Pixel P&L: London’s League-Powered $15M Game-Changer

Good morning. It’s Monday, November 4. Today, we reveal how the 2024 League of Legends World Championship drove an impressive $15 million boost to London’s economy, smashing viewership records along the way.

In our feature, discover why India’s gaming industry may be held back by “Indian-ness” and what players really want from local games. Plus, we dive into Konami’s soaring profits and the explosive merger of Revenant Esports and Team XSpark that’s set to shake up Indian esports.

If this is your first time reading this, sign up here.

The 2024 League of Legends World Championship generated an estimated £12 million ($15.5 million) for London’s economy, according to London & Partners, the city’s business growth and destination agency. The projected economic impact reflects spending by visitors attending the tournament’s Grand Final at the O2 Arena on Nov. 2, excluding any future visits from fans who may return to the city.

In an earlier piece, we explored the economic benefits of esports events for host cities and the fierce competition to attract them.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, praised the event for boosting the capital’s profile as a global destination for esports and traditional sports alike. "The League of Legends World Championship showcases our city on an international stage," Khan said and highlighted the economic impact and potential for talent development within London’s thriving gaming and esports industry.

The Grand Final also set a new record for peak viewership in esports, reaching 6.94 million viewers during the last game of a close series between T1 and Bilibili Gaming. This was only the second time an esports event surpassed the six-million mark, following last year’s League of Legends championship. 

T1 secured its fifth world title, winning the best-of-five series 3-2. For T1’s star player, Faker, the victory marked a fifth championship, a milestone that has resonated with fans of the veteran player and his team. The title also came nearly a decade after T1’s initial consecutive wins under SK Telecom T1.

With 420 million gamers, India’s gaming market is vast and rapidly growing. Yet, despite this potential, Indian games have struggled to break through internationally. Unlike studios in the U.S., Japan, or South Korea, whose games regularly captivate global audiences, Indian developers have faced a recurring hurdle: balancing cultural specificity with universal appeal.

Indian studios often weave mythological storylines and distinctly Indian elements into their games, aiming to appeal to the domestic audience. While this approach seems logical, it might also be one of the factors holding back Indian games from wider success. Recent titles like Indus Battle Royale sparked mixed reactions, with some Indian players voicing frustration over games that, while culturally rich, fall short in gameplay quality and design.

Our feature dives into this debate, informed by a survey of Indian gamers. The responses highlight a nuanced view—while cultural representation resonates with players, it is not the sole factor drawing them in.

Konami Reports Record Profits Amid Strong Game Sales and Esports Growth

Konami achieved record profits across all categories in the first half of its fiscal year, driven by steady growth in its Digital Entertainment sector. For the period from April 1 to September 30, 2024, revenue rose 19.7% to 184 billion yen (approximately $1.2 billion), while business profit climbed 41.8% to 50.2 billion yen (around $330 million).

Digital entertainment saw a 28.9% sales increase, bolstered by popular titles like eFootball and Powerful Pro Baseball 2024-2025. Additionally, the Silent Hill 2 remake surpassed 1 million sales in three days. Konami anticipates continued momentum with upcoming titles in the Silent Hill and Metal Gear franchises.

Mistplay Report Highlights Mobile Gaming’s Monetization and Player Retention Challenges

Mistplay’s 2024 Mobile Gaming Growth Report reveals that monetization imbalances are driving player churn, with 77% of gamers leaving due to poor gameplay-monetization balance and 66% citing excessive in-game ads. As mobile publishers contend with rising user acquisition costs, the report predicts that 2025 will see increased use of brand collaborations, reward programs, and alternative monetization models like direct-to-consumer web shops and subscriptions. Mistplay’s Chief Product Officer, Ramanand Reddi, emphasized that “rethinking the traditional approach to growth” and embracing adaptability will be crucial for sustainable revenue in mobile gaming.

Revenant Esports and Team XSpark Merge to Form Revenant XSpark

Indian esports teams Revenant Esports and Team XSpark have merged, forming Revenant XSpark with ambitions to reshape the esports landscape in India. The newly-formed entity has revealed its Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) roster and was named a partner team for the 2025 Pokémon UNITE ACL India League. As part of the merger, content creator Tanmay “ScoutOP” Singh joins as brand ambassador. With over 10 million followers, ScoutOP brings star power and experience from Team XSpark’s BGMI success. Revenant XSpark plans to expand partnerships and build esports IPs in the region.

Nvidia Could Power All Key Components of Your Gaming PC by Next Year

Nvidia is reportedly set to launch an Arm-based PC platform in September 2025, featuring both a CPU and GPU designed in-house, according to DigiTimes. This high-end platform would mark Nvidia’s first foray into consumer Arm-based processors, complementing its dominance in gaming graphics. The initiative aligns with Microsoft’s recent push for Arm-based processors in Windows PCs. Earlier this year, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang suggested the company is eyeing the consumer market, especially as Qualcomm’s exclusivity for Arm-based Windows chips is due to end, opening the door for Nvidia’s entrance in 2025.

A Russian court has imposed an unprecedented fine on Google, totaling 2 undecillion rubles—around $2.5 decillion ($2,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000)—for refusing to restore YouTube accounts of pro-Kremlin and state-run media. To put this into perspective, the fine dwarfs the entire global wealth, valued at $432 trillion according to UBS, by approximately 5.79 sextillion times (a 1 followed by 21 zeros).

The case dates back to 2020 when Google blocked YouTube channels associated with Russian state media, including Tsargrad and RIA FAN. After Russian courts ordered Google to restore the accounts, daily fines of 100,000 rubles were imposed, doubling each week until reaching this astronomical amount.

Affected outlets include Zvezda, Channel One, and Moscow Media, all pushing for reinstatement on YouTube amidst an intensifying regulatory crackdown.