GameSquare's Stream Hatchet Publishes 2023 Yearly Report

Esports viewership continues steady rise, growing 9% in 2023 , and has increased every year since 2019

Simulcasting shows promise with 100% viewership increase; multi-platform concurrent streaming doesn't seem to split audiences

FRISCO, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 15, 2024 / Stream Hatchet, a streaming analytics and business intelligence platform and wholly-owned subsidiary of GameSquare Holdings (NASDAQ:GAME)(TSXV:GAME), ("GameSquare", or the "Company"), has published its Yearly Live-Streaming Trends Report for 2023.

Stream Hatchet's latest report offers an in-depth analysis culminating the biggest trends, stories, and insights from the live-streaming and video games industry. As one of the top sources in entertainment and a go-to resource for media, Stream Hatchet works with a consortium of industry-leading analysts and business leaders to provide expert insight on identifying key trends and projections for the future of gaming and esports.

"Continued annual growth in esports live-streaming since 2019 reflects expanding adoption of esports as a form of media and entertainment, while the overall live-streaming market continues to normalize after a spike in viewership in 2020 associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe 2024 will continue to show growth in esports live-streaming as a result of the growth in co-streaming channels, new worlds being developed in popular games, and massive new game launches expected to occur throughout the year," said Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare.

Key takeaways from the 2023 Yearly Trends Report include:

  • Esports viewership continued to climb in 2023, up 9% from 2022 to 2.5 billion hours watched. This continues a yearly trend of increasing viewership and since 2019, esports viewership is up 92%.
    • Q1 and Q2 of 2023 were the greatest of their respective quarters ever for esports viewership, with Q2 the second-highest quarter of all time at 678 million hours watched.
  • In 2023, live streaming's weekly average viewership dropped just 3.3% year-over-year - a notable recovery from the 13.8% drop in 2022. However, the weekly average surpasses that of 2020 by an additional 4 million hours.
  • In March of 2023, Kick burst onto the scene as a new Western platform, with a huge catering to non-gaming categories. This catapulted Kick ahead of both AfreecaTV and Facebook into #3 for both Q3 and Q4. Consequently, Facebook bids farewell to its standing as the third most-recognized Western platform.
  • Just Chatting continues to dominate the non-gaming side of live-streaming, and has also sparked popularity on Kick where it generated 260 million hours watched in 2023.
  • For the several creators Stream Hatchet analyzed who began simulcasting in 2023, their average minute audience while simulcasting on multiple platforms increased 100% on average.
    • This indicates that multi-platform concurrent streaming doesn't seem to split audiences, but rather increases the overall audience reach for the streamer.
  • Top Games live-streamed in 2023 include: Grand Theft Auto, League of Legends, Valorant, Minecraft, and Fortnite.
  • Top steamers in 2023 include: ibai, PaulinhoLOKObr, KaiCenant, AdinRoss, and auronplay
  • Top female streamers in 2023 include: rivers_gg, Emiru, JenFoxxx, Valkyrae, and Kyedae

For more information on Stream Hatchet and insight into the esports and streaming markets, please visit their website at www.streamhatchet.com.

About GameSquare Holdings, Inc.
GameSquare Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:GAME)(TSXV:GAME) is a vertically integrated, digital media, entertainment and technology company that connects global brands with gaming and youth culture audiences. GameSquare's end-to-end platform includes GCN, a digital media company focused on gaming and esports audiences, Cut+Sew (Zoned), a gaming and lifestyle marketing agency, USA, Code Red Esports Ltd., a UK based esports talent agency, Complexity Gaming, a leading esports organization, Fourth Frame Studios, a creative production studio, Mission Supply, a merchandise and consumer products business, Frankly Media, programmatic advertising, Stream Hatchet, live streaming analytics, and Sideqik a social influencer marketing platform. www.gamesquare.com

Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to the closing of the proposed transaction, the Company's future performance and revenue; the Company's ability to execute its business plan; and the proposed use of net proceeds of the transaction. These forward-looking statements are provided only to provide information currently available to us and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, assurance or definitive statement of fact or probability. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions which include, but are not limited to: the Company being able to grow its business and being able to execute on its business plan, the Company being able to complete and successfully integrate acquisitions, the Company being able to recognize and capitalize on opportunities and the Company continuing to attract qualified personnel to supports its development requirements. These assumptions, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the Company's ability to achieve its objectives, the Company successfully executing its growth strategy, the ability of the Company to obtain future financings or complete offerings on acceptable terms, failure to leverage the Company's portfolio across entertainment and media platforms, dependence on the Company's key personnel and general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties including impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and any variants. These risk factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company which are discussed in the Company's most recent MD&A. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. GameSquare assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Corporate Contact
Lou Schwartz, President
Phone: (216) 464-6400
Email: ir@gamesquare.com

Investor Relations
Andrew Berger
Phone: (216) 464-6400
Email: ir@gamesquare.com

Media Relations
Chelsey Northern / The Untold
Phone: (254) 855-4028
Email: pr@gamesquare.com

SOURCE: GameSquare Holdings, Inc.



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