DC ranks #13 as one of the best cities for gamers: report

Personal finance website WalletHub recently released a report comparing the 100 largest cities across 23 key indicators of gamer-friendliness. Based off this research, the District came in at #13 as one of the best cities for gamers.

Some of the data sets in WalletHub’s 2019’s Best Cities for Gamers report includes information on average internet speed, internet cost, smartphone access, amount of arcades, esports tournaments, and more. The personal finance website compiled this report ahead of the 2019 Electronic Entertainment Expo happening June 11-13 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Are you excited for #E3? How about the #OWL2019 finals? Here are all the best cities for #gamers to live: https://t.co/XT2nQUz4nr pic.twitter.com/zXyQ8fIoCA

— WalletHub (@wallethub) June 5, 2019

WalletHub reported that the gaming industry brings in over $130 billion globally. With esports continuing to grow in the nation’s capital, it’s no surprise D.C. ended up near the top of the list. In September 2018, local businessman and entrepreneur Mark Ein purchased an Overwatch League team, bringing professional esports to D.C. The team now goes by the Washington Justice, and has been competing in the league’s second season this year from Blizzard Arena in Burbank, Calif. The team plans to play from home in future seasons.

As far as D.C.’s rank in some of those key indicators, the District came in at #1 for internet quality and coverage, #30 for gaming environment and #27 for gamer and developer opportunities. D.C. and North Las Vegas have the highest average download speed of 76 Mbps, which is 3.2 times higher than in Buffalo, New York, the city with the lowest at 24 Mbps.

Touching on Technical.ly’s other markets, Baltimore came in low at #69 overall, without ranking in the top 5 of any of the key indicator categories shared in the report. Philadelphia ranked even lower at  #71 overall. No cities from Delaware appeared on the list at all, despite the fact that Wilmington University is home to one of the only game development degree programs in the region.

Here’s a list of the top 20 best cities for gamers:

1. Seattle
2. Irvine, Calif.
3. Los Angeles
4. Orlando, Fla.
5. Atlanta
6. New York
7. San Jose, Calif.
8. San Francisco
9. Austin, Texas
10. Raleigh, N.C.
11. Las Vegas
12. San Diego, Calif.
13. Washington, D.C.
14. Denver, Colo.
15. Fremont, Calif.
16. Miami
17. Houston
18. Anaheim, Calif.
19. Sacramento, Calif.
20. Dallas, Texas

And if you forgot, Events DC is bringing the esports pop-up bar “Levels Unlocked: House of DC Heroes” featured at SXSW 2019 back home to D.C. in July and August at 1839 7th St. NW.