Olympic Council of Asia and Asian Electronic Sports Federation to Host Road to Asian Games

The Olympic Council of Asia and the Asian Electronic Sports Federation have announced the Road to Asian Games, a qualifying competition scheduled to take place in Macau from June 15 to July 16, 2023. This event serves as a critical precursor to the Hangzhou Asian Games, as the performance of the twenty-nine participating national teams will directly influence their official grouping for the subsequent tournament in September. The competition features seven official esports titles: League of Legends, Honor of Kings, Peacekeeper Elite, Dota 2, Dream of The Three Kingdoms, Street Fighter V, and FIFA Online 4.

The event has secured significant commercial backing, with automobile manufacturer Audi and smartphone company IQOO serving as chief partners. Additional support is provided by special partners HP OMEN and Auto Full. While the tournament will not be broadcast on the DouYu platform, it will be available to viewers through Bilibili, Huya, Kuaishou, Tencent Video, and Weibo.

Beyond its role as a qualifier, the event carries broader implications for the regional esports landscape. The inclusion of Peacekeeper Elite, the Chinese version of PUBG Mobile, is expected to bolster national interest in the title, potentially accelerating the return of the game’s Indian counterpart, Battlegrounds Mobile India, following its government-mandated suspension. By aligning these regional qualifiers with the official Hangzhou Asian Games, the organizers aim to solidify the structure of competitive gaming across Asia and elevate the visibility of the participating national teams.