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Mobile and PC esports: The growth of a phenomenom

Jan 16, 2023 | Rix Digital News | 0 comments

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the competition between mobile and PC esports heats up. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with the engaged and passionate esports audience by understanding the strengths and opportunities of both mobile and PC esports. 

Join us as we explore the growth and potential of these platforms, and discover how your brand can capitalise on mobile and PC esports.

The Rise of Mobile Esports: Understanding the Growth and Potential of Mobile Gaming in Esports

Mobile gaming has seen a significant rise in popularity in recent years, becoming a highly discussed topic in the esports industry. In the past, it was unimaginable to play high-quality and competitive games on mobile devices. 

However, mobile esports has established itself as a dominant force in the market, with Asia currently leading in mobile esports statistics. As mobile esports continues to grow, it is expected that these statistics will also start to increase in the Western market. 

Meanwhile, PC esports still hold a strong position in the market, with a dedicated and passionate fanbase. As a brand, it’s important to understand the strengths and opportunities of both mobile and PC esports to make informed decisions on where to invest and engage with the esports audience.

Mobile esports are taking off in Asia - when will it dominate the traditional PC gamers?
Mobile esports are taking off in Asia – when will it dominate the traditional PC gamers?

Comparing Mobile and PC Esports: Identifying Opportunities for Brands to Engage with the Esports Audience

Across the board, traditional esports are still benefiting greatly from the ever-increasing popularity in gaming, let’s take a look at the top ten games for peak viewership in 2022, and see where the viewerships lie between PC and Mobile.

  1. League of Legends (PC) – 5,147,701 peak viewers
  2. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (Mobile) – 2,845,364 peak viewers
  3. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (PC) – 2,113,610
  4. Dota 2 (PC) – 1,751,086 peak viewers
  5. Valorant (PC) – 1,505,804 peak viewers
  6. Free Fire (Mobile) – 1,477,545 peak viewers
  7. PUBG Mobile (Mobile) – 903,011 peak viewers
  8. Apex Legends (PC) – 676,653 peak viewers
  9. Arena of Valor (Mobile) – 644,383 peak viewers
  10. Fortnite (PC) – 557,722 peak viewers

So with the exception of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, which has exploded in popularity to astronomical levels, the top 5 is dominated by PC esports. In the short term, we don’t really expect this to change.

Prize Pools in 2022: Examining the Financial Impact of Mobile and PC Esports

So we’ve seen peak viewers, but how do prize pools compare for 2022?

  1. Dota 2 (PC) – $32,500.387
  2. PUBG Mobile (Mobile) – $24,708.092
  3. Arena of Valor (Mobile) – $18,645.260
  4. PUBG: Battlegrounds (PC) – $16,346.616
  5. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (PC) – £15,491.711
  6. Fortnite (PC) – $12,604.180
  7. Rocket League (PC) – $8,733.785
  8. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege (PC) – $8,591.218
  9. League of Legends (PC) – $7,763.943
  10. Valorant (PC) – $7,209.105

While PC esports are still dominating the top 10 spots, you can’t ignore just how much money is involved in games like PUBG Mobile and Arena of Valor. Of course, similarly to how it works in Dota 2, prize pools in games like PUBG benefit from the profits of in-game sales, in which a percentage is taken and used to top up the prize pool.

The Future of Esports: Predictions for the Growth of Mobile Gaming and its Impact on PC Esports

The question on many minds is when will mobile esports surpass PC esports in popularity and dominance. It’s difficult to predict with certainty at this time as several factors are still at play. One such factor is the advancement of smartphone technology, as it needs to come closer to the performance capabilities of PCs. 

Additionally, it will also depend on whether mobile gaming becomes more popular among gamers and gains more traction in the Western market. Currently, PC gaming is still the dominant force in esports, but the future of mobile gaming is promising and worth keeping an eye on for brands looking to engage with the esports audience.

Esports as a whole is a lucrative market for brands to tap into. While mobile esports is on the rise, PC esports still holds a strong position in the market with a dedicated and passionate fanbase. 

It’s important for brands to understand the strengths and opportunities of both mobile and PC esports to make informed decisions on where to invest and engage with the esports audience. As we have seen from peak viewership and prize pool data, PC esports continues to dominate the top spots in 2022, but we expect to see mobile esports continue to grow in popularity and potentially close the gap in the future. 

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with the engaged and passionate esports audience and boost your brand’s visibility in the rapidly growing esports market.

Getting into esports can be an absolute minefield, with as many organisations folding as there are successes. Partnering with a premium esports marketing agency, such as Rix.Digital is one way to make sound decisions in this arena.

Get in touch today for a free consultation on how you can get into esport

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