eSports
6 Highest-Paying Esports Games Of 2020 So Far
Despite the world grinding to a halt, esports continues to thrive.
In 2019, global revenue from esports topped $1billion and with the popularity of competitive increasing, gamers and sponsors continue to see the benefits.
But, what about during a pandemic?
Though many big tournaments have been cancelled, the gaming goes on at home and viewing figures are risingĀ each month.
New research from esports betting companyĀ UnikrnĀ has revealed the biggest esports of 2020 so far by prize money won**.
1. DOTA 2
Prize money (2020): $6,000,000
Tournaments: 54
Average prize: $111,111
Prize money (all-time): $224,300,000
The highest-paid game in esports continues to lead the way when it comes to prize money in 2020.
Last year, the game offloaded $52million in prize money with The International 2019 contributing to $34.3million of that.
Winning team OG picked up $15.6million between their five members, each taking home more than Tiger Woods at the 2019 Masters ($2.07million)
2. CS:GO
Prize money (2020): $4,900,000
Tournaments: 96
Average prize: $51,042
Prize money (all-time): $96,200,000
The most active game in 2020, CS:GO has had tournaments going out almost every week.
Since the start of the year, the average number of Twitch viewers watching streamers and matches has almost tripled from 45,000 viewers in January to 120,000 viewers in April.
3. Rainbow Six Siege
Prize money (2020): $4,000,000
Tournaments: 18
Average prize: $222,222
Prize money (all-time): $12,100,000
This yearās Six Invitational 2020 in February saw a $3million prize pot, higher than any previous year.
Despite being released in 2015, Rainbow Six Siegeās popularity continues to grow.
As of this month, the game has surpassed 60 millions players worldwide.
4. League of Legends
Prize money (2020): $2,900,000
Tournaments: 26
Average prize: $111,538
Prize money (all-time): $75,600,000
The real-time strategy game developed by Riot Games is the fourth highest-paying game in history with over $75million in prize money.
The publisher announced last month that it was having to cancel this yearās Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), the gameās second largest international annual event.
However, fans will be excited for the start of the LPL that begins this weekend.
5. Rocket League
Prize money (2020): $1,500,000
Tournaments: 17
Average prize: $88,235
Prize money (all-time): $8,900,000
Rocket League has recently stepped into the mainstream with the BBC broadcasting the European Spring Series last month.
Previously, Season 9 of the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) saw almost $1million paid out across the tournament from February to April.
6. PlayerUnknownās Battlegrounds (PUBG)
Prize money (2020): $1,500,000
Tournaments: 21
Average prize: $71,429
Prize money (all-time): $22,000,000
Another esport that has had to cancel a big tournament. In PUBGās case, the PGS 2020 in Berlin was set to go ahead in April.
The creators have since committed to hosting four events around the world in 2020 as long as it adheres to government advice.
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A spokesperson forĀ UnikrnĀ said: “Postponing The International 2020 was the responsible choice from Valve, and it is only making this event larger and more anticipated.
“In the first 24 hours, The International compendium earned $24,000,000 from fans supporting the event, putting it on pace to be the largest esports prize in history.
“This enthusiasm isn’t unique to DOTA 2. Esports are continuing to accelerate in popularity, especially during these unprecedented times.”
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**Ā Statistics taken fromĀ www.esportsearnings.comĀ (does not include charitable prize money, salaries, earning reductions)
HIGHEST-PAYING ESPORTS OF 2020 (BY PRIZE MONEY)
| 2020 prize money | No. of tournaments | Average prize money | |
| Game | |||
| DOTA2 | $6,000,000 | 54 | $111,111 |
| CS:GO | $4,900,000 | 96 | $51,042 |
| Rainbow Six: Siege | $4,000,000 | 18 | $222,222 |
| League of Legends | $2,900,000 | 26 | $111,538 |
| Rocket League | $1,500,000 | 17 | $88,235 |
| PUBG | $1,500,000 | 21 | $71,429 |
| Hearthstone | $1,200,000 | 8 | $150,000 |
| Magic The Gathering | $1,100,000 | 1 | $1,100,000 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | $1,100,000 | 19 | $57,895 |
| Arena of Valor | $827,000 | 2 | $413,500 |
HIGHEST-PAYING ESPORTS OF ALL-TIME (BY PRIZE MONEY)
| Total Prize Money | 2020 prize money | No. of tournaments | Average prize money | |
| Game | ||||
| DOTA2 | $224,300,000 | $6,000,000 | 54 | $111,111 |
| CS:GO | $96,200,000 | $4,900,000 | 96 | $51,042 |
| Fortnite | $85,300,000 | $600,000 | 3 | $200,000 |
| League of Legends | $75,600,000 | $2,900,000 | 26 | $111,538 |
| Starcraft | $32,800,000 | $500,000 | 46 | $10,870 |
| PLAYERUNKNOWN | $22,000,000 | $1,500,000 | 21 | $71,429 |
| Overwatch | $21,700,000 | $12,000 | 2 | $6,000 |
| Hearthstone | $21,200,000 | $1,200,000 | 8 | $150,000 |
| Heroes of Storm | $18,100,000 | $4,000 | 1 | $4,000 |
| Arena of Valor | $14,600,000 | $827,000 | 2 | $413,500 |
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, has announced the appointment of Atin Suri as Global Head of Experiential Marketing. With a track record of delivering disruptive, immersive brand experiences across diverse markets, Atin brings a wealth of expertise to help further NODWIN Gamingās mission to engage and excite audiences across all ages, worldwide.
Atin will be responsible for leading NODWIN Gamingās worldwide expansion efforts in experiential marketing and continued growth while handling the companyās white-label events and activations. His ability to formulate marketing strategies and well-crafted market messaging for a global audience ties in seamlessly with NODWIN Gamingās vision as the company continues to expand its footprint in the industry and deepen its engagement with audiences.
A key focus for NODWIN Gaming is providing holistic entertainment to the global youth with its diverse range of intellectual properties that spans esports, gaming, pop culture, music, and comedy. Atinās extensive expertise in crafting bespoke and immersive on-ground experiences will be key in enhancing consumer experience and brand recall.
āFor me, experience is everything, and Iāve always wanted to push the envelope when it comes to the intersection of technology and immersive experiences,ā said Atin. āAt NODWIN Gaming, I see endless opportunities when it comes to experiential marketing especially when the company is expanding further towards youth-focused experiences across the world.ā
Before joining NODWIN, Atin founded The Experiential Hub, a disruptive agency known for crafting innovative brand events and activations. His experience as a pioneer in experiential marketing includes leading several landmark campaigns.
A decade ago, Atin recognised the untapped potential of esports in India, a foresight that led to his successful collaboration with Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. Together, they worked on Dew Arena and made it Indiaās Largest Offline Gaming Championship.
Building on this partnership, they went on to bring DreamHack, the worldās largest gaming festival to India. This groundbreaking project won the award for Best Intellectual Property at the prestigious WOW Awards Asia 2019. Atin also played a pivotal role in organising major esports events with the NODWIN Gaming team in India including ESL One, PUBG Club Open, PMPL South Asia and many more.
āWe are thrilled to welcome Atin to NODWIN Gamingā commented Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. āHaving worked with Atin on previous projects, we have always admired his ability to bring fresh and bold ideas to the table. His passion for tech-driven, experiential events makes him the perfect fit for our vision of creating unforgettable gaming experiences globally.ā
Atin has also been the recipient of multiple honours like the JWT HiP Club Rising Star, the CEO Award from PepsiCo, and the Tech India Award.
eSports
Team Vitality and ALDI collaborate to fight toxicity against women and promote diversity in esports
- Team Vitality and ALDI have collaborated to fight toxicity against women and promote diversity in esports through a powerful video launched today
- The video titled āDes Failles dans La Failleā translates to āRifts in the Rift,ā referencing the League of Legends battlefield, where a significant amount of online toxicity stems from, highlighting the impact of cyberbullying on gamers who are women
- The video features Team Vitalityās women’s League of Legends team, the Rising Bees, alongside TV Host and presenter Marie Palot, and League of Legends Shoutcaster, Nox.
- The video is now available to watch on YouTube
Today, French esports club Team Vitality and ALDI have announced their collaboration to fight toxicity against women, break down stereotypes and promote diversity in esports through a powerful video titled, āDes Failles dans La Failleā. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the daily online harassment received by women in the gaming industry and its impact on their lives. In sharing their experiences, they reveal how certain messages undermine their confidence, harm their mental health, and negatively impact their in-game performance.
Online harassment and sexism are prevalent in gaming, and damage the development of the female esports scene worldwide. While 50% of worldwide gamers are women, only 7% compete in esports (France Esports Barometer 2023). A 2022 Ipsos study also showed that 84% of people harassed online are women, with 51% under the age of 30.
For over four years, Team Vitality and ALDI have prioritised the development of womenās esports, including spearheading the creation of Team Vitalityās women’s League of Legends team, the Rising Bees, in 2023. Together, both organisations are championing the development of a more equal and diverse ecosystem in esports, advocating for esports clubs worldwide to train womenās teams with the same facilities and resources provided to menās teams, as well as raise the overall skill level, allowing more women to pursue professional careers in esports.
The video “Des Failles dans la Faille” centres on the Rising Bees, Team Vitalityās women’s League of Legends team. The title refers to Summonerās Rift, the in-game battleground where players compete and where many women often become targets of hateful and toxic messages.
Appearing in the video to share their experiences include:
- Velouria āVikiā Baty: French player and ADC for Team Vitality
- Madison āCrowmacā Coutelet: French player and Toplaner for Team Vitality
- Alena āTifaā Maurer: German player and Midlaner for Team Vitality
- Marie Palot: TV Host and presenter
- Nox: League of Legends Shoutcaster
- Anne Banschbach: Director of Esports at Team Vitality
In the video, they take turns reading and reacting to various online messages from gamers, covering issues like body shaming, death threats, misogyny, and more. Alongside this, they share their personal stories and emotions, which range from sadness and anger to feelings of isolation and hopelessness. They also discuss how these messages affect their daily lives and ultimately impact their performance, even though they admit theyāve become “accustomed” to these misogynistic attacks.
In the second part of the video, they read messages full of kindness and encouragement, which often get overlooked and lost among the many hateful messages. Team Vitality and ALDI aim to highlight the power of positivity in boosting morale, even amid the often harsh and hostile messages in the esports community.
Throughout the year, Team Vitality also produces and shares content following the Rising Bees’ journey, aiming to break down stereotypes and create inspiring role models for the next generation of gamers.
āDes Failles dans La Failleā is available to watch on YouTube.
DATA.BET, a distinguished leader in esports betting solutions, was recognised at the European iGaming Excellence Awards, which took place on 15 October in Warsaw, Poland.
The EiGE Awards 2024, organised by Hipther, gathered vital industry leaders to celebrate the achievements of the most influential companies in the iGaming sector all around Europe. Held as part of the European Gaming Congress, the awards served as the highlight of the event, honoring the best-performing companies across the region. The congress itself offered a dynamic format of panel discussions, presentations and workshops, allowing attendees to explore the latest trends, challenges and growth opportunities in the sector.
This award highlights DATA.BETās significant impact on the esports betting landscape, and showcases its ability to deliver reliable and advanced solutions that meet the needs of both operators and bettors. As the popularity of esports continues to grow within the European betting market, this achievement reinforces the companyās position at the forefront of the market.
āWe are honored to receive this recognition. This award emphasizes both our achievements and the progress of our products. Throughout the year, weāve introduced a range of new offerings, including Bet Builder and Widgets, such as Scoreboards and Pitch Tracker. Notably, the Player Props, launched in 2023, has quickly become a favorite among bettors. This acknowledgment reflects our teamās hard work and dedication, continuously striving to deliver top-tier esports betting solutions in the European market,ā said Otto Boning, Head of Sales at DATA.BET.
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