Market (Overall)·Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Newzoo
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'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.