2024’s Most-Watched Esports Teams: A Year in Review
The esports landscape in 2024 witnessed unprecedented viewership numbers, with League of Legends teams dominating the rankings. Data, which excludes Chinese streaming platforms and Battle Royale games due to data reliability concerns, reveals fascinating trends in competitive gaming viewership.
The Dominance of T1
South Korean powerhouse T1 emerged as the undisputed leader, accumulating an impressive 195 million Hours Watched (HW). Their successful World Championship campaign contributed significantly to these numbers, accounting for approximately half their total viewership. The team’s legendary mid-laner, Faker, led T1 to multiple record-breaking achievements, culminating in recognition at The Game Awards 2024, where they secured both Best Esports Team and Best Esports Athlete honors.
Mobile Legends Makes Its Mark
RRQ Hoshi demonstrated the growing influence of mobile esports, securing second place with over 112 million HW. Despite not claiming any major international titles, their consistent performance in MPL Indonesia Season 14 drove substantial viewership. The mobile gaming scene saw further representation with Team Liquid ID’s impressive sixth-place finish, highlighting Western organizations’ successful expansion into mobile esports.
Korean Teams Show Their Strength
Gen.G claimed third place following their triumph at the Mid-Season Invitational 2024. Their World Championship run, though ending in the semifinals, drew nearly 5 million Peak Viewers (PV). Hanwha Life Esports made a surprising climb to fifth place, marking their first LCK championship and World Championship appearance. Their future looks promising with the acquisition of former T1 top laner Zeus.
Historic Achievement for G2 Esports
In an industry first, G2 Esports placed two different rosters in the top 10. Their League of Legends team, despite dominating the LEC with three split victories, ranked ninth. Their Counter-Strike roster followed closely in tenth place, bolstered by victories at major tournaments including IEM Dallas and BLAST Premier events.
Notable Performances
Bilibili Gaming ranked fourth overall and achieved co-ownership of the most-watched match in esports history, sharing the record with T1 after their World Championship finals drew nearly 7 million concurrent viewers. Natus Vincere’s Counter-Strike team led Western viewership, securing seventh place with approximately 65 million HW, boosted by their victory at PGL Major Copenhagen.
Complete Rankings (Hours Watched)
- T1 (League of Legends) – 195,040,052
- RRQ Hoshi (Mobile Legends) – 112,224,870
- Gen.G (League of Legends) – 108,226,966
- Bilibili Gaming (League of Legends) – 87,520,378
- Hanwha Life Esports (League of Legends) – 68,374,149
- Team Liquid ID (Mobile Legends) – 67,950,184
- Natus Vincere (Counter-Strike 2) – 64,849,313
- Dplus (League of Legends) – 62,992,703
- G2 Esports (League of Legends) – 60,644,646
- G2 Esports (Counter-Strike 2) – 60,117,601
While League of Legends teams dominated the rankings, 2024 demonstrated the growing diversity of esports viewership, with mobile esports gaining significant traction and traditional esports organizations successfully maintaining their audience across multiple titles.