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Southeast Asia The esports world’s fastest growing region. Gaming Population in Southeast Asia.
The gaming and esports market in the Asia-Pacific region is the biggest in the world, generating about 52% of global game revenues with over $66.2 billion in 2018. With a total gaming population reaching over 1.2 billion last year, Newzoo expects even higher numbers for the region in 2019. significant part of that is due to Southeast Asia, one of its most active regions in esports where it’s popularity has exploded in recent years, leaving local and international companies seeking ways to tap into the market.
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According to research by Newzoo, Southeast Asia is the esport’s fastestgrowing region, with nearly 19 million esports enthusiasts, and will experience a surge in growth in the next years driven by its constantly growing audience (over 31.9 million in 2019), as well as the addition of new leagues and tournaments. Part of the gaming boom comes from last year’s announcement that esports
would become a competitive sport at the 2022 Asian games, and the inclusion as a medal event in the 2019 SEA Games, which will be held in the Philippines starting in November. Revenue from PC games alone was projected to reach $1.1 billion by the end of last year, and then surpass $2 billion in 2021, while revenue from mobile games already surpassed that of PC games this year and is projected to grow exponentially.
This is probably the main reason behind why the ASEAN market could be easier to penetrate contrasted with countries like China for example, representing a huge opportunity for local and international companies. However, each country’s different culture, regulations, spending behaviours and gamer preferences means that there is no single approach for the entire region, and that each esports strategy must be carefully considered and wisely prepared.
Southeast Asia’s jump into the global esports market can likewise be ascribed to the region’s familiarity with English, where it’s already an official language in countries such as the Philippines or Singapore.
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