Dota 2 TI 13 viewership numbers explored

The International (TI) is undoubtedly the crown jewel of the Dota 2 esports calendar, drawing in fans from all over the world. TI 2024, held from September 4 to September 15, was no exception, with massive viewership numbers once again proving its status as one of the most-watched esports events globally.

However, while the tournament delivered some unforgettable moments, the viewership figures tell a story of both continuity and decline.

Note: Aspects of this article are subjective and solely reflect the writer's opinions.

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Dota 2 TI 13: Peak viewership and key matches

The peak viewership was recorded on September 15 when Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators played their grand final match. Total viewers reached 1,523,957 during this nail-biting finale won by Team Liquid. Although the number is good, it has declined slightly compared to previous years.

TI 13 is now ranked as the fifth most-watched International in terms of peak viewership, behind the all-time record set at International 10 which broke over 2.7 million peak viewers in 2021.

Interestingly, despite being the tournament champions, Team Liquid was not the most-watched team overall. They ranked third in terms of total hours watched, with 11.5 million hours. The most viewed team in the tournament was Gaimin Gladiators, with 16.1 million hours, followed by Tundra Esports with 13.9 million hours.

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Dota 2 TI 13: Average viewership and total hours watched

The average viewership for TI 13 came in at 469,682—it was obvious that it suffered a decline from the previous year's average of 541,000.

For the third successive edition, The International experienced a decline in viewership numbers. All in all, viewers spent 55,187,615 hours on gameplay, which translates to a slight reduction of 10 million hours in contrast to 2023.

These declines point to a concerning trend. While the excitement around TI is still palpable, with millions of hours of gameplay being consumed, it is clear that fewer fans are tuning in for the entire tournament, opting instead to catch the major matches like the grand final.

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Dota 2 TI 13: Comparing to previous TIs

The International 2024 still ranks high compared to some previous editions. It surpasses both the 2017 and 2018 events in terms of peak viewership and hours watched. However, the downward trajectory in viewership remains a talking point.

For comparison, the 2021 edition (TI 10) remains the most-watched TI in history, with a peak viewership of over 2.7 million and 107 million hours watched.

Another factor that may have had an impact on this year's decline would be the size of the prize pool. This year, the prize pool reached $2.5 million, whereas last year it totaled $3.28 million.

In many ways, the size of the prize pool has often correlated with the hype and attention surrounding The International, so this decrease could have played a part in the overall drop in interest.

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While TI 13 still commands an impressive global audience, the gradual decrease in viewership over the past few years cannot be ignored. Since TI 10, the peak viewership numbers have started falling.

The 2024 edition did exactly the same thing, and part of the reason for this could be that Dota 2, or more specifically, The International, faces stiff competition for audience attention with the continued evolution of esports and new games entering the fray.