The 2024 Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) Championship, held at the Daiwa House PREMIST DOME in Sapporo, Japan, recently concluded its Group Stage. Despite being one of the most anticipated events in the 2024 esports calendar, the viewership numbers for this stage were lower compared to the same phase in 2023. The tournament, which features top teams from around the world competing for the title of world champion, saw its Group Stage peak at 82,643 viewers during the A vs B, Round 5 match on Day 1. This marked a 28.14% drop in viewership compared to the 2023 Group Stage, even though the event formats were quite similar.
One of the key factors affecting viewership was the time zone difference, which significantly impacted English-speaking audiences. English viewership saw a sharp decline of 72.5% in watch time compared to the 2023 Championship. Regional languages like Chinese and Japanese also experienced slight decreases in viewership.
Interestingly, the ALGS 2024 season appeared to shift its focus toward the North American esports scene. However, hosting the championship in Japan meant that many matches took place late at night or early in the morning for Western audiences, which likely dampened interest in those regions.
Additionally, the performance of well-known esports organizations such as TSM, 100 Thieves, and FURIA Esports was underwhelming during the Group Stage. All three teams finished outside the top ten in the overall standings, though they managed to qualify for the Winners Bracket of the Bracket Stage.
Despite these challenges, many fan-favorite teams will have an opportunity to redeem themselves when the Bracket Stage kicks off on February 1.