esports: a forecast revenue of $950.3m in 2020 and $1.6bn in 2023 (Newzoo, adjusted forecasts)

Global revenues from esports will rise to $950.3m (€807m as of 07/10/2020) in 2020, a slight decrease from the $950.6m recorded in 2019, announced the Dutch consulting firm Newzoo on 07/10/2020, which, due to Covid-19, has once again adjusted its "2020 Global Esports Market Report" initially published on 26/02/2020. At the time of the first publication, Newzoo forecast 2020 revenues of $1.1bn (€1bn as of 26/02/2020).

For 2023, the consulting firm is still forecasting $1.598bn (€1.35bn as of 07/10/2020) in revenues generated by esports (versus $1.556bn initially forecast).

"The main contributing factor for the 2020 revision was the ongoing and unpredictable impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is worth noting that the esports audience is not smaller (meaning there's no decrease in demand) and the number of organizers is not fewer (so there's no decrease in supply)," explained Newzoo.

The audit firm forecasts an "almost" spectator-free end of 2020: this means a drop in forecast for ticketing and merchandising revenue from $76.2m (€64.7m) to $52.5m ($44.5m). Media rights and sponsorship…