Eventbrite Study: eSports Events Growing in Demand, Enthusiasm, and Size
Posted on February 25, 2015
Event management and RSVP service Eventbrite today published a study of eSports live events, analyzing demographic data, favored games, reason for attendance, and building a profile of an “eSports viewer.”
Live eSports events have fluctuated in size in recent years, with notable hosts including MLG, GSL, KeSPA, IEM, ESL, and others. In surveying gamers who used Eventbrite to register for eSports events, the company determined that 38% of eSports fans watch 10 or more hours of gameplay per week, with 67% playing games for 3 or more hours per day.
Gamers were split into categories of “casual,” “avid,” and “hardcore,” classified by a per-day hour count of gameplay (1 hour, 2-3 hours, and 4+ hours, respectively). Casual gamers who attend events were substantially more likely to play racing, sports, simulation, and puzzle games. Hardcore gamers were more aggressive MOBA players, but surprisingly did not hold the same hour count in the realm of first-person shooters. We imagine this data may have been different a few years ago, when the RTS and FPS market were in less competition with other games, like MOBAs.
According to the study, 67% of live event attendees want more events with greater frequency; 30% of surveyed attendees visit 3 or more events per year.
Interestingly – and our staff agrees with this, as event-goers – eSports live events have profound impact on an attendee's desire to play games more frequently and purchase in-game content. 74% of attendees surveyed played games more frequently than before the event, with 86% reporting a greater enthusiasm toward the game and its community.
Taking this data, it becomes evident why events are critical to a game's longterm survivability in the eSports market – something Blizzard would do well to learn: Games that support the pro and semi-pro gaming scenes generate greater fan enthusiasm.
Additional details can be found in the below images.
Speaking of events, we'll be at GDC, Game Connection, PAX East, and GTC in March. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for live coverage.
- Steve “Lelldorianx” Burke.