J. Clement
Research lead covering internet and gaming
League of Legends - Statistics & Facts
League of Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game and its monetization is based on microtransactions via in-game currency called Riot Points, with which players can purchase champions, champion skins, ward skins, summoner icons, and multi-game boosts. The basic premise of the game is to destroy the opposing team’s nexus - a protected structure located within the enemy’s base. The player acts as an invisible summoner who then controls a uniquely skilled champion to battle the opposing team of other players and conquer the rival’s nexus.
With such large amounts of money and recognition at stake, it is no wonder that eSports viewers watch on in their thousands to see who will come out on top. The average number of viewers of LoL on streaming platform Twitch has been steadily on the rise, with streams watched by an average of over 127 thousand viewers worldwide in December 2023. Despite the game entering its second decade on the market, its popularity among gamers and eSports viewers alike shows no signs of slowing down. The critically acclaimed November 2021 release of the Netflix series Arcane is another foray into the League of Legends universe, drawing in seasoned players and casual viewers alike.
Still going strong
League of Legends (also known as League or stylized as LoL) was first released in 2009 by Riot Games and remained popular ever since, not only as a form of entertainment, but also as a money-making device owing to its presence in eSports. Despite being over a decade old, League of Legends consistently ranks as one of the most popular video games in the United States. Because of its multiplayer format, League of Legends easily transitioned from at-home entertainment to international sport. Each year, hundreds of professional tournaments take place around the world and culminate in one major event called the World Championships.League of Legends World Championships
The prize pool for the League of Legends World Championships peaked at 6.45 million U.S. dollars in 2018, before falling to 2.23 million U.S. dollars for the 2023 tournament. The 2023 edition of the tournament took place in Seoul and Busan, South Korea, and the prize money awarded to the winners of the final, T1 from South Korea, reached almost 445 thousand U.S. dollars. The game’s eSports success, particularly across Asia, has led to League of Legends being included as a medal event in the upcoming 19th Asian Games, which was held from 23 September to 8 October 2023 in Hangzhou, China. South Korea’s League of Legends team beat Taiwan in the final, securing the gold medal and military exemptions for the winners.With such large amounts of money and recognition at stake, it is no wonder that eSports viewers watch on in their thousands to see who will come out on top. The average number of viewers of LoL on streaming platform Twitch has been steadily on the rise, with streams watched by an average of over 127 thousand viewers worldwide in December 2023. Despite the game entering its second decade on the market, its popularity among gamers and eSports viewers alike shows no signs of slowing down. The critically acclaimed November 2021 release of the Netflix series Arcane is another foray into the League of Legends universe, drawing in seasoned players and casual viewers alike.
