A new study reveals which video games are the most profitable to play professionally this year, with Dota 2 ranking first
- The findings are based on tournament prize pools and Twitch watch time
- PUBG Mobile is one of the most profitable games and can be played on-the-go
- A gaming expert reveals the best way to get into competitive gaming and encourages players to monetize their hobby as a side-hustle
New data has identified the most profitable video games to play professionally, based on tournament prize pool statistics and Twitch viewership.
The study conducted by CasinoAlpha analysed top-earning games’ tournament prize pools alongside the total views reported on Twitch over the last year – represented as days’ worth of watch time – before assigning each title a profitability score out of ten.
Dota 2 is the most lucrative game for professional players, with a profitability score of 7.1 out of ten. The title saw £24 million through tournament prize pools last year and amassed a huge 22.6 million days of watch time on Twitch over the past 12 months.
The second most profitable game is Fortnite, scoring 5.3 out of ten, with £15.4 million distributed through prize pools, and 29.6 million days of watch time on Twitch.
In third is League of Legends, scoring five out of ten, with £6 million distributed through tournament prize pools. Although this is less than those in first and second place, the game achieved the highest watch time with 54.5 million days’ worth on Twitch.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the fourth most profitable, scored at 4.2 out of ten. The game saw £11.9 million distributed through tournament prize pools last year and 27.7 million days’ worth of watch time accumulated on Twitch.
In fifth is Valorant, with £7 million distributed through tournament prize pools and 37.6 million days of watch time on Twitch. The game holds a profitability score of 3.7 out of ten.
The top five profitable video games to play professionally
PUBG Mobile is the sixth most profitable game, with a profitability score of 3.4 out of ten, and £16.6 million distributed through tournament prize pools.
This game differs from the others as it is played on mobile, which makes it easier for players to improve their skills on the go. PUBG Mobile also accumulated 4.9 million days’ worth of watch time on Twitch.
Rainbow Six Siege is the seventh most profitable game, scoring just one out of ten, with £7 million distributed through tournament prize pools in 2023. The game also accumulated 8.1 million days of watch time on Twitch.
Ranking bottom is Rocket League, with £6.7 million distributed through tournament prize pools in 2023 and 3.8 million days’ worth of watch time on Twitch over the last 12 months.
Speaking on the findings, a competitive gaming expert for CasinoAlpha said: “Competitive gaming has seen significant growth in recent years thanks to its accessibility and massive online reach. Titles such as Dota 2, Fortnite, and League of Legends continue to dominate the scene, with substantial Twitch viewership translating to a massive earning potential.
“There are several ways to capitalize on this earning potential, but first and foremost, select a game that you enjoy and are eager to spend a lot of time playing. Reviewing your gameplay to identify mistakes and refine strategies is crucial for improvement and makes an engaging watch on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
“You may also start participating in smaller online tournaments to get yourself into the competitive mindset. Lastly, having a coach and being part of a team can significantly accelerate your skill development and integration into the competitive scene.
“When you compare the average salaries of jobs across Europe to the potential earnings from professional gaming, the difference is staggering. For instance, a doctor earns an average annual salary of £60k and would have to work for approximately 100 years to match the 2023 League of Legends tournament prize pool.“
Methodology
The tournament prize pools were gathered via Statista, while the watch time was collected from Sully Gnome. A formula was applied to assign each game a score out of ten based on its prize pool and another score out of ten based on its watch time, which were then averaged to obtain a final score out of ten. Full data can be found here.
Full ranking of all analysed profitable games
