Esports Around The World is a series of profiles outlining the esports ecosystem in various countries globally. The series ties into our ESI Washington DC event taking place 16-18th May 2022, which will focus on esports’ growth around the world. The event will include a first-of-its-kind embassies tour alongside ESI’s trademark combination of networking, education and debate. Find out more here.
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Introduction
Brazil is the biggest market in the LATAM region, and is home to some of the most die-hard esports fans. Due to the accessibility of smartphones, the mobile games market far outpaces the PC and console markets — yet PC esports titles are still more profitable. More and more young players are viewing esports and gaming as an escape from poverty, resulting in a booming ecosystem that is increasingly appealing to teams and sponsors alike.
Brazil has enticed a number of mobile gaming companies, with Garena and Riot Games having well-established operations in the region. However, the growing mobile esports market doesn’t mean Brazil has turned its back on other games. The Brazilian Major-winning SK Gaming roster from 2016 helped grow the CS:GO scene immensely, and teams like Furia, LOUD and MIBR are spearheading the growth of the game in the region. There are also established leagues in almost every notable esports title: Rainbow Six, CS:GO, League of Legends, Wild Rift, Free Fire, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and others.
League of Legends also has its franchised league system in Brazil, with the top-tier tournament, the CBLoL, recording more viewers than the LCS in the Spring split of 2022 (136,000 on average).
Government Recognition
Esports is not considered equal to other sports in Brazil on a federal level, as there is no official federal law in Brazil that is dedicated to esports and esports athletes.
However, efforts at legislation have been ongoing since 2017. A law currently being discussed faces a number of obstacles, though, such as the fact that Brazilian states have their own competences and their own say in how esports legislation is applied.
Public pressure amidst criticisms of the federal law prevented it from passing in 2019. However, several states have introduced their own legislation in lieu of the proposed federal law, namely in the states of Paraíba and Paraná. Legislation categorising video games as skill-based games — a distinction that legally separates it from gambling — has passed the lower house of Brazil’s legislature and is currently awaiting approval from the senate.
Notable Tournaments & Leagues
Brazil is a country in which mobile gaming flourishes, but there are also a number of notable tournaments in PC games. Brazil is also known for hosting important stops in major tournament circuits prior to the pandemic, such as the ESL ONE Belo Horizonte.
Notable Esports Organisations
Note that this is a non-exhaustive list and exclusion does not signify an org is not notable.
National Associations / Federations
Note that inclusion in this list does not suggest any acknowledgement from ESI of its authority, works or official capacity.
Education Initiatives
Los Academy is a streaming and esports education project which seeks to help players and streamers improve their talents, with Los Grandes founder Rodrigo ‘El Gato’ Fernandes on board.
Neverest Esports, which used to host professional rosters, switched its focus to creating an educational project in 2021. It created a catalogue of educational videos for aspiring talents, and hosts a tournament circuit called the Neverest Experience to help choose and sign future talent for the organisation.
Similarly, AfroGames is a social project in partnership with NGO AfroReggae. It provides courses in computing and English to young people from poor neighbourhoods in Brazil, and has signed a professional League of Legends roster from graduates of its courses.
RELATED: Esports Around The World: South Korea
This is a preliminary country profile and will be augmented with additional information over time. If you have any suggestions or feedback for this profile, please get in touch at [email protected]
ESI DC is 16-18th May! Find out more.
