Grants, tournaments and talent: Why Southeast Asia may Be the next esports hub

Loading

Southeast Asia is no longer a prospect in esports. The industry there is already active, growing, and competitive. The region has a player base, tournaments with real prize money, government backing, and platforms paying attention.

So, while North America and Europe get most of the headlines, SEA has been building something serious in the background.

The player base is already huge

SEA’s gaming audience is massive. Over 310 million people play games across the region, according to Niko Partners, and most of them are mobile-first. You’ll find players grinding in popular games like Mobile Legends, Free Fire, PUBG Mobile, and Arena of Valor during commutes, on breaks, or at home.

The casual accessibility of these games leads to high engagement in competitive formats. In 2023, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M5 World Championship pulled over 5 million peak viewers. That’s a number that beats plenty of Western events.

It’s also local. Viewership doesn't rely on global audiences tuning in. Most of it is coming from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It’s also typical that these audiences aren’t just watching tournaments. Many of them are playing, training, signing with teams, and queuing for ranked daily.

Governments are now more involved 

Several SEA governments are now also actively supporting esports. Vietnam now legally recognizes esports as a profession. Malaysia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports has funded esports development under the National Esports Development Guidelines.

Meanwhile, Thailand classifies esports as a professional sport and includes it in national sporting events. The Philippines now also has an esports governing body, the Games and Amusements Board, that licenses players and regulates tournaments.

Prize pools aren’t pocket change

Prize pools in local tournaments are also starting to show how serious these competitions are. They’re now often in the five- to six-figure range. Brands like Smart Communications (Philippines), Telkomsel (Indonesia), and Shopee (regional) regularly sponsor leagues. Even non-endemic sponsors like insurance firms and banks have entered the space.

The result is more opportunities to go pro without needing to leave the region. Teams don’t have to rely on one or two international events each year. They can compete every few weeks in structured leagues.

Platforms and betting brands are watching

SEA’s esports growth isn’t going unnoticed. Streaming platforms, betting sites, and sportsbooks are building out dedicated esports offerings. The 10CRIC platform recently expanded into esports markets. 

This matters because money follows attention. The more betting lines and viewership a title gets, the more valuable the league becomes. More platforms mean more streams, more sponsors, and more revenue for orgs and players.

Teams and organisations are expanding 

SEA now has esports organisations that operate at the same level as North American and European ones. Blacklist International, RRQ, ONIC, Talon Esports, and BOOM Esports all field competitive rosters across multiple titles.

These teams aren’t just good regionally, since they’ve already made deep runs in international events. Talon has placed well in Dota 2 Majors. Blacklist won the M3 World Championship. ONIC and RRQ regularly finish top 4 globally in Mobile Legends events.

They’re not bootstrapped projects either. Most are backed by content networks, traditional sports teams, or venture capital. They have access to coaching staff, facilities, merch sales, and brand deals. Some of them even run esports academies or training camps for younger talent.

College programs and youth leagues are filling the gaps

There are now active efforts to build talent in esports. In the Philippines, collegiate esports is structured through leagues like PHL Esports and AcadArena. In Malaysia, universities like UOW Malaysia and Taylor’s University offer esports programs.

Youth-focused leagues in Indonesia and Vietnam partner with schools to run tournaments and scouting events. It’s not just community stuff either. Winners get scholarships, team trials, or direct invites to national qualifiers.

Content creation is also boosting the industry

SEA’s gaming creators are gaining international reach. Streamers like Jess No Limit (Indonesia), Akosi Dogie (Philippines), and Zxuan (Malaysia) have millions of followers and brand deals that rival top Western influencers.

They help boost interest in competitive gaming by bridging casual and pro play. When Jess No Limit hosts a ranked grind or reacts to pro matches, thousands watch live. That pushes more fans to care about tournaments, team rivalries, and game updates.

It’s a feedback loop. Players become creators. Creators drive interest. Interest in fund tournaments. Tournaments produce more players. It keeps the industry alive without relying too much on international attention.

Summary

Now, things aren’t exactly picture-perfect. There are still challenges in parts of SEA, including power and internet reliability in some regions. Also, even if training facilities exist, they’re not yet standard across the board. Some leagues also still deal with inconsistent pay or a lack of long-term player support.

International exposure can also be limited. Western orgs and fans often ignore SEA unless there's a breakout performance. That creates visibility issues, especially in PC-heavy games like CS2 or Valorant, where EU and NA still dominate the narrative.

Still, the groundwork is already there. More key players in the international scene just haven’t fully realized it yet.

Header image: MARIA TAN/AFP via Getty Images