With the next-gen consoles out and mobile gaming becoming hotter, some have speculated that computers are on their way out the door. If you are a gamer looking to make it big as a pro, it is easy to say that the answer is a fairly big no. Computer gaming has a while to go (if ever) till it reaches its final days.
The top 10 games that have the highest earnings in eSports cross a variety of platforms. Over half of these games, however, are strictly computer platforms. Only 1 game is console only, while the other 3 are combinations of console and computer platforms.
#1: League of Legends – $11,671,817.18
With its growing popularity since its release in 2009, League of Legends tops the list of the games with the most earners. This MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena), released by Riot Games, is free-to-play. At the beginning of this year, LoL had over 67 million players per month. It is only available on Windows and OS X.
#2: StarCraft II – $11,191,953.98
LoL isn’t the only game breaking into the double-digit millions in earnings. StarCraft II follows closely behind it. This is not the only Blizzard Entertainment title that is part of the top 10 earners for eSports. StarCraft II is a real-time strategy video game with a focus on militaristic science fiction. This game is also only available on Microsoft Windows and OS X.
#3: Counter-Strike – $9,809,841.38
Originally released as a mod for Half-Life, Valve purchased the IP and released it solo in 2000. Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter game (or fps, as they are more commonly called). This is the first title on the list that is on a combination of platforms, including:
- Windows
- Xbox
- OS X
- Linux
#4: Dota 2 – $9,132,957.89
With LoL proving how strong the MOBA genre could be, Dota 2 released in 2013. This sequel was based on a Defense of the Ancients (DotA) mod. Dota 2 was originally released on Microsoft Windows and later ported to OS X and Linux. The title is exclusive to Steam.
#5: StarCraft: Brood War – $5,246,860.88
Another title from Blizzard Entertainment from 1998, this game is an expansion to the prequel of the before mentioned StarCraft II. Another RTS (real-time strategy) game that is especially popular in Korea, this title is only available on Windows and Mac OS.
#6: WarCraft III – $3,094,187.18
RTS games were a popular avenue for Blizzard Entertainment, and WarCraft III is no exception. The game released in the summer of 2002 in the US and won Game of the Year from over six publications. With single and multiplayer modes, this game is also only available on Windows, Mac OS, and OS X.
#7: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – $1,724,680.47
The fourth title from the Counter-Strike series, CS:GO is an FPS with online play that also released by Valve. Sent out into the world in 2012, it is the second title on the list of top 10 earners to release on console. The game is available on:
- PlayStation 3
- Windows
- OS X
- Xbox 360
#8: Halo 3 – $1,689,476.18
Halo 3 is the only title on the list that is exclusive to console release. Released in 2007 by Bungie, this FPS game is a Microsoft exclusive title. Players once again take on the role of the Master Chief on Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
#9: World of Warcraft – $1,432,150.00
Released by Blizzard Entertainment, the popular MMO, World of Warcraft, is the fourth title by this developer to have made the list of the top 10 eSports earners. Blizzard obviously has a good eye for design when it comes to eSports. WoW was only released for Windows and OS X.
#10: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 – $1,341,905.35
Last but not least, Call of Duty:Black Ops 2 is the third game released on a combination of platforms. Developer, Treyarch, released their FPS game in 2012, and it is the 9th title in the series. This is the only title on the list that released on the Wii U in addition to:
- PlayStation 3
- Xbox 360
- Windows
With 6 of these titles being exclusive to computers, one would be hard-pressed to say that computers were on their way out. Computer gaming grows leaps and bounds compared to console gaming which could be a factor in the standings.
Author’s Note: Earning totals subject to change as more tournament prizes are announced and awarded.
