First released in 2009, League of Legends (LoL) is an online multiplayer battle arena game which generated revenue of **** billion U.S. dollars in 2020. This figure represents recovery from the dip to *** billion U.S. dollars in annual revenue generated in 2018. Still going strong after 10 years League of Legends has built a loyal and large fanbase in the ten years since its release. The game reached a landmark 100 million monthly active users in 2016, an impressive increase from the ** million users it had in 2011. As with many online games, players can gain experience points through playing the game and completing certain missions. This ranking system is then used to match players of similar skill levels against each other in online games. The League of Legends ranking system has **** levels to indicate the skill level of the gamer. Amongst North American players, the silver skill level was the most common, whilst only a small handful of gamers were able to reach the top levels. League of Legends tournamentsDue to its entertaining and fast-pace gameplay, League of Legends is one of the most popular eSports, with almost ** million U.S. dollars up for grabs in LoL tournaments worldwide in 2018. The pinnacle of the League of Legends competitive scene is the World Championship, which became one of the most watched eSports events in history in 2018 as almost 100 million unique viewers tuned in. The Chinese eSports team, Invictus Gaming, emerged victorious in 2018, thereby pocketing a whopping *** million U.S. dollars in prize money.

In June 2025, League of Legends: Wild Rift generated approximately 5.96 million U.S. dollars in in-app purchase revenues. The multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) gaming title is a mobile version of the PC game League of Legends, published by Riot Games.

Teamfight Tactics (TFT) is a strategy game developed and published by Riot Games as a spinoff of their existing multiplayer online battle arena video game, League of Legends. The TFT mobile app was published in March 2020, and its monthly revenue has since then fluctuated in Poland. During the observed period of time, the mobile gaming app reached its highest revenue in February 2022, amounting to over ** thousand U.S. dollars.

Honor of Kings was the top-grossing mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide in June 2025, accumulating over 143 million U.S. dollars through in-app purchase revenues. Honor of Kings is only available in China, and the game's international version Arena of Valor generated approximately 41,000 U.S. dollars during the measured period. The U.S. edition of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was ranked second overall with 10.69 million U.S. dollars in monthly IAP revenue.

PC Games Market Size And Forecast

PC Games Market size is growing at a moderate pace with substantial growth rates over the last few years and is estimated that the market will grow significantly in the forecasted period i.e. 2024 to 2031.

Global PC Games Market Drivers

The market drivers for the PC Games Market can be influenced by various factors. These may include:

Increased Adoption Of Digital Distribution: The PC Games Market has witnessed a significant shift towards digital distribution platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, and Origin. These platforms have made purchasing and accessing games more convenient for consumers, removing the barriers associated with physical copies. Digital distribution allows for frequent sales, promotions, and bundles, which attract a wider audience. Furthermore, the ease of downloading games instead of traveling to retail stores has contributed to higher sales volumes. This trend has been exacerbated by the rise of high-speed internet, enabling smoother downloads and frequent updates, keeping players engaged and encouraging new purchases. Growing Popularity Of eSports: The rise of eSports has dramatically influenced the PC Games Market, creating a vibrant ecosystem that attracts both players and audiences. Major tournaments, such as those for League of Legends and Dota 2, have gained global recognition, bringing in significant sponsorships and advertising revenues. This popularity encourages game developers to focus on multiplayer experiences, thereby expanding their audience base. Additionally, eSports events stimulate game sales, as viewers often want to participate in the games they watch. As eSports continues to grow, it fuels interest in related gaming genres, driving revenue in the PC gaming sector. Advancements In Technology: Technological advancements in graphics, processing power, and online infrastructures have significantly impacted the PC Games Market. Enhanced graphics cards and powerful CPUs allow developers to create immersive experiences with detailed visuals and complex gameplay mechanics. Innovations such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are also beginning to reshape gaming experiences, offering new interactive elements. Additionally, improvements in internet connectivity have led to smoother online multiplayer experiences, enabling gamers to play competitively without lag. These advancements not only attract hardcore gamers but also entice casual players, broadening the market's appeal. Expansion Of Mobile Gaming: The rapid growth of mobile gaming is influencing the PC Games Market, as many gamers are now engaging with games across multiple platforms. The proliferation of smartphones and tablets has introduced more players to gaming, leading to an increase in interest in PC titles that offer superior graphics and gameplay quality. Many successful mobile games are also being adapted for PCs, enhancing their reach. Furthermore, the cross-platform play feature allows users to enjoy games on various devices, facilitating a more flexible gaming experience. As mobile gaming continues to thrive, it indirectly supports the overall demand for PC games. Shift Towards Subscription Models: Subscription models are becoming increasingly prominent in the PC Games Market, with services like Xbox Game Pass and EA Play gaining traction. These platforms offer users access to a vast library of games for a monthly fee, which lowers the barrier to entry for many players hesitant to spend on individual titles. This model also encourages exploration of various games, which can lead to increased engagement and long-term customer retention. The subscription approach caters to diverse gaming preferences and lifestyles, allowing players to try new titles without commitment. As this trend grows, it significantly reshapes purchasing behaviors in the market. Rising Interest In Indie Games: The PC Games Market has seen growing interest in indie games, which are often characterized by innovation and unique gameplay mechanics that differ from mainstream titles. Platforms such as Steam have made it easier for indie developers to publish their games, giving rise to a greater variety of options for players. Gamers are increasingly seeking fresh experiences and engaging narratives, often found in indie titles. This trend is supported by the community aspect of game discovery, where word-of-mouth recommendations and social media help promote lesser-known games. Consequently, the popularity of indie games is driving diversification and competition within the market.

As of March 2020, about ****** Douyu users streamed the MOBA game League of Legends in China each month, giving out about ** million yuan of virtual gifts and tips. Other game titles earning the highest amount of tips from Douyu streamers were PUBG, Honor of Kings, and Peacekeeper Elite, nearly all published by Tencent.

In 2024, the League of Legends World Championship, which took place in the France, Germany, and the UK, had a prize pool of just under 2.23 million U.S. dollars. This marked a significant drop on the prize pool of 6.45 million U.S. dollars in 2018. The total winnings from the tournament in 2018 were the largest on record since the championship began in 2011, and the cumulative prize money since 2019 has totaled slightly above two million U.S. dollars annually. League of Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game that pits opposing teams against each other to infiltrate their opponents’ base and destroy their “nexus”, a fortified structure within the base. Who are the most prominent League of Legends players worldwide? Looking at professional gamers, Sang Hyeok Lee was the highest-earning League of Legends player worldwide in 2024. Hailing from South Korea, Lee, who played under the moniker of Faker, had earned more than 1.8 million U.S. dollars competing at League of Legends tournaments throughout his eSports gaming career. Meanwhile, Caedrel was the most watched League of Legends streamer on Twitch worldwide, having accumulated more than 3.6 million viewership hours in the 30 days preceding December 2024. The British League of Legends streamer’s monthly viewership hours were about 25 percent higher than NoWay4u_Sir, who was second in the ranking. How popular are MOBA games? Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games are a widely played subgenre of strategy games which enable teams of players to compete against one another on a predetermined battlefield. Although they were not the first games within the genre, MOBA was popularized with titles such as League of Legends and Dota 2. In April 2024, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was the most downloaded MOBA mobile gaming app worldwide, registering almost six million downloads. Meanwhile, Honor of Kings was the top-grossing mobile MOBA app worldwide, reporting an annual revenue of above 161 million U.S. dollars in April 2024.

Over the past decade, the Chinese technology group Tencent Holdings has invested heavily in developing its gaming business. In 2024, its online games grossed *** billion yuan – a considerable increase compared to the previous year. This made up almost ** percent of the Chinese tech giant’s annual revenue. Tencent’s gaming empire The entertainment giant has remained as the world’s top game publisher by revenue, leading the industry with ** million U.S. dollars in quarterly earning more than the second placeholder, Sony. Tencent's mobile games Peacekeeper Elite and Honor of Kings have been well-received in the Chinese market. In fact, the Chinese conglomerate controls stakes in some of the world’s popular games, such as League of Legends, Fortnite, and Clash of Clans. Its battle-royale game PUBG Mobile has gained immense popularity in overseas markets. The goldmine of online gaming in China In a country with over *** million gamers, the gaming market in China is massive and lucrative. Since 2017, the revenue of China’s video game industry has surpassed *** billion yuan and continued to grow steadily. Undoubtedly, Chinese consumers are highly engaged in mobile gaming. Role-playing, real-time strategy, shooter, and fighting games are the most popular genres. Besides mobile games, eSports is another booming game sector in China with role-playing games (RPG) and multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) being the major revenue powerhouse. Having scoped out the market potential of eSports, Tencent invested in the eSports streaming platform Douyu and acquired Douyu’s biggest domestic rival Huya in **********. It is quite unlikely for other market players to shake Tencent’s dominating status in the next few years.

During a survey in the second quarter of 2024, over 30 percent of respondents worldwide aged 18 to 29 listed eSports as one of their interests. This figure was lower among the general population, with 17 percent of overall respondents declaring an interest in eSports.