The Evolution of Mobile Esports: A 2024 Analysis
Mobile esports has transformed from a niche segment into a major force in competitive gaming, now rivaling traditional PC titles in popularity and viewership. While the rankings remained stable compared to 2023, the industry witnessed significant developments and growth across multiple titles.
5. Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)
Following PUBG Mobile’s exit from the Indian market in 2021, BGMI stepped in to fill the void. Despite facing intense competition from other mobile titles, the game has shown remarkable resilience. In 2024, BGMI’s esports scene demonstrated impressive growth, with a 45% increase in total live watch time compared to the previous year.
The Battlegrounds Mobile India Series and Pro Series remained the game’s flagship tournaments, offering substantial prize pools and attracting the largest audiences. The Pro Series was particularly successful, nearly reaching 500,000 peak viewers – a remarkable achievement only surpassed by the game’s initial Launch Party event featuring popular content creators.
4. Free Fire
After experiencing setbacks in early 2022 due to its ban in India, Free Fire has engineered an impressive comeback. The game recorded an extraordinary 119% increase in live viewership during 2024, driven by two key strategic changes.
Garena’s decision to restructure the Free Fire World Series into a year-round format proved highly successful. The new system features multiple regional tournaments across Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Brazil, leading to increased average engagement and watch time. Additionally, Free Fire’s inclusion in the prestigious Esports World Cup (EWC) added another layer of significance to its competitive calendar, with regional competitions serving as qualification pathways.
3. Arena of Valor (AoV)
AoV has maintained steady growth despite keeping its tournament structure largely unchanged in 2024. The game’s success is particularly notable in Southeast Asia, where it draws substantial viewership from Thailand and Vietnam. Both countries host thriving national leagues that consistently attract hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Even with the global launch of Honor of Kings (its sister title) and exclusion from the Esports World Cup, AoV has demonstrated remarkable resilience. The game’s ability to maintain and even grow its audience suggests strong fundamental appeal and effective community engagement.
2. PUBG Mobile
As a seven-year veteran in the mobile esports space, PUBG Mobile continues to set industry standards. While overall viewership showed a slight decline in 2024 compared to 2023 (due to having one world championship instead of two), the game maintained its position as the leading Battle Royale esports title for the fifth consecutive year.
PUBG Mobile’s comprehensive tournament ecosystem spans from amateur to professional levels, with particular strength in Southeast Asia. The game’s continued inclusion in the Esports World Cup reinforces its significance in the broader esports landscape.
1. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)
MLBB has reinforced its position as the undisputed leader in mobile esports. The game’s dominance was highlighted by several major developments in 2024, including partnerships with prestigious organizations like Team Liquid, Fnatic, and Team Spirit.
The MPL Indonesia Season 14 tournament set new records, accumulating over 117 million hours of watch time – the highest ever for a mobile esports event and the most-watched regional tournament across all esports categories. Looking ahead, MLBB’s competitive scene continues to expand, with major organizations like Natus Vincere and Team Falcons entering regional leagues.
The mobile esports landscape shows no signs of slowing down, with each game carving out its own niche while contributing to the ecosystem’s overall growth. As we move forward, the industry’s continued evolution and maturation suggest even greater achievements ahead.
