The eSports industry in the US has seen a surge in popularity in recent years, with an estimated 30 million fans in the country. Predictions suggest that eSports may soon become one of the most played genres in the iGaming industry, rivaling traditional recreational games in terms of popularity. This growth in viewership has led to a rise in sponsorship deals, making it a profitable profession for gamers.
The rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube has also played a significant role in the growth of esports. These platforms have allowed gamers to easily stream their exploits and connect with a global audience. This has led to the creation of professional teams, leagues, and tournaments, further solidifying the industry’s place in mainstream entertainment.
There are literally thousands of eSports teams in the US, competing in thousands of different tournaments. When it comes to the number of eSports disciplines, the sky is the limit. Still, the fact is that some video games have a much larger followership than others. In this article, we’re going to focus on the most popular esports games in America.
Fortnite
Developed by Epic Games, Fortnite ranks top on the list of most popular esports games in the United States. There are nearly 2,500 Americans who make a living out of playing this game professionally. And some of them earn hefty sums.
Fortnite esports players from the US have earned a total of almost $44 million since the game was released in 2017. Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf is the most successful American Fortnite player, who’s added just under $3.5 million to his bank account by playing this battle royale game.
Dota 2
Although the number of American Dota 2 players is surprisingly low (just over 200), these esports players have been making a lot of money. They got more than $16 million in earnings between them.
Saahil Arora a.k.a. UNiVeRsE is leading the way with $3,057,237 earned thus far. Peter “ppd” Dager is just behind him with only a couple of thousand fewer. In addition to those two, there are another two Dota 2 millionaires in America – Clinton “Fear” Loomis ($2.5 million) and Jing Jun “Sneyking” Wu ($2.26 million).
The success of American Dota 2 esports athletes has led to a renewed interest in the game that was first released back in 2013. According to data available on Statista.com, this game achieved its peak in 2016 when almost 1.3 million players played it at the same time.
The latest audit showed that there were about 990 thousand players playing Dota 2 simultaneously about a month ago. That’s a higher number than most other video games have ever achieved.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
With more than 2,300 professional players, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is second only to Fortnite in terms of popularity in the US. When it comes to career earnings, this game ranks third in America (behind Fortnite and Dota 2).
CS: GO players from the United States have earned over $13.5 million since the release of the game in 2012. Jakey “Stewie2k” Yip, Jonathan “ELiGE” Jablonowski, and Nicholas “nitr0” Cannella are the three Americans who have earned over $1 million thanks to this esports discipline.
Apart from being popular among pros, this game is also loved by amateurs. The same as all the other titles from the Counter-Strike game franchise, CS: GO too is often used as a pastime of Americans of all ages – it’s estimated that as much as 10% of all Americans have played Counter-Strike at least once in their lives.
Other Popular Esports Games in the US
Super Smash Bros. Melee is the third-most popular game among American esports players with 1,740 players. Another game from the same franchise – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – is the No. 4 on that list.
The games from the Super Mario franchise are bound to get even more popular in 2023. The reason is that The Super Mario Bros. Movie is to be released in April, and this film is expected to be one of the highest-grossing movies of the year.
Career earnings, however, aren’t too great when it comes to these games. Games like Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, and many others have brought much more money to American esports athletes than the Super Mario titles.
Other games worth mentioning include VALORANT, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Street Fighter V. What’s interesting about these games is that they’re very popular among women gamers. This goes especially for VALORANT, which is the No. 1 pick of six of the top 20 highest-earning female esports athletes in the United States.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, the eSports industry in the US has seen a significant rise in popularity and is poised to become one of the most played genres in the iGaming industry. According to casinobonusesnow.com, the online gambling directory, the eSports industry in the US is expected to reach a total value of $1.6 billion by the end of 2023. The growth in viewership and sponsorship deals have made it a profitable profession for gamers.
The rise of streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube has also played a significant role in the industry’s growth by allowing gamers to easily connect with a global audience. With the formation of professional teams, leagues, and tournaments, the eSports industry is solidifying its place in mainstream entertainment. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see which games and teams rise to the top and capture the hearts of fans.
