Watching people play video games is becoming
increasingly popular around the globe. ESports, which originated in
South Korea in the late 1990s, are continuing to gain traction, and than
hundreds of millions of people are becoming aware of the growing
phenomenon.
Newzoo says 1.1 billion people will be aware
of eSports this year, and that number will rise increase by 400 million
in 2019. With the number moving past 1 billion, the number of consumers
is up 36 percent.
"Explosive growth in coverage from global and
local media, an intensified effort from game publishers, as well as the
launch of an abundance of new leagues and events have accelerated the
global exposure of esports beyond initial expectations," Newzoo said in a
statement.
A year ago an estimated 809 million people
were aware of eSports, and that’s expected to increase to 1.572 billion
in three years. There are an estimated 148 million eSports
enthusiasts in 2016, and that could grow to 215 million in 2019.
Most of the awareness of eSports comes from
outside the United States. Twenty-eight percent of the global awareness
is in China, and 22 percent is from the European Union. Just 15 percent
of the total comes from North America.
But that doesn’t mean the U.S. isn’t paying attention. ESPN has even begun to cover it, offering a link to eSports
on their website. Video game publisher Riot Games partnered with Big
Ten Network to show an Ohio State vs. Michigan State competition in
Boston on April 25. Events like the LoL World Championships in 2013 sold
out Staples Center in Los Angeles. Sponsorships have also been on the
rise from the likes of Coca-Cola and Red Bull.
According to Newzoo, global eSports revenues are expected to reach $463 million this year. Fortune
reported in October that eSports make over $321 million in revenue in
Asia. North America comes in second at $224 million with the U.S.
at about $215 million. Europe accounts for $172 million, and the rest of
the world is at $29 million.
Post a Comment