Greater Southeast Asia Becoming Esports Juggernaut
I feel like we say this at least once a week, but it’s true: Esports is serious business. It’s a global phenomenon where players in every region strive for recognition as legit, real threats. Viewership is climbing everywhere, but perhaps nowhere higher than in Southeast Asia. The current significant powerhouses are China, Japan, Korea and the U.S. (contrary to what League pros tell you). But there’s another region on the come up in esports: Greater Southeast Asia.
Greater Southeast Asia Shows Massive Growth in Users
According to CCN.com, there are presently 154.3 million PC gamers in this region. But what makes up GSEA? Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan. Now it makes sense. In my time at MMOHuts, we received tons of news about significant events in gaming from this territory.
While that number is impressive, it’s expected to rise to 186.8 million over the next five years. That is an incredible amount of PC gamers, playing some manner of esport or another. Mobile gaming is huge there, too, with 40% of the 500 million smartphone users playing mobile games.
Mobile esports is still well on the rise, but more people than ever have access to a smartphone. Perhaps more than PC users. The ability to play a competitive, quick match anywhere you are is very appealing. With games like Hearthstone, CoD Mobile, PUBG Mobile, mobile esports are just as serious.
What Does It Mean?
Asia, in general, is home to some of the greatest esports players in the world. Korea and Japan are well-known for their MOBA and fighting game players. But with 95% of PC gamers involved in esports, expect Greater Southeast Asia esports to be a significant talking point in the next couple of years.
How do you get better at a game? Having competition. Iron sharpens iron, so they say. Always having people around you getting better will have one of two effects: You get better, or you get left behind. It is a territory where the demand for Greater Southeast Asia esports is extremely massive.
As a result, esports organizations and tournaments will see the demand and potential income here. When running global esports events, Southeast Asia will no doubt be in high demand. It is, of course, speculation. But considering the figures offered, it sounds as close to a sure thing.
With the rapid growth and availability of high-speed internet and PCs in the region, it allows more of their gamers than ever before to have access to esports titles. It doesn’t give them skill but it gives those players access to getting better that leads to skill with time.
It is something the Western market could certainly stand to learn from. Good, high-quality internet is not cheap in many areas, especially in rural markets. I’d like to see that become more viable so people around America can practice and catch up with some of the greater esports powers. Esports is a multi-billion-dollar industry, so we need to start catching up to our global brothers.
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