According to data analysis firm Esports Charts, the group stage of Valorant Champions 2023 concluded on Sunday with a total of approximately 24 million hours watched. This figure marks a notable 25% decrease compared to the viewership numbers from last year's group stage.
The average viewership for the group stage also saw a decline, averaging around 404,768 viewers. This represents a 17% drop in comparison to the group stage of 2022.
The most-watched match of the group stage featured a tense showdown between LOUD and NAVI, reaching a peak viewership of 713,960. However, this peak viewership fell short by 17% compared to the peak viewership achieved during a similar stage in 2022, which occurred in a match between Paper Rex and EDward Gaming.
Viewership Trends Over the Years:
Valorant Champions 2021:
- Average viewers: 425,887
- Peak viewers: 836,991
- Hours Watched: 30.3M
Valorant Champions 2022:
- Average viewers: 490,607
- Peak viewers: 860,353
- Hours Watched: 31.9M
Valorant Champions 2023:
- Average viewers: 404,768
- Peak viewers: 713,960
- Hours Watched: 23.9M
It's important to acknowledge that viewers from Chinese streaming platforms have not been accounted for in these figures due to the platforms' lack of transparency regarding the number of active viewers.
This omission is particularly significant since Chinese Valorant has experienced a remarkable international performance, with both EDward Gaming and Bilibili Gaming securing positions in the playoffs.
Esports Charts recently introduced DoHuya, a tracking platform that employs the 'Heat Index' metric from DouYu and Huya. Although it won't provide exact viewership numbers, DoHuya will offer insights into the popularity of esports events in China.
Esports Charts revealed a substantial decline in viewership for both English- and Japanese-language broadcasts during the event, with decreases of 35% and 39% respectively. Japanese broadcasts, while experiencing the third-highest peak viewership during the group stage at 198,571 viewers, are expected to see fewer Japanese fans tuning in for the rest of the tournament following the elimination of ZETA DIVISION.
Valorant Champions 2023 will continue with the double-elimination playoffs starting on Wednesday, August 16, featuring the top eight teams from the group stage. The reigning world champion, LOUD, attracted the most significant audience during the group stage, with an average of 525,222 viewers per match.
