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The Esports World Cup 2025 has set a new benchmark in competitive gaming viewership. Fans around the globe tuned in for over 183 million hours of content, marking a 51.3% rise compared to last year. With more than 1,700 hours of broadcast, this tournament became one of the biggest spectacles in esports history.
What stood out most was the dominance of mobile games, which took three spots in the top five by peak concurrent viewership. This shift shows how mobile titles are reshaping the esports landscape and drawing huge international audiences.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Leads the Pack
At the center of attention was Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). The popular MOBA reached a peak of over 3 million concurrent viewers, while fans spent more than 50 million hours watching the tournament.
For a game often underestimated by PC and console communities, this success proved how strong mobile esports have become, especially in regions like Southeast Asia. Released in 2016 by Moonton, MLBB has only grown bigger despite controversies, including copyright lawsuits from Riot Games and a temporary ban in India that was later lifted.
Other Mobile Titles Shine
MLBB wasn’t alone in dominating viewership. PUBG Mobile and Honor of Kings also secured spots among the most-watched titles. PUBG Mobile reached nearly 1.4 million concurrent viewers, ranking higher than even League of Legends at its peak.
Alongside these mobile giants, Counter-Strike and League of Legends also held strong in the top five, continuing their legacy as leading global esports titles.
On the other hand, lesser-known games like Teamfight Tactics, Fatal Fury, and Rennsport struggled to gain traction, showing how the esports audience still gravitates toward established names.
Dota 2 Faces a Decline
One surprising trend came from Dota 2, which was the only returning title to see a drop in both total watch hours and peak concurrent viewers. While still popular, the numbers suggest that newer titles and mobile games are slowly pulling attention away from some traditional PC esports.
YouTube and TikTok Surge While Twitch Stalls
The tournament was streamed across 16 platforms, but the viewing trends told an interesting story.
- YouTube saw the biggest leap, with 75.40 million hours watched, a 109.4% increase from last year.
- TikTok also grew sharply, rising 80.1% to reach 25.57 million hours watched.
- Twitch, however, remained stagnant, recording a slight decline of 0.6%, settling at 48.54 million hours watched.
This shows a major shift in how audiences prefer to watch esports. With younger viewers embracing short-form and mobile-friendly platforms, traditional livestreaming sites may need to adapt to keep pace.
What This Means for the Future of Esports
The Esports World Cup 2025 proved one thing clearly: mobile games are no longer secondary in esports. Their massive audience base, especially in Asia, is now pushing them to the global stage alongside legendary PC titles.
The rise of YouTube and TikTok also highlights how viewing habits are changing. Fans want more flexibility, quick highlights, and easier access, and platforms that deliver this will likely dominate in the years ahead.
With record-breaking numbers, the Esports World Cup 2025 has set a new standard. If this growth continues, the next few years could see esports becoming as mainstream as traditional sports worldwide.
Also Read: PUBG Mobile 4.0 Update: Unfail Mode And Horror Adventure
