Esports
Esports in Canada, and globally, is growing exponentially, with hundreds of millions of esports enthusiasts playing or watching esports worldwide each year. ESAC members include the owners and publishers of the intellectual property which underly esports. This year, we explored how Canadians are engaging in the esports space.
We found that 35% of adults and 29% of kids and teens engaged in esports in 2019/2020 (the past twelve months at the time our study went to field in May 2020).
Adults (Gamers)
26%
26% of adult gamers watched esports tournament online
9%
9% of adult gamers purchased esports-related digital content
8%
8% of adult gamers purchased esports-related physical merchandise
6%
6% of adult gamers personally competed in an esports tournament
6%
6% of adult gamers attended an esports tournament in person
Kids and Teens (Gamers)
20%
20% of kids and teens watched an esports tournament online
7%
7% of kids and teens purchased esports-related digital content
7%
7% of kids and teens purchased esports-related physical merchandise
8%
8% of kids and teens personally competed in an esports tournament
3%
3% of kids and teens attended an esports event in person
More Canadians are participating in esports as viewers (spectators); 40% of gamers participate in game streaming, specifically 41% of adults and 46% of kids and teens.
31%
31% of adults engage in game streaming as a viewer (spectator)
15%
15% of adults engage in game streaming as a player
22%
22% of kids and teens engage in game streaming as a player
30%
30% of kids and teens engage in game streaming as a viewer (spectator)