December has always been a month filled with high-stakes esports action, and 2024 was no different. Mobile gaming took center stage, dominating viewership numbers, while China hosted its first-ever Counter-Strike Major. Meanwhile, Red Bull made history with its largest gaming event to date, capping off a year of intense competition.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M6 World Championship Shatters Records
The highlight of late 2024 was the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) M6 World Championship. Hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the tournament gathered top-tier teams from around the world, but all eyes were on the fierce rivalry between Indonesia and the Philippines. The electrifying Grand Final saw Fnatic ONIC PH take on Team Liquid ID, peaking at an astonishing 4.1 million concurrent viewers—more than triple the audience of the second most-watched event.
The M-Series has consistently drawn massive audiences, and while the latest edition did not break concurrent viewership records, it did achieve a major milestone. The tournament secured its place in history by accumulating the highest total watch time of any MLBB event to date, reaffirming its status as one of the most-watched mobile esports series.
Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 Defies Expectations
Among PC esports, the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 stood out as the most-watched event to close out the year. Hosted in China, time zone differences typically limit viewership from Western regions, but the tournament still exceeded expectations. The Grand Final between Team Spirit and FaZe Clan captured audiences, reaching a peak of 1.3 million concurrent viewers. Given the time constraints for European and North American fans, this was an impressive feat that cemented the Shanghai Major’s success.
Mobile Esports (image via Getty)PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2024 Marks a New High
The year’s final major battle royale event, PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2024 (PMGC), secured a strong position among the most-watched tournaments. While it narrowly missed the 1 million concurrent viewer mark, peaking at 985,000+, the event became the most-watched PUBG Mobile competition since 2021. It now ranks as the fifth most-viewed tournament in the game’s competitive history.
Adding to the excitement, the intense rivalry between South Korea’s Dplus and Turkey’s Regnum Carya Bra Esports created an electrifying final round. In a nail-biting finish, Dplus claimed victory by a single point, making it one of the closest title fights in recent memory.
Arena of Valor AIC 2024 Delivers Solid Viewership
Garena’s Arena of Valor International Championship (AIC) 2024 delivered another strong performance, drawing a peak audience of over 762,000 concurrent viewers. Featuring top teams from Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia, the tournament showcased some of the best mobile MOBA action of the year.
The Grand Final between Thailand’s Bacon Time and Taiwan’s BanMei Gaming was the most-watched match of the event. However, the one-sided nature of the series—ending in a 4-0 sweep for Bacon Time—dampened the general excitement. Had the final been more competitive, the event could have reached even higher viewership numbers.
Arena of Valor AIC 2024 (image via Getty)Red Bull’s League of Its Own Blends Esports and Entertainment
Rounding out the top five was Red Bull’s League of Its Own, a hybrid esports-entertainment event that brought together professional teams and streamer squads in a unique competitive setting. The lineup featured two of France’s biggest esports organizations, Karmine Corp and Gentle Mates, alongside Germany’s NNO Old, Caedrel’s new team Los Ratones, G2 Esports, and reigning world champions T1.
Taking place shortly after the League of Legends World Championship, the event capitalized on the post-season hype. The biggest match of the tournament was the clash between T1 and Los Ratones, which drew over 612,000 concurrent viewers. Only Red Bull’s Batalla music events have outperformed it in terms of engagement.
English-speaking viewers Gravitate Toward Counter-Strike and LoL
December saw English-speaking audiences primarily tuning into Counter-Strike and League of Legends. However, the M6 Grand Final also resonated with this demographic, proving the growing global appeal of MLBB. In addition, esports football attracted significant interest, with the FC Pro 25 Open and FIFAe World Cup peaking at over 200,000 English-speaking concurrent viewers.
The FC Pro 25 Open, the flagship EA Sports FC event of the winter season, captured attention thanks to its intense matches and the opportunity for fans to earn in-game rewards. Meanwhile, this year’s FIFAe World Cup was hosted in eFootball, further expanding its reach among digital football enthusiasts.
Twitch’s Esports Channels Reflect Changing Trends
Traditionally dominated by PC gaming, Twitch continued to be a hub for Counter-Strike and League of Legends content. Three of the platform’s top five esports channels were dedicated to Shanghai Major coverage, with one being an official tournament broadcast.
Caedrel, a former League of Legends pro turned analyst, leveraged the hype around his team’s clash against T1, generating significant engagement. Meanwhile, the official EA Sports FC channel saw strong viewership thanks to its FC Pro 25 Open broadcasts, proving that Twitch audiences are increasingly embracing competitive football titles.
