Julia Stoll
Research expert covering TV and video media
League of Legends - Statistics & Facts
Despite being over a decade old, League of Legends (LoL) consistently ranks as one of the most recognized video game franchises in the United States. The online multiplayer game has spawned several spin-off games in different genres, as well as other media tie-ins such as the award-winning animated series Arcane, music, and comic books.
The 2024 edition of the League of Legends world championships took place in Berlin, Paris, and London, and the prize money awarded to the winners of the final, T1 from South Korea, reached almost 445 thousand U.S. dollars. The game鈥檚 eSports success, particularly across Asia, has led to League of Legends being included as a medal event in the 19th Asian Games, which was held from September 23 to October 8, 2023 in Hangzhou, China. South Korea鈥檚 League of Legends team beat Taiwan in the final, securing the gold medal and military exemptions for the winners.
As the game is halfway through its second decade on the market, its popularity among gamers and eSports viewers is slowing down and owner Riot Games has been expanding the intellectual property to other media. The 2020 release of the mobile app version League of Legends: Wild Rift was a success, as the game consistently ranks among the most poplar MOBA games on mobile. Additionally, the critically acclaimed release of the two-season Netflix series Arcane is another foray into the League of Legends universe, drawing in seasoned players and casual viewers alike. As such, League of Legends is a successful example of a long-running video game title that has managed to stay relevant by expanding its appeal to new audiences.
How does League of Legends work?
League of Legends is a free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. The basic premise of the game is to destroy the opposing team鈥檚 nexus - a protected structure located within the enemy鈥檚 base. The player acts as an invisible summoner who then controls a uniquely skilled champion to battle the opposing team of other players and conquer the rival鈥檚 nexus. Because of its multiplayer format, League of Legends easily transitioned from at-home entertainment to international sport. Each year, hundreds of professional tournaments take place around the world and culminate in one major event called the World Championships.League of Legends World Championships
As one of the biggest eSports worldwide with an international competitive scene and multiple leagues, the annual League of Legend world championships are a must-watch event for many gamers. The prize pool for the League of Legends World Championships peaked at 6.45 million U.S. dollars in 2018, while the 2024 iteration of the tournament had 2.23 million U.S. dollars鈥 worth of prize money to be won.The 2024 edition of the League of Legends world championships took place in Berlin, Paris, and London, and the prize money awarded to the winners of the final, T1 from South Korea, reached almost 445 thousand U.S. dollars. The game鈥檚 eSports success, particularly across Asia, has led to League of Legends being included as a medal event in the 19th Asian Games, which was held from September 23 to October 8, 2023 in Hangzhou, China. South Korea鈥檚 League of Legends team beat Taiwan in the final, securing the gold medal and military exemptions for the winners.
Branching out into other media
With such substantial amounts of money and recognition at stake, it is no wonder that thousands of eSports viewers watch in to see who will come out on top. The average number of viewers of LoL on streaming platform Twitch amounted to 96,000 in December 2024.As the game is halfway through its second decade on the market, its popularity among gamers and eSports viewers is slowing down and owner Riot Games has been expanding the intellectual property to other media. The 2020 release of the mobile app version League of Legends: Wild Rift was a success, as the game consistently ranks among the most poplar MOBA games on mobile. Additionally, the critically acclaimed release of the two-season Netflix series Arcane is another foray into the League of Legends universe, drawing in seasoned players and casual viewers alike. As such, League of Legends is a successful example of a long-running video game title that has managed to stay relevant by expanding its appeal to new audiences.
