<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 17%<br/> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 7% - 4th highest<br/> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> DreamHack San Diego 2023 Melee on April 7-9, 2023 ($5,000)<br/></p><p>Super Smash Bros. was released by Nintendo in 1999. It differs from other video games in that players aim to eject opponents off the stage instead of depleting their life bars. The series features characters from other Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, and Pokémon. Each successive series has added characters, some of whom can transform into other characters. Its multiplayer mode has been well-received by video-game critics. As of Dec. 31, 2022, the latest iteration, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, had sold 30.4 million copies</p>

> Share of people following in the US: 17%
> Share of people following in the UK: 7% - 4th highest
> Next major event and prize money: DreamHack San Diego 2023 Melee on April 7-9, 2023 ($5,000)

Super Smash Bros. was released by Nintendo in 1999. It differs from other video games in that players aim to eject opponents off the stage instead of depleting their life bars. The series features characters from other Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, and Pokémon. Each successive series has added characters, some of whom can transform into other characters. Its multiplayer mode has been well-received by video-game critics. As of Dec. 31, 2022, the latest iteration, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, had sold 30.4 million copies

(Super Smash Bros. (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Farley Santos)

The most followed video game franchises in the US

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Video games, once only played at home, have taken advantage of the emergence of social media, smartphones, and tablets, and can be played everywhere. Their growth has been abetted by the fact that the first users of videos are well into adulthood and understand the games’ appeal to their children, even as they continue to play themselves.

<p>The video gaming industry was estimated to be worth $178.73 billion in 2021, an increase of 14.4% from 2020. In the U.S., the value of the video gaming market is $97.67 billion, according to data from Statista. Video games first became part of our pastime in the 1970s and today’s video-game offerings feature realistic graphics and an astonishing simulation of reality. (<a href='https://247wallst.com/special-report/2022/11/11/best-selling-nintendo-games-of-all-time/?utm_source=tribune&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tribune&utm_content=best-selling-nintendo-games-of-all-time&utm_term=812193261&wsrlui=812193261'>Here are the best-selling Nintendo games of all time</a>.)<br></p><p>To compile a list of the most followed esports in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo reviewed the results of a survey, conducted by YouGov, an international market and data analytics website and released in June 2022. Survey data was collected continuously from several sources instead of from a single questionnaire and was based on a sample size of between 1,420 and 2,970 adult respondents around the U.S. Participants were asked which esports franchises they watch or follow, meaning those they actively read about on a regular basis; watch live broadcasts or highlights of leagues, competitions, and events online or on TV; or attend leagues, competitions, or events in person. <br></p><p>Video games, once only played at home, have taken advantage of the emergence of social media, smartphones, and tablets, and can be played everywhere. Their growth has been abetted by the fact that the first users of videos are well into adulthood and understand the games’ appeal to their children, even as they continue to play themselves. (<a href='https://247wallst.com/special-report/2022/11/14/most-popular-baby-names-inspired-by-video-games/?utm_source=tribune&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tribune&utm_content=most-popular-baby-names-inspired-by-video-games&utm_term=812193262&wsrlui=812193262'>Speaking of parents, these are the most popular baby names inspired by video games</a>.) <br></p><p>As you might expect, the use of video games soared during the pandemic. But the interesting aspect of this is that according to data from YouGov and Statista, 77% of mobile gamers from the U.S. who spent more time on mobile games during the outbreak said they were very or somewhat likely going to continue playing mobile games at the same rate once the pandemic ended.</p>

The video gaming industry was estimated to be worth $178.73 billion in 2021, an increase of 14.4% from 2020. In the U.S., the value of the video gaming market is $97.67 billion, according to data from Statista. Video games first became part of our pastime in the 1970s and today’s video-game offerings feature realistic graphics and an astonishing simulation of reality. (Here are the best-selling Nintendo games of all time.)

To compile a list of the most followed esports in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo reviewed the results of a survey, conducted by YouGov, an international market and data analytics website and released in June 2022. Survey data was collected continuously from several sources instead of from a single questionnaire and was based on a sample size of between 1,420 and 2,970 adult respondents around the U.S. Participants were asked which esports franchises they watch or follow, meaning those they actively read about on a regular basis; watch live broadcasts or highlights of leagues, competitions, and events online or on TV; or attend leagues, competitions, or events in person. 

Video games, once only played at home, have taken advantage of the emergence of social media, smartphones, and tablets, and can be played everywhere. Their growth has been abetted by the fact that the first users of videos are well into adulthood and understand the games’ appeal to their children, even as they continue to play themselves. (Speaking of parents, these are the most popular baby names inspired by video games.) 

As you might expect, the use of video games soared during the pandemic. But the interesting aspect of this is that according to data from YouGov and Statista, 77% of mobile gamers from the U.S. who spent more time on mobile games during the outbreak said they were very or somewhat likely going to continue playing mobile games at the same rate once the pandemic ended.

(Handout / Getty Images News via Getty Images)

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10. Halo

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 14%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 7% - 7th highest (tie)<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> Gamers Assembly 2023 on April 8-9, 2023 ($1,069)<br></p><p>Halo, a first-person shooter series, was announced in 1999 at the Macworld Conference & Expo and was made available to the public in 2001 as Halo: Combat Evolved. The multimedia science-fiction franchise has been very successful both commercially and critically. Halo: Combat Evolved and its successor game Halo 2 sold a combined 14.8 million units before Halo 3 was introduced in 2007. By 2021, the franchise had sold 81 million copies worldwide.</p>

> Share of people following in the US: 14%
> Share of people following in the UK: 7% - 7th highest (tie)
> Next major event and prize money: Gamers Assembly 2023 on April 8-9, 2023 ($1,069)

Halo, a first-person shooter series, was announced in 1999 at the Macworld Conference & Expo and was made available to the public in 2001 as Halo: Combat Evolved. The multimedia science-fiction franchise has been very successful both commercially and critically. Halo: Combat Evolved and its successor game Halo 2 sold a combined 14.8 million units before Halo 3 was introduced in 2007. By 2021, the franchise had sold 81 million copies worldwide.

(Getty Images / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)

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9. Mortal Kombat

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 14%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 7% - 7th highest (tie)<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> Texas Showdown 2023 Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on April 21-23, 2023 (prize money to be determined)<br></p><p>This video game, whose symbol is a nefarious-looking dragon, premiered in 1992. It was originally designed as a science-fantasy-fighting-themed game starring action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, but that concept fell through. The game has been controversial from the start because of its high level of graphic violence, in which victors kill their foes instead of just knocking them out. The franchise has spawned a comic book series, an album, and a series of movies. It has grossed more than $5 billion, making it one of the most financially successful media franchises of all time.<br></p><p><strong><a style='color: #008000' href='https://247wallst.com/special-report/2022/11/11/best-selling-nintendo-games-of-all-time/?utm_source=tribune&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tribune&utm_content=best-selling-nintendo-games-of-all-time&utm_term=812193263&wsrlui=812193263'>ALSO READ: Best-Selling Nintendo Games of All Time</a></strong></p>

> Share of people following in the US: 14%
> Share of people following in the UK: 7% - 7th highest (tie)
> Next major event and prize money: Texas Showdown 2023 Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate on April 21-23, 2023 (prize money to be determined)

This video game, whose symbol is a nefarious-looking dragon, premiered in 1992. It was originally designed as a science-fantasy-fighting-themed game starring action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, but that concept fell through. The game has been controversial from the start because of its high level of graphic violence, in which victors kill their foes instead of just knocking them out. The franchise has spawned a comic book series, an album, and a series of movies. It has grossed more than $5 billion, making it one of the most financially successful media franchises of all time.

ALSO READ: Best-Selling Nintendo Games of All Time

(Cedric Ribeiro / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)

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8. Overwatch

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 15%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 11% - 7th highest (tie)<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> DreamHack San Diego 2023 on April 7-9, 2023 ($10,000)<br></p><p>The multilayered, multiplayer cross-platform Overwatch, developed by Blizzard Entertainment, dazzled game reviewers when it debuted in 2016, winning the IGN Game of the Year Award. Twenty-one characters brought a level of broad engagement to the game. Overwatch was also noteworthy for its transmedia storytelling strategy, which expanded the game-playing experience for players. The latest Overwatch 2 iteration, which launched in 2022, has a 35-hero roster.</p>

> Share of people following in the US: 15%
> Share of people following in the UK: 11% - 7th highest (tie)
> Next major event and prize money: DreamHack San Diego 2023 on April 7-9, 2023 ($10,000)

The multilayered, multiplayer cross-platform Overwatch, developed by Blizzard Entertainment, dazzled game reviewers when it debuted in 2016, winning the IGN Game of the Year Award. Twenty-one characters brought a level of broad engagement to the game. Overwatch was also noteworthy for its transmedia storytelling strategy, which expanded the game-playing experience for players. The latest Overwatch 2 iteration, which launched in 2022, has a 35-hero roster.

(Kelly Defina / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images)

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7. Fortnite Battle Royale

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 16%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 9% - 6th highest (tie)<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> Red Bull Centested on June 10, 2023 ($120,000)<br></p><p>Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, was released in 2017. It is available in three versions: Fortnite Battle Royale, in which up to 100 players battle to be the last person standing; Fortnite: Save the World, a survival game in which up to four players fight off zombies with traps and fortifications; and Fortnite Creative, which gives players freedom to create worlds and arenas.<br></p><p>Fortnite Battle Royale has in particular become a very lucrative game for Epic Games. Its notoriety has been boosted by the fact that celebrities such as the singer Drake and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster viewed the game during a streaming event in 2018.<br></p><p><strong><a style='color: #008000' href='https://247wallst.com/special-report/2022/08/22/45-movies-based-on-video-games-ranked-from-worst-best/?utm_source=tribune&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tribune&utm_content=45-movies-based-on-video-games-ranked-from-worst-best&utm_term=812193264&wsrlui=812193264'>ALSO READ: 45 Movies Based on Video Games, Ranked from Worst Best</a></strong></p>

> Share of people following in the US: 16%
> Share of people following in the UK: 9% - 6th highest (tie)
> Next major event and prize money: Red Bull Centested on June 10, 2023 ($120,000)

Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, was released in 2017. It is available in three versions: Fortnite Battle Royale, in which up to 100 players battle to be the last person standing; Fortnite: Save the World, a survival game in which up to four players fight off zombies with traps and fortifications; and Fortnite Creative, which gives players freedom to create worlds and arenas.

Fortnite Battle Royale has in particular become a very lucrative game for Epic Games. Its notoriety has been boosted by the fact that celebrities such as the singer Drake and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster viewed the game during a streaming event in 2018.

ALSO READ: 45 Movies Based on Video Games, Ranked from Worst Best

(Fortnite Battle Royale... (CC BY 2.0) by Official GDC)

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6. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO)

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 16%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 20% - 6th highest (tie)<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> Gamergy Argentina on April 8-9, 2023 ($800,000)<br></p><p>Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which debuted in 2012, expands upon the team-based first-person shooter gameplay the original Counter-Strike pioneered when it was launched in 1999 by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series. Valve continues to regularly update the game. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has remained popular since its release, reaching a record of 1.4 million concurrent players in March 2023. That topped the game's previous record of 1.3 million in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the only game on our list that has a larger share of viewers in the U.K. than the U.S.</p>

> Share of people following in the US: 16%
> Share of people following in the UK: 20% - 6th highest (tie)
> Next major event and prize money: Gamergy Argentina on April 8-9, 2023 ($800,000)

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, which debuted in 2012, expands upon the team-based first-person shooter gameplay the original Counter-Strike pioneered when it was launched in 1999 by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series. Valve continues to regularly update the game. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has remained popular since its release, reaching a record of 1.4 million concurrent players in March 2023. That topped the game's previous record of 1.3 million in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is the only game on our list that has a larger share of viewers in the U.K. than the U.S.

(Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images)

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5. FIFAe

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 17%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 14% - 5th highest<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> FIFAe Nations Series 2023 - Asia & Oceania - Online Qualifiers on April 13-15, 2023 (no prize money for qualifying)<br></p><p>FIFAe, the video game named after the association that oversees international soccer, is a series of association football video games developed and released each year by Electronic Arts via the EA Sports label. Players can assemble their own dream teams or play with their country's national squad. The game can be played in 18 languages and is available in 51 countries. It is the best-selling sports video game franchise in the world, according to Guinness World Records. The video game franchise says it features more than 19,000 players, over 700 teams, and more than 30 leagues. FIFA introduced a women's team game this year.<br></p><p><strong><a style='color: #008000' href='https://247wallst.com/special-report/2022/11/14/most-popular-baby-names-inspired-by-video-games/?utm_source=tribune&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tribune&utm_content=most-popular-baby-names-inspired-by-video-games&utm_term=812193265&wsrlui=812193265'>ALSO READ: Most Popular Baby Names Inspired by Video Games</a></strong></p>

> Share of people following in the US: 17%
> Share of people following in the UK: 14% - 5th highest
> Next major event and prize money: FIFAe Nations Series 2023 - Asia & Oceania - Online Qualifiers on April 13-15, 2023 (no prize money for qualifying)

FIFAe, the video game named after the association that oversees international soccer, is a series of association football video games developed and released each year by Electronic Arts via the EA Sports label. Players can assemble their own dream teams or play with their country's national squad. The game can be played in 18 languages and is available in 51 countries. It is the best-selling sports video game franchise in the world, according to Guinness World Records. The video game franchise says it features more than 19,000 players, over 700 teams, and more than 30 leagues. FIFA introduced a women's team game this year.

ALSO READ: Most Popular Baby Names Inspired by Video Games

(Clive Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images)

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4. Super Smash Bros.

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 17%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 7% - 4th highest<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> DreamHack San Diego 2023 Melee on April 7-9, 2023 ($5,000)<br></p><p>Super Smash Bros. was released by Nintendo in 1999. It differs from other video games in that players aim to eject opponents off the stage instead of depleting their life bars. The series features characters from other Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, and Pokémon. Each successive series has added characters, some of whom can transform into other characters. Its multiplayer mode has been well-received by video-game critics. As of Dec. 31, 2022, the latest iteration, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, had sold 30.4 million copies</p>

> Share of people following in the US: 17%
> Share of people following in the UK: 7% - 4th highest
> Next major event and prize money: DreamHack San Diego 2023 Melee on April 7-9, 2023 ($5,000)

Super Smash Bros. was released by Nintendo in 1999. It differs from other video games in that players aim to eject opponents off the stage instead of depleting their life bars. The series features characters from other Nintendo franchises, including Super Mario, Donkey Kong, Yoshi, and Pokémon. Each successive series has added characters, some of whom can transform into other characters. Its multiplayer mode has been well-received by video-game critics. As of Dec. 31, 2022, the latest iteration, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, had sold 30.4 million copies

(Super Smash Bros. (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Farley Santos)

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3. Apex Legends

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 17%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 9% - 3rd highest<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> Apex Rising on April 20-21, 2023 ($25,000)<br></p><p>One of the most recent entries on our list is Apex Legends, released by Electronic Arts, which premiered in 2019 and was released worldwide three years later. In Apex Legends, players in squads of two or three choose a character with an ability known as a Legend and fight other players to be the last squad standing. Each team drops its member into an area of the team's choosing from a spaceship. Most of these battles take place in an area called the Frontier, which is far from Earth.<br></p><p><strong><a style='color: #008000' href='https://247wallst.com/special-report/2023/02/13/obsolete-gadgets-we-used-to-be-obsessed-with-3/?utm_source=tribune&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tribune&utm_content=obsolete-gadgets-we-used-to-be-obsessed-with-3&utm_term=812193266&wsrlui=812193266'>ALSO READ: Obsolete Gadgets We Used to Be Obsessed With</a></strong></p>

> Share of people following in the US: 17%
> Share of people following in the UK: 9% - 3rd highest
> Next major event and prize money: Apex Rising on April 20-21, 2023 ($25,000)

One of the most recent entries on our list is Apex Legends, released by Electronic Arts, which premiered in 2019 and was released worldwide three years later. In Apex Legends, players in squads of two or three choose a character with an ability known as a Legend and fight other players to be the last squad standing. Each team drops its member into an area of the team's choosing from a spaceship. Most of these battles take place in an area called the Frontier, which is far from Earth.

ALSO READ: Obsolete Gadgets We Used to Be Obsessed With

(Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images)

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2. Call of Duty

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 23%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 21% - 2nd highest<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> Call of Duty Challengers 2023 - Cup 9: NA on April 8-9, 2023 ($2,500)<br></p><p>Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game published by Activision in 2003. The original format was set during World War II. Subsequent scenarios include the Cold War, black ops, and the war on terror. More than 400 million copies of the series have been sold. Guinness World Records has verified the game as the biggest-selling single-shooter series of all time. Tie-ins include action figures, a card game, Mega Bloks sets by Mega Brands, and a comic book miniseries.</p>

> Share of people following in the US: 23%
> Share of people following in the UK: 21% - 2nd highest
> Next major event and prize money: Call of Duty Challengers 2023 - Cup 9: NA on April 8-9, 2023 ($2,500)

Call of Duty is a first-person shooter video game published by Activision in 2003. The original format was set during World War II. Subsequent scenarios include the Cold War, black ops, and the war on terror. More than 400 million copies of the series have been sold. Guinness World Records has verified the game as the biggest-selling single-shooter series of all time. Tie-ins include action figures, a card game, Mega Bloks sets by Mega Brands, and a comic book miniseries.

(Lukas Schulze / Getty Images)

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1. League of Legends

<p><strong>> Share of people following in the US:</strong> 36%<br> <strong>> Share of people following in the UK:</strong> 23% - the highest<br> <strong>> Next major event and prize money:</strong> Red Bulls Solo Q 2023 World Finals on May 18-19, 2023 ($10,000)<br></p><p>In both the United States and the United Kingdom, League of Legends - developed by Riot Games and debuted in 2009 - is the top video game franchise. In the U.S., it far out-distances second-place Call of Duty. League of Legends players choose from among 140 "champions" to form two teams of five each to try and destroy each other's base. The League's popularity has led to tie-ins such as music videos and comic books. There is an annual world championship that has drawn 100 million unique viewers and is viewed on live-streaming websites such as Twitch and YouTube and on ESPN.<br></p><p><strong><a style='color: #008000' href='https://247wallst.com/special-report/2022/11/11/best-selling-nintendo-games-of-all-time/?utm_source=tribune&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=tribune&utm_content=best-selling-nintendo-games-of-all-time&utm_term=812193267&wsrlui=812193267'>ALSO READ: Best-Selling Nintendo Games of All Time</a></strong></p>

> Share of people following in the US: 36%
> Share of people following in the UK: 23% - the highest
> Next major event and prize money: Red Bulls Solo Q 2023 World Finals on May 18-19, 2023 ($10,000)

In both the United States and the United Kingdom, League of Legends - developed by Riot Games and debuted in 2009 - is the top video game franchise. In the U.S., it far out-distances second-place Call of Duty. League of Legends players choose from among 140 "champions" to form two teams of five each to try and destroy each other's base. The League's popularity has led to tie-ins such as music videos and comic books. There is an annual world championship that has drawn 100 million unique viewers and is viewed on live-streaming websites such as Twitch and YouTube and on ESPN.

ALSO READ: Best-Selling Nintendo Games of All Time

(Getty Images / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images)

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