China’s esports industry earned £1.4 billion in the first half of 2025, up 6.1% year-on-year, with overseas audiences hitting record highs.
As Chengdu hosts the World Games 2025, global attention on competitive sports is also shining on the virtual arena. China’s esports industry generated 12.76 billion yuan (£1.40 billion) in the first half of 2025, up 6.1% year-on-year, according to the latest industry report. The sector continues to expand overseas, cementing China’s position as one of the world’s largest esports markets.
Overseas audiences reach record highs
Chinese-developed esports games gained more international traction from January to June. A top-tier tournament drew more than 4.13 million peak viewers overseas, setting a new record for the highest single-match viewership of a Chinese esports event abroad. This figure rivals that of audiences for major global tournaments, such as the League of Legends World Championship.
Shanghai leads as an esports hub
Esports events took place across many Chinese cities in the first half of the year. Shanghai hosted the most, accounting for 22.9% of all events. Chongqing followed with 14.0%, then Hangzhou (7.0%) and Beijing (5.3%). By June, Shanghai also had the most esports clubs—34 in total—followed by Beijing (11), Guangzhou (10), and Shenzhen (8).
Streaming dominates revenue
Streaming brought in 80.38% of total esports revenue from January to June. Tournaments, clubs, and other businesses made up the remaining 19.62%. Among major game genres, shooters were the most popular, with a 27.7% share. Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games accounted for 14.9%, and sports games for 11.7%.
Industry analysts expect China’s esports market to surpass 300 billion yuan (£32.9 billion) by 2026. They project related industries—from gaming hardware to tourism—to exceed 1 trillion yuan (£109.7 billion), making esports a key driver of the country’s digital economy.
Additional reporting by CNS.
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