When the epic showdown in Seoul on November 19 decides the new “League of Legends” world champion, millions of Germans will have tuned in to witness one of the most electrifying esports tournaments in the world. The global phenomenon of esports has become an integral part of the media consumption for many Germans, as revealed in the latest survey conducted by game – The German Games Industry Association in collaboration with the market research company YouGov. Nearly a quarter (23%) of Germans have already caught an esports tournament or match – that’s around 16 million people. The number of esports viewers in Germany has shot up by over 4 million since 2020. Interest is particularly strong among the younger generation, with almost half (48%) of the 16-24-year-olds and 45% of the 25-34-year-olds having indulged in esports broadcasts. Around 27% of the viewers even have their favourite esports teams, whose successes they passionately follow. In total, almost 8 out of 10 Germans (77%) know what esports are or have at least heard of them – a significant boost from the 71% in 2020.
But it’s not just about spectating; approximately a quarter of all gamers (23%) in Germany, roughly 10 million people, have thrown themselves into esports competitions, be it LAN parties or online leagues. Among the 25-34-year-old gamers, more than 4 out of 10 (42%) have jumped into the esports action. In 2020, the percentage of German gamers actively participating in esports was only 18%.
“When thinking of top esports teams worldwide, names like BIG, G2 esports, or SK Gaming increasingly come to mind, and these successful esports organizations are from Germany. It’s become a global phenomenon with millions tuning in for top tournaments and leagues, both here in Germany and around the world. Esports events have become genuine crowd-pullers right here in our country. This phenomenon is being recognized and harnessed in several federal states. For instance, Schleswig-Holstein has official state championships and a funded esports regional center, while North Rhine-Westphalia backs its own talent team through the esports player foundation and Munich is hosting the 2024 League of Legends EMEA Championship, a tournament that Bayern actively vied for. This kind of political support is essential and is helping to make Germany more enticing for gamers and millions of fans,” Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – The German Games Industry Association, said.
