When it comes to global eSports success, there is currently no country more accomplished and outright dominant than China. The Chinese eSports community sits comfortably atop the international rankings in total earnings, sporting an astounding $305,320,920.94 across just 8,926 players (for comparison, the second-ranked United States has earned $280,390,099.51 from over 27,000 players).
These figures are a testament to Chinese players’ skill within various eSports formats, making this market one of the most exciting to watch in 2024 and beyond.
Playing with power
China’s gaming industry is a microcosm of its home country’s economic strength, standing as one of the world’s premier locations for game development and publishing, tournament organization, and competitive play. The latter is especially significant given that, in 2000, China became one of the first countries to recognize eSports as a legitimate sport.
In the ensuing decades, the Chinese competitive scene has skyrocketed in performance and revenue. Players like Wang Chunyu (“Ame”), Zhang Yiping (“y’”), Zhang Ruida (“Faith_bian”), and Lu Yao (“Somnus”) are among the world’s top-ranked players in popular titles like Dota 2, Arena of Valor, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile, and League of Legends. China is currently the top country in four of the top 10 eSports titles worldwide, ranking at least in the top 10 for six of these titles. However, as the broader competitive gaming scene has improved, Chinese teams have seen slight fluctuations in tournament performances despite their enduringly positive overarching metrics.
Defining the future
Though its unprecedented expansion has somewhat plateaued, the Chinese eSports market still exhibits massive growth potential. Statista reports that the sector could eclipse a market value of USD 623.5 million by 2029 – an increase of 4.61 percent. Much of these projections stem from a lasting interest in eSports beyond competitors alone, with 489 million people in China (roughly one in three people) watching or participating in the sport and over 500,000 Chinese citizens working within the industry. Perhaps most notably, China has also facilitated immense growth in female eSports participation; alongside Japan, India, and South Korea, it has contributed to a rising community of nearly 500 million Asian female players – around 38 percent of Asia’s gaming population.
Chinese eSports will undoubtedly remain a competitive force in the future, setting an ambitious pace and standard of excellence for which other prominent markets will continue to strive.