Over the years, Esports has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry. Usually the younger generation is attracted to it and at some point they get warmth from their parents. Once a minor source of entertainment, Esports has definitely entered the mainstream media with several tournaments held around the world with prized trophies and sponsorships. Not only that, but many gamers have started streaming games and earning not thousands but millions of dollars every year.
Due to this, broadcast channels have also started streaming these sports, most of which are gaming platforms. As a result, they have put Esports on the radar and brought in a huge audience of viewers and players. In addition, many people want to be part of this audience and look for reliable internet connections. However, esports streaming and gaming is an internet intensive task and it is recommended to go for top providers. One of the best options is AT&T, with its high-speed gigabit connections, which you can check out at: getattonline.com.
Moving on, there are many online and offline games that people play and stream. However, we have selected some of the top games with the largest audience and player base.
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DOTA 2
With over 300,000 active players per day, DoTA 2 is one of the biggest Esports games. It is a multiplayer online battle arena game released by Valve in 2013. The goal is to destroy the other team’s old team while defending yours in a 5v5 battle arena.
DoTA 2 is free to play on Steam, with several in-game purchases. Since its release, it has undergone many changes, updates, downs and ups, but still managed to hold 11 international tournaments with different seasonal competitions. Every year the prize pool grows and more teams from different regions join the chase to eliminate the Aegis of the Champions.
Fortnite
After its official release in 2017, Fortnite has made an impact like no other. Over the years, it has gained immense popularity and about 3 million people actively jump into the arena every day. It’s a battle royale game where you have to be the last (or last squad) standing to win.
Fortnite is free to play on Epic Games with several in-game purchases. Every year, Fortnite releases new seasons, activities, and gameplay updates to keep the fun going. Moreover, it also hosts several tournaments every year for solo players and squads from around the world.
Global counter-attack offensive
Almost every computer gamer knows the game Counter-Strike. It is an evergreen game that has been going on for almost two centuries with several iterations. The latest of these is Counter Strike Global Offensive or CSGO.
CSGO is a team based 5 man first person shooter game where you have to take down the opposing team or plant or defuse the bomb to win. In the beginning you had to buy the game, but later it was made free. After that, it’s gained even more fans and a huge player base of every age that is grinding hard. In addition, several tournaments are held every year with an average of more than 600,000 active players.
League of Legends
League of Legends, a somewhat anime-esque version of the DoTA 2 game, has been extremely popular since its release. With a total of 180 million monthly players, LoL may be losing some players, but it’s definitely gaining more.
Released by Riot Games in 2009, LoL is deeply loved by many fans of the MOBA genre. The cool character design and visual quality have been a major factor for most of this popularity. However, there is a downside that you have to buy champions, but otherwise it’s a great game overall. The gameplay is the same with 5v5 battles to destroy the enemy team’s crystal, but there are other modes to enjoy.
Player Unknown’s Battle Grounds
With over 300,000 active players, PUBG was released in 2017 and gained a huge audience. In the beginning it was a much more difficult game and you had to buy it on Steam to play it. Now, a while ago, it became free to play and almost exploded with a huge wave of players. As a result, it became one of the best-selling games, with over a billion downloads.
Nowadays, PUBG has become much more balanced and gameplay and matches are decided based on the player’s skills. Still, it holds several tournaments throughout the year and has those competitive and realistic factors that other battle royale games seem to lack.
Where Can You Watch Esports?
So if you are a gaming enthusiast and want to watch Esports tournaments and streams, we are here to help. Here are some of the best streaming platforms with live updates and schedules.
Twitch
Twitch is the star of the Esports show. Launched in 2011, it started off with a bang and managed to gain over 40 million unique viewers by the fourth quarter of 2013. Then Amazon bought Twitch in 2014 for a whopping $970 million. To this day, Twitch is one of the most popular video game streaming platforms and the top 32 most popular websites. The best part is that it has more than 140 million monthly active users.
In addition, the Twitch community and streamers also play a big part in its huge success. You can find streams of many popular games like DoTA 2, LoL, Call of Duty and more. Also, many professional players host streams for their viewers. So it is the best place for gamers to collect and watch their favorite games.
YouTube
YouTube is also not far behind the video streaming giant Twitch. It has also managed to capture quite a chunk of the audience with its dedicated gaming platform, YouTube Gaming. With streamers like PewDiePie, Jacksepticeye and others attracting a huge fan following, YouTube Gaming is a great place to watch Esports.
Although the platform is not as big and dedicated to gaming as Twitch, it still managed to land several valuable deals. So if you are not much of a community person, YouTube gaming is for you to watch your favorite streams with ease.
Facebook gaming
Launched in 2018 as a dedicated space for gaming, Facebook Gaming is the platform for live streaming. With over 150,000 active users in Q3 2022, Facebook Gaming has been going average since launch. One advantage it has over other platforms is its unique features. For example, you can play and stream your favorite game, or you can play and stream Facebook’s classic games like UNO.
Every day, many people game, watch and stream on the Facebook Gaming section. It may not be gaining as much popularity and audience as Twitch, but it’s still a great live streaming platform. You can also watch live streams and highlights from your favorite Esports, enjoy them with friends or start one of your own.
final summary
While all these platforms are easily accessible via computer or smartphone, there is a better way for the whole family. For a more immersive experience, if you have a game-loving family, you can try it on a dedicated media box. To stream uninterrupted, you need to subscribe to DirecTV where you can download YouTube and watch with the whole family. Visit here to review prices and offers from DirecTV and make an informed decision.
With more and more people getting into live streaming and gaming, Esports is only going to get bigger. That said, the streaming platforms will only grow as well. So, which one do you like best? Or do you also stream on it? But whatever you choose, these were our picks of the best streaming platforms for Esports. So what are you waiting for? Join the game!
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.