Southeast Asia's esports audience is experiencing rapid expansion, with year-over-year growth reaching as high as 18.2% between 2019 and 2024.
The market is defined by a mobile-first culture where 82% of the online population plays mobile games and 39% identify mobile as their primary gaming platform.
Three mobile titles—Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Garena Free Fire, and PUBG Mobile—accounted for approximately 50% of all global esports hours watched for those specific games on Twitch and YouTube Live in the first half of 2021.
Key growth markets in the region include Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Revenue generation in the region is primarily driven by sponsorships, supplemented by media rights, publisher fees, and digital goods.
Government-led initiatives, such as the Philippines' Youth Esports Program and the inclusion of esports as a medal event in the 30th SEA Games, are accelerating market maturation.
Improved internet infrastructure and increased mobile device accessibility are the primary catalysts for long-term regional engagement and the attraction of non-endemic brand sponsorships.
Southeast Asia represents a rapidly accelerating segment of the global esports market, characterized by high growth rates in both viewership and revenue. Between 2019 and 2024, the region is projected to see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in audience size that significantly outpaces global averages, with year-over-year increases reaching as high as 18.2%. This expansion is driven by a mobile-first gaming culture where 82% of the online population plays mobile games and 39% of players identify mobile as their primary platform. Key markets fueling this trend include Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
The regional ecosystem is heavily influenced by mobile-centric titles, specifically Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Garena Free Fire, and PUBG Mobile. These three games accounted for roughly half of all global esports hours watched for those titles on Twitch and YouTube Live during the first half of 2021. Revenue streams in the region mirror global trends, with sponsorship serving as the primary contributor, supported by media rights, publisher fees, and digital goods. Government intervention also plays a critical role in market maturation, with initiatives like the Youth Esports Program in the Philippines and the integration of esports into the 30th SEA Games as a medal event.
Data for these findings was sourced from Newzoo’s 2021 Global Esports and Live Streaming Market Report and Consumer Insights. The methodology utilized a Major City Approach for most Southeast Asian nations to represent active internet users aged 10-50, while Singapore data covered the general online population within that age bracket. The findings conclude that improved internet infrastructure and the accessibility of mobile devices are the primary catalysts for long-term engagement and the continued attraction of non-endemic brand sponsorships to the region.
