No matter what era, any gamer knows the competitive drive that comes from a nicely balanced Competitive sports experience. In events like Evo and Esports World Cup, you can see the drive up front.
However, we know that it exists, but do we know the degrees of height this 1.72 billion USD industry reaches?
A recent research from the Game news site, soulbound.gg, wanted to answer this exact question. Let’s check out what they found.
The Gaming Industry
It does need to be explained exactly how big gaming is these days. A whopping 347 Billion USD in circulation from a 2021 survey shows that there is no competition for this piece of Media. For comparison, The movie industry currently sits at 97.47 billion USD. That difference speaks volumes.
If you want to be a pedantic strickler of rules, saying the mobile gaming market should not count because it’s not ‘real gaming’ (whatever that means) you will be surprised to know that even after removing the 248 billion USD share of the Mobile Gaming Market, you are still left with a 99 billion USD industry on your hands.
The Esports Scene
We all know gaming is huge, but the numbers behind esports are straight-up mind-blowing. In 2024, the top 100 esports games have dished out an incredible $1.72 billion in prize money across 52,451 tournaments, with 131,543 players in the mix. That’s right—$1.72 billion! And this isn’t some niche hobby anymore; the global audience is expected to hit over 640 million by 2025. Esports is officially rivalling traditional sports.
The Top Games Running the Show
No surprise here, but the heavy hitters like Dota 2, Fortnite, CS, League of Legends, and Arena of Valor are leading the pack, raking in $896.8 million in prize money (that’s 52% of the total pot!). Dota 2 alone dropped a whopping $349.7 million in prize pools—thanks to events like The International, which are known for being insanely stacked.
We speak of USD here but that should not make it seem even for the second that this is a US thing. In fact, the hold of Esports is much stronger outside the Red and Blue.
The Big Bucks
Many countries have invested heavily in esports, focusing on player development, tournament organisation, and infrastructure, and are seeing huge financial returns. As the industry continues to grow, their investments are paying off in the form of prize money, sponsorships, and global recognition.
China, for one, is absolutely crushing it in esports, taking home $289.1 million, mostly from Dota 2. The U.S. is right behind with $268.3 million, fueled by Fortnite. And South Korea, the birthplace of esports legends, scooped up $141.4 million, largely from League of Legends.
Here’s the rest:
2. United States
The U.S. has invested in a wide range of games, especially Fortnite. With over 27,000 players participating in 21,365 tournaments, the U.S. sees great returns, especially from major events like the Fortnite World Cup.
- Total Earnings: $268.3M
- Number of Players: 27,049
- Top Game: Fortnite ($47.7M)
3. South Korea
South Korea has long been the esports capital of the world, investing heavily in training players and creating esports leagues. The returns on League of Legends alone show how deeply the country is embedded in the esports world.
- Total Earnings: $141.4M
- Number of Players: 5,732
- Top Game: League of Legends ($36.6M)
4. Russia
Russia has carved out a strong presence, particularly in Dota 2 and CS. Investments in local tournaments and player development have helped drive these impressive returns.
- Total Earnings: $81.7M
- Number of Players: 5,264
- Top Game: Dota 2 ($36.7M)
5. Brazil
Brazil’s investment in CS and Rainbow Six Siege has paid off, with a growing player base and strong showings in global competitions. The country’s esports scene is on the rise, thanks to government support and corporate sponsorships.
- Total Earnings: $59.9M
- Number of Players: 5,179
- Top Game: CS($11.9M)
6. Denmark
Denmark, despite its small size, has invested significantly in esports, especially in CS. Their returns per player are among the highest in the world, thanks to top-tier teams and standout players like Johan- “N0tail” Sundstein.
- Total Earnings: $58.3M
- Number of Players: 2,078
- Top Game: CS ($23.1M)
7. Sweden
Sweden has a rich esports history and continues to invest in its players, particularly in Dota 2 and Fortnite. Their esports infrastructure is well-developed, leading to consistent returns in tournaments worldwide.
- Total Earnings: $53.4M
- Number of Players: 3,191
- Top Game: Dota 2 ($17.2M)
8. France
France’s esports investments have focused on CS and Fortnite, with a growing number of players and events. The country’s esports returns continue to climb as it supports the development of local leagues.
- Total Earnings: $53.2M
- Number of Players: 6,035
- Top Game: CS($9.8M)
9. Germany
Germany is a major player in the esports world, particularly in Dota 2 and CS. Their strong investments in infrastructure and sponsorships are yielding solid returns across multiple titles.
- Total Earnings: $47.8M
- Number of Players: 6,404
- Top Game: Dota 2 ($11M)
10. Canada
Canada’s growing esports scene, particularly in Fortnite and CS, shows strong returns on its investments. With government support and an expanding player base, Canada’s esports future looks promising.
- Total Earnings: $46.6M
- Number of Players: 4,041
- Top Game: Fortnite ($8.5M)
Insane Prize Pools
In 2024, the esports landscape is dominated by several key games that contribute massively to the industry’s prize pools. Leading the pack is Dota 2, with a staggering $349.7 million in prize money awarded to nearly 4,900 players across 1,903 tournaments. This game alone accounts for over 20% of all prize money in esports.
Fortnite follows with $182.1 million in winnings, spread among over 9,300 players and 2,210 tournaments, contributing 10.56% to the total prize pool. Meanwhile, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS) has made a significant impact as well, awarding $162.4 million to a vast pool of 16,441 players through almost 7,000 tournaments, making up 9.42% of the overall prize money.
League of Legends stands strong, contributing $109.9 million from 2,959 tournaments and attracting nearly 9,500 players, while Arena of Valor has carved out a niche with $92.8 million awarded in just 175 tournaments, representing 5.38% of the total esports prize pool.
Mobile gaming is also making waves, with PUBG Mobile awarding $83.6 million through 331 tournaments. When combined with its PC counterpart, PUBG, which has distributed $61.8 million, the two versions collectively show the growing appeal of the battle royale genre.
Other notable games include Rainbow Six Siege, which has awarded $46.1 million to over 3,000 players, StarCraft II with $41.4 million in prize money, and Rocket League, contributing $38.4 million from 4,164 tournaments. Together, these top 10 games highlight the scale and excitement of the global esports phenomenon.
The Hold is Real
Esports is no longer just a niche hobby, it’s a global phenomenon with countries across the world investing millions and seeing incredible returns. As the industry continues to grow, the potential for players, investors, and fans alike is limitless. From the dominance of Dota 2 in China to the rise of Fortnite in the U.S., it’s clear that esports has solidified its place on the world stage.
Want to dive deeper into the data and see the full impact of esports? Check out the full research over at soulbound.gg and explore how this industry is shaping the future of competitive gaming.
