Core Insights - The 2025 KPL Annual Finals took place at the National Stadium (Bird's Nest), where Chengdu AG Super Play defeated Chongqing Wolves 4-2, securing their eighth championship title and achieving a six consecutive championship streak in the KPL event system [1][4]. Group 1: Event Highlights - The 2025 KPL Finals set a Guinness World Record with an attendance of 62,196, making it the most attended single esports event [4]. - This event marked the first time a mobile esports event was held at the Bird's Nest, which is now recognized as the largest venue for mobile esports events [4]. Group 2: Industry Growth - The KPL is a significant extension of Tencent's game "Honor of Kings," with esports events serving as a vital presentation of game content, culture, and competition [7]. - According to the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association, the esports industry in China generated revenue of 12.761 billion in the first half of the year, with nearly 493 million users [7]. - The report indicates that the Chinese esports industry is expanding into overseas markets, with peak viewership for major events exceeding 4.13 million [7]. - Projections suggest that by 2026, the Chinese esports market will surpass 300 billion, driving the surrounding industry scale to over 1 trillion, becoming a crucial growth point for China's digital economy [7]. Group 3: Policy Support - Various cities in China are implementing policies to support the esports industry, with Beijing and Shenzhen being proactive in creating "esports cities" [8][9]. - Beijing has introduced multiple measures to promote high-quality development in the gaming and esports sector, including 11 initiatives aimed at enhancing market vitality and competitiveness [8]. - Shenzhen has established measures to build an international esports capital, including funding for high-level esports events and clubs achieving excellent results [9].

Market Development - The Chinese esports market is projected to reach approximately 179 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 5.5%, indicating a robust development trend [1][3][4] - The user base for esports in China is estimated to be around 511 million in 2024, with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.6%, showing a stable user growth [1][6] Industry Dynamics - The current core dynamics of the Chinese esports industry include accelerated internationalization, establishment of standardized systems, diversification of ecosystems, and widespread public participation, all contributing to the market's growth and prosperity [1] - The esports industry is experiencing a shift towards globalization, emphasizing long-term value, diversified business models, and aging-friendly adaptations, which are expected to drive new breakthroughs in the industry [1][38][41] User Characteristics - Esports users are gradually expanding from a younger demographic to a broader age range, with 68.5% of users aged 30 and below, while those aged 30 and above have increased to 31.5% [1][26] - A significant majority of esports users, 79.4%, believe that esports are important to their lives, and 90.5% hold a positive and optimistic view of the industry's future [1][33] Internationalization - China's esports industry has made significant strides in internationalization, becoming a major venue for international esports events and enhancing the global recognition of Chinese esports IPs [1][16] - Major international events like the Esports Olympics and Esports World Cup are pivotal for establishing a cross-national esports ecosystem, laying a solid foundation for the global development of the industry [1][16] Standardization - The esports industry is in a critical phase of sportsification, with the establishment of industry and talent standards becoming a core driver of development [1][19] - National policies and local practices are working together to create stability and replicability in the industry, while dual-track vocational training and education are addressing the talent gap [1][19] Diversification - The diversification of esports content, ecosystem, and collaboration areas is unlocking further growth potential, transitioning from a gaming industry to a broader entertainment industry [1][22] - This diversification enriches the content and forms of esports, injecting innovation and market vitality into the industry [1][22] Popularization - The popularization of esports is breaking traditional user limitations, expanding participation from professional stages to broader public life scenarios [1][24] - This process not only promotes the development of esports culture but also aids in the dissemination of social goodwill and positive energy [1][24] Future Trends - The esports industry is expected to continue its growth trajectory, with projections indicating that the overall market size may exceed 200 billion yuan by 2027 [3][4] - The emergence of a "silver-haired esports" market is anticipated as the aging population increasingly engages with esports, highlighting the need for an age-friendly esports ecosystem [1][48]