The Evolution Championship Series 2024, commonly known as EVO 2024, has shattered records, becoming the most-watched fighting game event ever on streaming platforms. This year’s tournament drew an immense global audience, setting new benchmarks in viewership and highlighting the growing popularity of fighting games within the esports community.
Record-Breaking Audience Figures
EVO has seen significant growth over the years, expanding its format to include more games and attracting a broader audience. In 2024, EVO USA reached an unprecedented 7.9 million hours watched, despite having 25 fewer hours of broadcast time compared to recent events.
While the highest peak viewership was recorded in EVO USA 2023 with 399,000 viewers, the 2024 edition saw a substantial share of its audience coming from co-streaming, accounting for 46.4% of total hours watched, which equates to 3.7 million hours.
The diversity of games and increased accessibility through co-streaming platforms have played a crucial role in this growth. EVO USA consistently outperforms its Japanese counterpart, even though fighting games are immensely popular in Asia.
EVO Japan 2024, for instance, generated half the broadcast time of its American counterpart but still managed to attract a significant audience, with 69 hours of live streaming compared to 145 hours for EVO USA.
Key Audience Statistics:
- Total Hours Watched: 7.9 million
- Co-Streaming Contribution: 46.4% (3.7 million hours)
- Top Languages:
- English: 67.5% (4.6 million hours)
- Japanese: 22.1% (1.5 million hours)
The Most Popular Games at EVO 2024
Street Fighter 6 emerged as the star attraction of EVO 2024, generating 4.6 million hours of viewing time, which accounted for 58% of the total audience across all platforms. The game’s ongoing appeal is fueled by its legacy status and continual content updates that keep the community engaged.
The highest viewership during the event peaked at 374,000 on July 20, thanks to a mix of games, including Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Guilty Gear -Strive-, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, and the grand finals of Mortal Kombat 1.
While Street Fighter 6 dominated, other titles also played a pivotal role in EVO’s success. Notably, King of Fighters XV showed strong performance, drawing comparable viewership to Tekken 8 on the first day of the event.
Top Games by Viewership:
- Street Fighter 6: 4.6 million hours watched
- Tekken 8: Second most popular, with significant viewership during the first day
- King of Fighters XV: Strong performance with potential for growth
Conclusion
EVO 2024 has not only set new standards for viewership but has also solidified the place of fighting games within the broader esports landscape. This success underscores the growing interest and expansion of the fighting game community, as well as EVO’s commitment to delivering high-quality events that unite players and viewers worldwide.
The remarkable participation and record-breaking viewing figures showcase the ongoing potential for growth in esports and the crucial role of events like EVO in advancing this vibrant and dynamic industry.