eSports are one of the fastest growing online entertainment segments in recent years. In 2017 alone, the segment handled more than US$ 100 billion in more than 3600 tournaments around the world, gathering around 15 thousand players.
According to the eSports Earnings Community, which released the top 10 most-paid games in 2017, Dota 2 continues to top the list, having distributed about US$ 37 million in prizes. Following is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive distributing US$ 19 million and League of Legends reaching US$ 11 million.
Top 2017 Awards:
DoTA 2 - 37 million
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive - 19 million
League of Legends - 11 million
Heroes of the Storm - 4 million
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare - 4 Million
Overwatch - 3 Million
Starcraft II - 3 million
Hearthstone - 3 million
Halo 5: Guardians - 1.75 million
H1Z1 - 1.5 million
* All figures in US dollars
Betting on the growth of the games and e-games market, the Brazilian Agency for the Promotion of Exports and Investments (Apex Brasil) has partnered with ABRAGAMES - Brazilian Association of Game Developers. The partnership brought the Brazilian Game Developers project, with the aim of promoting the Brazilian game industry abroad.
The partnership begun in 2013 with the mapping of the game development poles in Brazil. According to agency figures, by 2015 the companies served by the project accounted for about US$ 11 million in international business. In 2016 the number jumped to US$ 17.4 million and that number only tends to grow, now that companies have started to count on public financing programs.
It is worth remembering that Brazil is the largest gaming market in Latin America, having moved more than US$ 1.3 billion in 2016, followed by Mexico with US$ 1.1 billion, being a breeding ground not only for the development of games, but also for the markets that orbit the subculture gamer.
With the growth of the subculture of electronic sports, other businesses begin to grow around the segment. In São Paulo, in Vila Madalena, it is already possible to have a beer while watching a match of League of Legends, Counter-Strike or other eSport. The bar, that serves themed drinks and food, also features old consoles and computers for entertaining visitors.
Main eSports Championships around the world
- The International: Dota 2 Championship held annually by Valve Corporation, developer of the game.
- League of Legends World Championship: World Championship organized by Riot Games.
- ELEAGUE Major: Counter-Strike World Championship: Global Offensive.
- Evolution Championship Series: This competition is about fighting games. Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcon, KoF, Smash Bros and more. It happens since 1996.
- Brazilian Championship of League of Legends: It is the biggest championship of eSports of Brazil. In the final of 2016 the championship had an audience of 2.1 million people (about half of the audience of the final of the football Brazilian Championship) .
Source: GMB / blog.p4f.com
