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eSports
Millions of sports fans turn to eSports amid lockdown & self-isolation
Research reveals that millions of sports fans are turning to eSports for entertainment during lockdown and self-isolation, highlighting what we’re watching the most and the games which have seen the highest increase in viewings.
OLBG saw a staggering increase of 943% in traffic to their eSports tips page last week, as the world went into lockdown, following a time of social distancing and have pulled together their first weekly eSports update, sharing insights into the sport during lockdown: https://www.olbg.com/us/insights/esports-update
The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the world of sport, with an unprecedented level of events being canceled in the interest of public safety.
However, one sport has been largely unaffected during these uncertain times, with many sports fans turning their attention to the virtual world.
More people than ever before watching and playing video games at home; eSports, and the last 7 days has seen some crazy stats come out:
The Steam gaming platform hit its highest ever peak of users, with over 22 million concurrent users online at once, with 7 million of those in-game.
Many games have also seen their highest ever numbers of players, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, with a peak of over 1.1 million concurrent users on Sunday, March 22nd.
Many are tuning into streaming platforms such as Twitch to watch their favourite eSports stars compete, with the number of hours watched on the platform increasing by 22% over the last two weeks alone.
Most Streamed Games on Twitch Last Week (w/c 23rd March)
It’s League of Legends which we’re spending the most time watching; with just short of 30m combined hours watched in the last week alone, closely followed by Just Chatting (vlogging), and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Content | Hours Watched |
---|---|
League of Legends | 29.97M |
Just Chatting | 28.85M |
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 26.57M |
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 19.29M |
Fortnite | 17.76M |
Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 16.24M |
Grand Theft Auto V | 14.95M |
Dota 2 | 10.13M |
Hearthstone | 6.09M |
Minecraft | 6.04M |
The Online Games With The Highest Increases In Viewings
On the other hand, if we look at the games which have seen the highest increase in viewings last week:
Game | 7 Day Viewership Increase |
---|---|
Teamfight Tactics | 90.10% |
FIFA 20 | 47.20% |
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 33.40% |
Grand Theft Auto V | 28.20% |
Dota 2 | 24.60% |
Fortnite | 19.60% |
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege | 18.50% |
Apex Legends | 13.80% |
League of Legends | 9.90% |
Hearthstone | 6.20% |
You can view the full report with more statistics here: https://www.olbg.com/us/insights/esports-update
It’s particularly interesting to see that FIFA 20 is one of the games which has experienced the largest viewership increase, with many football fans looking to watch virtual games play out, with the majority of real-world games canceled (although games in the Belarusian Premier League are still going ahead!).
In fact, more than 60,000 fans tuned in to watch Real Betis player Borja Iglesias face off against Sevilla’s Sergio Reguilón on the same weekend that the local rivals were due to play, with talks underway for players from all 20 La Liga clubs to take part in an online FIFA tournament!
eSports
Esports World Cup and Aramco Announce Strategic Partnership
![esports-world-cup-and-aramco-announce-strategic-partnership](https://igamingradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/132678-esports-world-cup-and-aramco-announce-strategic-partnership.png)
Global energy brand extends relationship with one of the world’s largest gaming festivals
The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) and Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, announced a strategic partnership that will see Aramco extend its sponsorship of the Esports World Cup, set to take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
As the official title partner of the Aramco SIM Arena, Aramco will present a high-end simulator zone where racing enthusiasts can compete in community tournaments at the Esports World Cup Festival. The Aramco SIM Arena, offering hyper-realistic simulators that provide an experience akin to driving an F1 car, will be a premier destination for sim-racing fans. This partnership builds on Aramco’s previous successful sponsorships of Gamers Without Borders and Gamers8: The Land of Heroes festival.
Aramco’s involvement with the Esports World Cup is part of a broader ambition to promote economic development and diversification, provide new opportunities for young people in the country, deliver critical STEM skills, and help build a diverse and dynamic Saudi economy.
The partnership between Aramco and the Esports World Cup is set to create a lasting, positive impact on the world of esports. As the festival approaches, both parties look forward to showcasing Saudi talent on the global stage and inspiring today’s youth through the power of gaming and esports.
Starting July 3, 2024, the EWCF will transform Riyadh into the epicenter of esports fandom and gaming culture, with an eight-week festival. The event will feature gaming activations, community tournaments, pop culture celebrations, international experiences and more. Fans can watch their favorite athletes and clubs compete in 21-game championships for a share of more than $60 million in prize money, the largest in esports history.
The post Esports World Cup and Aramco Announce Strategic Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Abios Welcomes Rasmus Schmidt Christensen as New Head of Odds Operations
![abios-welcomes-rasmus-schmidt-christensen-as-new-head-of-odds-operations](https://igamingradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/132654-abios-welcomes-rasmus-schmidt-christensen-as-new-head-of-odds-operations.jpg)
Abios, a global leader in esports data and odds provision, has appointed Rasmus Schmidt Christensen, formerly of Danish operator Danske Spil, as the company’s new Head of Odds Operations.
With a background in betting analytics, Schmidt Christensen is a seasoned industry veteran with a wealth of experience in esports and sports betting, spending nearly eight years improving the esports vertical at Danske Spil. Beginning his industry journey as a sports trader at the Danish betting operator, Schmidt Christensen gradually assumed more responsibility over the esports segment, ultimately taking charge of the vertical as an Esports Product Specialist.
The role allowed him to work closely with product, marketing and customer-focused teams, creating a comprehensive esports strategy for the operator. He used customer feedback to ensure the product met customer demands and ensured Danske Spil offered innovative product features early on, including player propositions.
As Head of Odds Operations, a newly created role at Abios, Schmidt Christensen will strengthen the Abios team by providing expertise in esports from Denmark, which has long been the home of Counter-Strike. Combining his knowledge of what esports fans want and product development, he will act as a bridge between trading and Abios’ automated odds setting, creating the ultimate end product for end users.
Anton Janér, Managing Director of Abios, said: “Esports is a fast-growing segment within online sports betting. For sportsbooks to stay competitive in the area, working with people who truly understand esports is paramount.
“At Abios, we’ve historically been in the fortunate position to attract people with strong esports expertise. Rasmus is no different, having spent significant time at Danske Spil improving their esports vertical. We’re thrilled to have him on board and look forward to seeing him taking our offering to the next level.”
Rasmus Schmidt Christensen, Head of Odds Operations, said: “Having worked in esports for years, I’m thrilled to join the Abios team. As they’re building new and exciting products on top of best-in-class data and modelling, Abios is at a very exciting growth stage. I’m happy to be part of the next step in that journey.”
The post Abios Welcomes Rasmus Schmidt Christensen as New Head of Odds Operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Pepsi To Energize Esports World Cup In New Partnership
![pepsi-to-energize-esports-world-cup-in-new-partnership](https://igamingradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/132634-pepsi-to-energize-esports-world-cup-in-new-partnership.png)
The Esports World Cup Foundation (“EWCF”) is pleased to announce it has joined forces with Pepsi for a strategic partnership which will see both parties collaborate to level up experiences for fans at the inaugural Esports World Cup (“EWC”) this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As a strategic founding partner committing to a multi-year deal, Pepsi will further build on its commitment to helping unite the realms of sports, entertainment, and esports.
Centered around co-creating unmissable moments, Pepsi and the EWCF will work together to provide fans with exciting activations to elevate the esports landscape in Saudi Arabia and cement the Esports World Cup as a truly memorable event. Fans can expect interactive and immersive experiences such as the Rockstar Bar, where they can get energized with a selection of drinks and spend time in between matches in the karaoke box. In addition, Pepsi is the naming partner of the Falcons venue, called “Falcons HQ by Pepsi”.
“We are proud to partner with such an iconic brand in Pepsi to energize fans for a memorable summer at the Esports World Cup,” said Pepsi Representative “Fans are truly what bring esports events to life, and it’s great to work alongside Pepsi who shares in our vision and commitment to elevating their experiences. ”
Beginning July 3, the Esports World Cup will transform Riyadh into the epicenter of esports fandom and gaming culture. Located in Boulevard City, fans can watch their favorite athletes and clubs compete across 22 game championships for a share of more than $60 million in life-changing prize money — the largest prize pool in esports history. Across eight weeks, the Esports World Cup will also feature festival activities that include numerous gaming activations, community tournaments, pop culture celebrations, international experiences, and more.
The post Pepsi To Energize Esports World Cup In New Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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