Global esports revenue to hit $905.6m in 2018, according to Newzoo report

According to a new report, global esports revenue is expected to hit $905.6m (£653.2m) in 2018, and a hefty $1.65b (£1.19b) by 2021.

This comes from the bods at market research firm Newzoo, who published the figures in their new esports report.

The report, which pulls in data from multiple sources, has found that revenues will increase by more than $250m compared to figures from 2017. North America will generate the highest international share, with 38% of the global total.

Newzoo suggest that brands will invest $694m in the esports industry, which is 77% of the total market. This will increase to $1.4b by 2021 according to projections, 84% of total esports revenues.

Sponsorship is the big revenue stream in esports, planned to contribute $359.4m in 2018, a significant increase on the $234.6m in 2017.

The audience is growing, too. The global esports audience is expected to reach 380.2m in 2018, while enthusiasts — defined by Newzoo as people who watch esports more than once a month — will reach 165m of the total audience.

Awareness of esports is on the rise, too. In 2018, 1.6b people are expected to know about esports, driven by huge interest in China but also emerging growth in Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. 

ESL COO Rob Black, responding to the report, said: "The year on year growth of esports continues to surpass expectations, and the revised projections from Newzoo about the size of the industry in 2018 reflect the very exciting growth period we’re currently seeing."