Gamers using A-League teams while playing FIFA 18 is proving more popular viewing than actual A-League matches after the launch of Football Federation Australia's E-League attracted a larger audience than the average ratings for the competition.

The FFA dipped its toe into the rapidly growing world of competitive video gaming, E-Sports, with the launch of its E-League on Thursday night. It attracted an audience reach 16 per cent higher than the average A-League match, raising questions over the direction of sports broadcasting.

Real figures, virtual game: The E-League's opening night attracting 138,000 viewers. Credit:User

Over more than four hours, gamers representing each A-League club played against one another as part of a FIFA 18 competition broadcasted live online. The E-League's opening night attracting 138,000 viewers on streaming network, Twitch, as well as Fox Sports' website, with figures from that broadcaster yet to be confirmed. The shock success of the E-League meant it had a broadcast reach well above the average A-League audience on Fox Sports network this season, which has dropped to 119,000, according to the FFA.

"We were really pleased. You never know what you're going to get, 138,000 people watched part of the show on Twitch and we haven't got the Fox Sports stats yet," FFA's head of commercial, digital and marketing, Luke Bould, said.