How Does VALORANT Viewership Compare to Other Esports?

In June of 2020, Riot Games published VALORANT, an FPS hero tactical shooter. In the COVID era, the game's release had picture perfect timing as gamers were stuck at the vicinity of their homes, often spending large chunks of their time in front of computer screens. This led to a largely successful launch of the video game that is now over 5 years old.

Over the course of those 5 years, VALORANT has grown in many more ways than just one. A robust expansion of the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) that now includes China as a distinct region, a release on consoles, as well as an immensely successful launch on mobile devices (currently exclusive to China), indicates that Riot Games' first dive into the FPS genre was far from a fluke.

A Closer Look at Peak Esport Viewership

But what about viewership of the esport? VALORANT is a very young title, with the VCT just being 4 seasons young. Compared to some storied behemoths in the industry like Counter-Strike, League of Legends, or Rocket League, VALORANT remains a toddler. Still, VALORANT attracts a respectable amount of viewers, especially during the Masters and Champions events held during a given season.

The graph below published by STRAFE in an analysis of what drives viewership in esports, showcases peak viewership in various esport titles over the course of the last decade, including VALORANT.

The graph clearly shows that when it comes to the peak viewers metric, no esport mentioned has come close to the likes of League of Legends. Upon closer look, VALORANT was already present in the top 4 the season it launched. Additionally, it has surpassed Dota2 in peak viewership in 2024, landing it in 3rd that year.

Getting Involved in the Game

Viewership is one pillar that represents how the esport is faring. However, it must be remembered that esports are partially marketing tools to get people involved in the game itself. A bigger involvement of organizations paired with a rising playerbase typically signifies rising interest in the game and a bigger potential for growth.

Esports Organizations

For VALORANT, the number of organizations interested in the esport has grown drastically, with 2024 having just under ~150 organizations actively involved in the scene worldwide. This includes the VCT, VALORANT Challenger Leagues, as well as VALORANT Game Changers.

Esports organizations typically react positively when the game offers a decent ecosystem to reside in and recognize the potential of the game in terms of growing popularity. An active player base is a solid indicator of that, showcasing more and more players getting involved with the product over time. And the more players there are, the bigger the potential for emerging esports fans and perhaps new fans of organizations. One thing leads to another, but it all typically starts with new players interacting with the game.

Active Player Base

According to the graph created by STRAFE (above), VALORANT's player base has gradually increased since its release in 2020. In fact, the game has surpassed ~20 million players in 2022, a rapid growth in just two years. Additionally, according to the graph, it is the only of two games that maintains a positive growth trajectory year-on-year alongside Counter-Strike.

Conclusion

The article takes a look at three pillars of progression that are key to a growing esport; peak viewership, active player base, and number of organizations fielding teams competing in the game. In all three metrics, VALORANT has recorded a positive trajectory over time, especially in the approximate number of organizations entering the esport.

The numbers are promising, however, it's important to remember that the game is still very young and it is more than likely that metrics will begin to fluctuate down the line. Nevertheless, the game's frequent game updates, events, and structure of the esports scene are more than promising for its positive longevity.

Featured Image Credit: Yicun Liu/Riot Games