eSports Industry Is Now Worth 1.5 Billion Dollars

eSports are the new big thing, didnt you hear? Thats what digital research firm Superdata is saying after compiling their data and reporting that, by the end of 2017, the eSports market will be valued at around $1.5 billion.

Thats nothing to turn your nose at!

Specifically, half of that $1.5 billion came from investors, typically from high-profile sports organizations and brands who want to get in on this bubble while its still comparatively cheap, and confidence in its viability is high. 35 percent came from sponsorships and ads, while only 6 percent came from prize pools, 5 percent came from merchandise and tickets, and 5 percent came from the gambling world.

Superdata is predicting that the global revenue of eSports will grow around 26 percent by 2020 and that views will be jumping up by 12 percent at the end of each year, which will make the money swell up as well. While the report gives its dues to the old guard of eSports such as League of Legends and DOTA 2, particular attention is given to the new kids on the block, specifically PUBG and the Overwatch League.

The Overwatch League, for example, is credited for the rising confidence investors have in eSports, as their location-based approach (where each city has their own official league) is comfortable and familiar for these investors, making it an easier sell. Meanwhile, PUBGs eSports scene surged in a mere seven months to hit over 200 million unique viewers, which has emboldened predictions for eSports viability and growth given that its watched by roughly twenty times more people who actually play the game, making it one of the first eSports that non-players can enjoy.

So, for us eSports fans, thats pretty encouraging! You can find out more, and see some pretty pictures, at the data page itself.