eSports

AdColony Survey Findings | Mobile Usage During eSports

Published

5 years ago

June 15, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Esports is a fast-growing industry that involves professional, competitive video gaming between individuals or team players, often in an organized league. Viewers can tune in to watch these competitions on sites like Twitch and YouTube, streaming them live or watching later. AdColony wanted to discover how users are watching esports, what they are doing while watching, and how they feel about brand advertising and sponsoring teams and during broadcasts. Discover more about esports viewers and their mobile activities from the Esports Survey, and keep scrolling to see the infographic!

According to GWI’s latest research, by 2023 there will be 646 million esports viewers globally and almost $1.8 billion in revenue generated. When users could not engage with traditional sports as much during the pandemic, esports took off as an entertainment replacement, and this new activity is here to stay. GWI also indicates that esports viewership is not just for Gen Z and Millennials, as 38% of Gen Xers also follow esports indicating that they attract users of all ages, not just the younger generations. When thinking about esports as an activity, 40% of viewers think of gaming as just as legitimate a pastime as traditional sports like football or basketball.

Highlights from the Study

Users of all genders watch esports — Esports appeals to people of all genders as respondents who said they watch esports at least once a month were split pretty evenly with 44% female and 56% male viewers.

Mobile is one of the top devices for watching esports — 31.1% of users responded that they watch esports on a Mobile Device, which is slightly above Connected TV (Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast) at 30.5%. Desktop or Laptop Computer follows those two platforms with 20% of respondents viewing esports through this channel.

Almost half of viewers agree it’s important to keep up with esports on multiple devices — 46% of users plan on watching and keeping up with esports information on more than one device. In addition, users are likely to be playing games on a mobile device while also watching esports with 26% of users responding that they play mobile games while watching esports, following browse social media (45%) and text (41%).

Viewers are more likely to play games on mobile while watching esports — 40% of respondents indicated that they are playing a game on mobile, which is up 10% from the viewers who said they would play a game on a computer while watching esports.

Brands can make a significant impact by advertising through esports — 61% of esports viewers said they would research a brand they saw featured while watching esports, and 45% of viewers believe that brands featured in esports are ahead of the curve. What’s more, 31% of viewers are likely to look up an ad that aired during esports and watch it again.

Brands that work to be featured in esports and sponsor teams can reach a valuable audience that is receptive to brand advertising and ready to connect with innovative ideas and creative content. Moreover, this audience will take the time to research brands that they felt made an impact and learn more about the brands and products that they saw while viewing esports.

Brands looking to reach an engaged audience should continue to value mobile games as a prime channel for advertising as a wide variety of users are viewing esports on mobile devices and also playing games on mobile while watching esports. Viewers are keeping up with esports across more than one device, creating even more touchpoints for brands to connect with users. Users who are playing games on a mobile device are actively engaged with their device, in a good mood, and receptive to brand messaging. Users playing mobile games are more likely to be engaged with brand messaging since they are actively interacting with their mobile device instead of passively consuming content through communication tools like text, social media, email, etc. Many consumers are watching esports, and when they are doing so, they are looking to mobile devices to watch the game, stay informed, and be entertained throughout the streaming process, so brands can leverage this space to interact with more consumers and create conversions.

eSports

Esports Awards adds player-voted EWC Players’ Choice Award, extends Esports Foundation deal

Published

5 hours ago

June 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-awards-adds-player-voted-ewc-players’-choice-award,-extends-esports-foundation-deal

The Esports Awards and the Esports Foundation (EF) on June 18, 2026, announced a three-year extension of their partnership through 2028 and introduced a new player-voted honor, the EWC Players’ Choice Award. The announcement was made in London, with voting tied to Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris.

The EWC Players’ Choice Award will be decided exclusively by professional esports players. According to the announcement, competitors attending EWC 2026 will vote in person, while a secure digital voting platform hosted by the Esports Awards will allow participation from additional eligible players and clubs.

Eligibility requires players to have competed in at least one qualifying S, A or B-Tier tournament during the official competitive season. Players will not be able to vote for themselves or teammates, with the Esports Awards overseeing the process.

“The talent and innovation of our sector should be getting the exposure it deserves.,” said Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “The Esports Foundation has done an incredible job in generating mainstream attention, and industry exposure outside of the standard circuit. Our partnership has enabled us to expand our operations and footprint and it’s through our continued collaboration that I hope we can bring the Esports Awards to the global community, and provide the industry with better visibility all year round.”

The Esports Awards also confirmed its 2026 ceremony will take place in the United States, starting what it described as a rotating host city model featuring “previously unvisited destinations.” The event previously staged its 2024 awards ceremony and the 2025 Decade Awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as part of the Esports World Cup program.

EWC 2026 is scheduled for Paris from July 06 through August 23, 2026, with more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries set to compete in 25 tournaments across 24 games. Voting for the EWC Players’ Choice Award will run from July 1 through August 18, 2026, with the winner to be revealed during the Esports Awards ceremony later this year. The Esports Awards said additional details about its 2026 event will be announced in the coming weeks.

The post Esports Awards adds player-voted EWC Players’ Choice Award, extends Esports Foundation deal appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

chess

ENC 2026 chess qualifiers wrap as 82 nations and territories make the field

Published

22 hours ago

June 18, 2026

Wladimir P.

enc-2026-chess-qualifiers-wrap-as-82-nations-and-territories-make-the-field

The Esports Foundation (EF) has completed the online regional qualifiers for the Chess tournament at the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC), scheduled to debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2-29, 2026.

EF said the 128-player chess field is now largely set. 64 players from 64 countries and territories received direct invitations via official Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings at the end of May, while 61 players qualified through online regional events operated by Chess.com across North America, South America, Africa, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East/India/Central Asia, and East Asia/Southeast Asia/Oceania.

A further slot was awarded to Amani Alazmi (Kuwait) via the Host Region Wildcard as the next highest-placing competitor from the host region. Two Wildcard Solidarity slots for underrepresented regions remain and will be announced at the end of August after all ENC qualifiers are completed. With qualifiers concluded, EF said at least 82 countries and territories will be represented in chess at ENC 2026.

EF highlighted that Jamaica, Paraguay, Singapore, South Africa, Tajikistan, Tunisia, and Turkmenistan each secured two qualifying slots despite not receiving a direct invitation. Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, Venezuela, Morocco, Nigeria, Algeria, Jordan, Australia, and New Zealand secured one slot each.

The chess competition runs November 2-8. EF said the event will open with a round-robin group stage featuring 16 groups of eight players, before moving to a 64-player single-elimination playoff bracket. The full list of qualified players and nations is available on the ENC website’s chess page.

The post ENC 2026 chess qualifiers wrap as 82 nations and territories make the field appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

1xBet

HLTV Awards returns to Belgrade on January 9, 2027, adding Lifetime Achievement honor

Published

2 days ago

June 17, 2026

Wladimir P.

hltv-awards-returns-to-belgrade-on-january-9,-2027,-adding-lifetime-achievement-honor

HLTV will stage the HLTV Awards presented by 1xBet in Belgrade, Serbia on January 9, 2027, returning to the Sava Center. The company said more than 1,000 players, industry professionals, creators, and fans are expected to attend.

HLTV also confirmed Dust2 creator David Johnston will feature as an award announcer. HLTV linked the booking to the 25th anniversary of Dust2.

For 2026, HLTV is updating its Hall of Fame process and eligibility rules. Four players will be inducted again, with “at least two and up to three” slots reserved for players from the Counter-Strike 1.6 and early eras. HLTV also removed the former “neo rule,” allowing players to be inducted for their playing careers even if they remain active in other roles such as coaching.

HLTV is adding a Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be decided by the Hall of Fame Board. The ceremony will also move Community Awards onto the main stage show for the first time, rather than the pre-show segment.

Separately, HLTV will kick off the 2027 Awards season with an invite-only “HLTV Awards by 1xBet Launch Party x GRID” in Cologne during the Major. HLTV said industry members can apply for an invite to the ceremony via its awards page.

The post HLTV Awards returns to Belgrade on January 9, 2027, adding Lifetime Achievement honor appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.