Is interest in esports waning amid industry transformation?

The esports industry is in a state of transition, which has been interpreted by some as the decline in category altogether. These concerns have come to the fore after major events such as the cancellation of Overwatch League, the reduction in number of LCS teams, and layoffs at esports orgs. But have these factors dented interest in esports overall? Data from YouGov’s Global Fan Profiles provides an insight, indicating that interest in esports remains stable and even shows signs of further growth among those aged between 18-29.

Interest Levels in Esports

Looking at the percentage of people who express an interest in esports, particularly among the 18-29 age group, the numbers have remained steady and even increased slightly over time. In Q1 2021, 27% of people aged 18-29 reported an interest in esports. This percentage gradually climbed to 30% by Q2 2022 and remained around 29-30% through 2023. In Q1 2024, this figure peaked at 33%, showing a clear trend of increasing interest among younger audiences.

Among consumers of all ages, the trend is similarly stable. Starting at 16% in Q1 2021, interest levels have fluctuated slightly but consistently hover around 17-18%.

Regular Viewership of Esports

Not only has interest remained stable, but the share of those following esports hasn’t waned either. Among the 18-29 age group, the percentage has remained between 10% and 12% from Q1 2021 through Q2 2024. This consistency suggests that the rapid growth in esports audience size seems to have taken pause, it is also not shrinking.

For all consumers, regular viewership has held steady at around 5-6% over the same period. This may seem modest, but this likely represents only the consumers who watch the esports competitions of a variety of video games.