The ESL Impact League Season 6, a premier female Counter-Strike esports tournament, concluded on November 24 with significantly lower viewership compared to previous seasons. The drop in audience can be primarily attributed to scheduling conflicts and a lack of co-streamers.
When the league launched in mid-2022, it was incredibly popular, becoming the most-watched female Counter-Strike esports tournament. However, its viewership has been inconsistent over time. The series heavily depends on co-streamers and community casters to expand its audience reach, which was notably absent in Season 6.
The main reason for low viewership was the event’s scheduling overlap with the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: European RMR B qualification tournament. This competing event drew 532K peak viewers, with 59% of its watch time coming from co-streamers like Brazilian caster Gaules, who had previously streamed ESL Impact events.
ESL Season 6
Season 6 of the ESL Impact League garnered 136.8K total watched hours and maintained an average of 4.4K concurrent viewers. The grand final between Brazilian teams FURIA Esports Female and Imperial Valkyries was the highlight, peaking at 15.5K viewers, with Imperial winning 2-1.
Imperial, which returned to women’s Counter-Strike earlier this year, has already won two ESL Impact League championships. Historically, Brazilian teams, especially FURIA, have been prominent in these events and attracted a significant Portuguese-speaking audience.
Valorant’s VCT 2024: Game Changers Championship, was far more successful. The Valorant event’s success stems from Riot Games’ strategic approach: scheduling the event during an off-season, inviting popular streamers like Kyedae for in-person watch parties, and maintaining complete control over the esports schedule.
The key takeaway is that for female esports to thrive, organizers need to carefully schedule events, minimize competing tournaments, and actively engage with co-streamers and the broader gaming community. While ESL has been crucial in developing the female CS scene, the Valorant model suggests that developer-organized events with strategic marketing could significantly boost viewership.
