According to Newzoo’s latest quarterly update of its Global Esports Market Report, the number of consumers worldwide that are aware of esports will surpass one billion this year, up 36% compared to last year. One of the main contributors to this conclusion is Newzoo’s recent consumer research effort performed in April, spanning North America, Europe, Middle-East & Africa, China, Japan, and Korea. From the 16 countries studied, the average awareness of esports among gamers increased from 53.7% in 2015 to 65.7% in 2016.

Rise in Awareness Leads Esports Audience Growth to Exceed Expectations

The rapid growth in awareness exceeded Newzoo’s expectations for these regions that were researched. 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. This jump in awareness in these key regions has, for a large part, also translated into higher audience numbers for both Occasional Viewers and Esports Enthusiasts. This is why, with its latest quarterly update report, Newzoo has adjusted its audience figures upward, from 131 million Esports Enthusiasts to 148 million. Combined with the 144 million Occasional Viewers (those who watch esports less than once a month and mostly tune in for a big event or watch along with someone else), the total audience will reach 292 million.

These results come from Newzoo’s Esports Audience and Revenue Model that is fed continuously by numerous data feeds, primary research and validated by a number of key players in the esports ecosystem. As the granularity of this model increases, more data is released to Newzoo’s subscribers. As of today, Newzoo’s esports clients can access granular esports data through its Esports Market Dashboard.