- Joined
- Sep 25, 2009
- Messages
- 1,624
- Likes
- 423
The world's most popular free-to-play (F2P) game is League of Legends. It is an online multiplayer game that pits a 5-person team against another 5-person team. The League of Legends Worlds prize pool was a staggering $5.07 million. (Source: 2016 League of Legends Worlds prize pool at $5.07M with fan contributions | ESPN)
In the citation below from PVPLive, the chart shows League of Legends sold an incredible $1.7 billion (for Jan-Nov 2016) in microtransactions such as different digital clothes for a League of Legends hero.
League of Legends' revenue growth reflects its popularity as the world's most-played online game.
2014: almost $1 billion in revenue
2015: $1.6 billion
2016: $1.7 billion from Jan-Nov
The really interesting story about League of Legends is the purchase of Riot Games, the company that originally created League of Legends. In 2011, China's Tencent spent $400 million to buy 93% of the American company Riot Games. This was a high-risk high-reward investment. No one knew if League of Legends was a flash in the pan or whether its popularity would endure.
In 2015, China's Tencent bought the remaining 7% of Riot Games.
In conclusion, China's Tencent was very fortunate to have purchased Riot Games. Tencent became the owner of the world's most popular free-to-play game and it will be interesting to see if League of Legends will keep on growing. Its direct competitor is DOTA2, which had a meager $0.26 billion in sales for Jan-Nov 2016.
References:
Tencent Acquires Riot Games (and League of Legends) for $400M | PCMag
Tencent Acquires Full Control of U.S.-Based Riot Games | The Wall Street Journal
----------
League of Legends Tops the Free to Play Market for 2016 | PVPLive
In the citation below from PVPLive, the chart shows League of Legends sold an incredible $1.7 billion (for Jan-Nov 2016) in microtransactions such as different digital clothes for a League of Legends hero.
League of Legends' revenue growth reflects its popularity as the world's most-played online game.
2014: almost $1 billion in revenue
2015: $1.6 billion
2016: $1.7 billion from Jan-Nov
The really interesting story about League of Legends is the purchase of Riot Games, the company that originally created League of Legends. In 2011, China's Tencent spent $400 million to buy 93% of the American company Riot Games. This was a high-risk high-reward investment. No one knew if League of Legends was a flash in the pan or whether its popularity would endure.
In 2015, China's Tencent bought the remaining 7% of Riot Games.
In conclusion, China's Tencent was very fortunate to have purchased Riot Games. Tencent became the owner of the world's most popular free-to-play game and it will be interesting to see if League of Legends will keep on growing. Its direct competitor is DOTA2, which had a meager $0.26 billion in sales for Jan-Nov 2016.
References:
Tencent Acquires Riot Games (and League of Legends) for $400M | PCMag
Tencent Acquires Full Control of U.S.-Based Riot Games | The Wall Street Journal
----------
League of Legends Tops the Free to Play Market for 2016 | PVPLive
Last edited: