APAC Esports Market Outlook to 2028

APAC Esports Market Overview

The APAC Esports market is currently valued at USD 650 million, based on a five-year historical analysis. This market is primarily driven by the rising popularity of competitive gaming across various platforms, including PC, console, and mobile. The growth of digital infrastructure, particularly high-speed internet access and 5G networks, has expanded the reach of esports to a broader audience, allowing for greater participation and viewership in the region. The emergence of esports as a mainstream entertainment medium, along with increasing sponsorships and media rights deals, further fuels the market growth in APAC.

Market dominance is concentrated in key countries such as China, South Korea, and Japan, due to their well-established gaming cultures, robust digital ecosystems, and strong government support. These countries offer significant opportunities for esports organizations, teams, and event organizers. The Southeast Asian markets, including Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, are also witnessing a surge in demand as they rapidly adopt esports, driven by a growing number of young, tech-savvy individuals.

Government initiatives across APAC are also contributing to the rapid development of the esports market. For instance, Chinas Ministry of Education has recognized esports as an official sport, while South Koreas government actively promotes esports through dedicated venues and leagues. Additionally, in 2023, Vietnam's government announced plans to invest USD 500 million in esports infrastructure, including stadiums and training facilities, to boost the countrys position as a regional esports hub.

APAC Esports Market Segmentation

By Game Genre: The market is segmented by game genre into multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), real-time strategy (RTS), sports simulations, and others. MOBA games such as League of Legends and Dota 2 dominate the esports scene in countries like China and South Korea, driven by strong community engagement and the presence of professional leagues. FPS games, including Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Call of Duty, are also seeing increasing demand, particularly in Japan and Southeast Asia.

By Platform: The esports market is further segmented by platform into PC, console, and mobile gaming. Mobile gaming is the fastest-growing segment, particularly in Southeast Asia, where lower-cost smartphones and widespread mobile internet penetration have made esports accessible to a broader demographic. PC-based esports, however, continues to lead in countries like South Korea and China, driven by a long-standing culture of PC gaming cafes and professional leagues.

APAC Esports Market Competitive Landscape

The APAC Esports market is highly competitive, with global and regional players striving to capture market share through partnerships, sponsorships, and the development of new gaming infrastructure. Leading companies such as Tencent, Net Ease, and Garena dominate the market with their popular game titles and investments in professional esports leagues.

Company Name

Establishment Year

Headquarters

Key Games

Revenue (2023)

Major Tournaments

R&D Investment

Key Regions

Partnerships

Tencent

1998

Shenzhen, China

Net Ease

1997

Hangzhou, China

Garena

2009

Singapore

SK Telecom

1984

Seoul, South Korea

Moonton

2014

Shanghai, China

APAC Esports Industry Analysis

Growth Drivers

Rising Popularity of Mobile Gaming: Mobile gaming has emerged as the dominant driver in the APAC esports market, fueled by the region's robust smartphone user base, estimated at over 2.3 billion in 2024. With mobile data prices decreasing, particularly in markets like India and Indonesia, mobile gaming has become highly accessible. Countries such as India have over 931 million smartphone users, contributing significantly to esports participation. Mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire are popular titles across the region, driving mobile esports viewership and tournament participation. The rise of mobile gaming in APAC is underpinned by this substantial user base.

Increase in Sponsorships and Media Rights Deals: Sponsorships and media rights contribute a major portion of the esports revenue, with media rights alone accounting for USD 340 million in 2024 in APAC. High-profile brands such as Nike and Coca-Cola are increasingly investing in esports teams and tournaments across the region. Moreover, media platforms, including You Tube and Twitch, have secured exclusive streaming deals, further driving revenue. With majority of sponsorships targeting mobile esports tournaments in countries like South Korea and China, the APAC market is set to capitalize on sponsorship and media rights deals, providing significant financial backing to the esports ecosystem.

Expansion of High-Speed Internet and 5G Networks: With the rollout of 5G technology in major APAC economies, including South Korea, China, and Japan, the region's esports market is poised for accelerated growth. South Korea's 5G infrastructure reached 40 million users in 2023, facilitating seamless streaming and real-time gameplay. By 2024, Japan expects to cover majority of its population with 5G, enabling competitive gaming on mobile platforms. The expansion of high-speed internet in emerging markets like Vietnam and the Philippines further enhances connectivity, allowing gamers from previously underserved regions to participate in esports tournaments and events.

Market Challenges

Inconsistent Regulatory Framework: One of the key challenges in the APAC esports market is the lack of regulatory uniformity across countries. While South Korea and China have clear esports governance structures, other markets such as India and Thailand have limited or inconsistent policies governing esports tournaments and sponsorships. In 2023, India temporarily banned several mobile games, including PUBG Mobile, affecting the esports ecosystem. Inconsistencies in regulation hinder cross-border events and collaborations, presenting barriers to the APAC markets growth.

Cheating and Cybersecurity Issues (Online Tournament Security): The rise of online esports tournaments has also brought cybersecurity concerns to the forefront. In 2023, several high-profile tournaments in APAC faced cheating scandals involving hacking and software manipulation, affecting the integrity of the competitions. A major tournament in China reported over 50 cases of cheating, impacting the reputation of professional leagues. The lack of standardized cybersecurity measures across APAC countries makes it challenging to safeguard the integrity of esports events, requiring substantial investment in cybersecurity infrastructure.

APAC Esports Market Future Outlook

The APAC Esports market is poised for robust growth over the next five years, driven by increasing mobile gaming adoption, rising sponsorship and media rights revenues, and growing government support. As the regions digital infrastructure continues to expand, particularly with the rollout of 5G, the esports market is expected to see a further rise in both player participation and audience viewership. Moreover, as the lines between traditional sports and esports continue to blur, new opportunities will emerge for cross-industry partnerships and collaborations.

Future Market Opportunities

Investment in Esports Infrastructure: Investment in esports-specific infrastructure is a major opportunity in APAC. With the construction of esports arenas like the USD 50 million Shanghai International New Cultural and Creative E-sports Center, countries such as China and South Korea are leading the way in establishing professional facilities. The growing number of esports arenas offers APAC nations the potential to host international tournaments. In emerging markets like Indonesia, where infrastructure development is still in its early stages, there is a significant

Expansion into Emerging Markets: Emerging markets such as Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia represent untapped potential in the APAC esports industry. Vietnam, for example, saw a substantial increase in esports tournament participants in 2023, while Indonesia has established esports as part of its 2024 National Games. Thailand, with 62 million internet users, is another rapidly growing market. These countries are benefiting from increasing investments in digital infrastructure and a large youth population eager to participate in esports, offering significant growth potential for the market.
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