictable and potentially uninteresting.
Additionally, viewership can be impacted by streaming platforms and/or networks that broadcast the events. Twitch has been the primary platform for esports tournaments and events, however as the sport has grown, there has been greater interest from those outside of the industry. Networks like Star Sports and ESPN have broadcasted events in the past, meaning more eyes can potentially be drawn to the tournaments that take place. Social media also plays its own role.
Smaller factors can also influence viewing numbers, including geographical regions and the demographics of players. While most gaming enthusiasts may not be too bothered by the nationality of the athletes competing, excitement and greater interest can sometimes be garnered when an individual from a region that doesn’t normally compete is involved. This can give the esports industry a boost when it happens, as it can attract more media attention and focus, thus putting the spotlight on the games that are being played.
Will peak viewership numbers increase?
Given that we are only a quarter of the way through the year, it would be a real shock if we were not to see the peak viewing figures grow further as we head further into 2024.
As mentioned, some of the biggest events are yet to take place. Once they do, we can expect the viewing figures to escalate significantly.