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The Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2023 Split 2 Playoffs reached a peak of 578,000 viewers and an average audience of 236,000 viewers, according to Esports Charts data.

The event, which took place in London, also accumulated over 10m hours watched thanks to a new format this Split.

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This year’s Split 2 Playoffs, which came to a close last weekend, returned to the Copperbox Arena in London, UK, the same venue as the Split 1 Playoffs in February.

The 578,000 peak viewership figure places the Split 2 Playoffs in the top five Apex Legends esports events, per Esports Charts data.

This Split debuted a new format that saw each and every Group Stage match featured on broadcast, unlike previous events where two Group Stage matches would be played simultaneously, one being behind closed doors.

ALGS Commissioner John Nelson told Esports Insider in an interview that the new format featuring all teams on broadcast was one step it had taken to give teams more visibility and reach, in addition to letting teams sell merchandise on-site.

The Split 2 Playoffs saw the highest peak and average viewership achieved this year, beating out the Split 1 Playoffs by roughly 35,000 peak viewers and growing hours watched by 3.8m.

However, last year’s esports season outperformed this and other 2023 events. The highest viewership for an Apex Legends esports event was the 2022 Split 2 Playoffs, which garnered a peak of 677,000 and an average viewership of 286,000.

This year’s event, which had a $1m (~£763,000) prize pool, was won by North American esports organisation DarkZero Esports. The organisation’s Australian-majority roster took home $300,000 for their first place finish.

EA announced during the Split 2 Playoffs that the ALGS 2023 Championship — the final event in the esports title’s season — had been moved from London to Birmingham.

The Split 2 Playoffs featured brand sponsors including Monster Energy and hard drive brand WD Black, both of which had in-person activations and branding at the event. “We’ve worked very closely with [Monster and WD Black] to bring this all together, and our goal will always be to work with our partners to improve this in-person experience for our events,” ALGS Brand Marketing Manager Jasmine Chiang told Esports Insider.

“Being in person — there’s nothing like it, this is what it’s all about. Being able to engage with fans directly is very important to [the sponsors] as well.